How to generate UK visa Share Code? 2026 New Regulations on Rental Work Inspection

Last week, a reader left a message in the background, saying that she got an offer from Manchester, and HR asked her to send a "share code" before her first day at work. She rummaged through her wallet and only found an BRP card that would expire at the end of 2024. She panicked on the spot: Did my visa expire?

No. Her visa is fine, but the proof method has been changed to . After October 1, 2026, this matter will become even more important than now - because the UK's employment inspections and rental inspections will usher in new regulations on the same day.

UK visa holder, why does everyone need it now Share Code

Most BRP cards are valid until December 31, 2024, but that is only the expiration of the card, not the expiration of the visa. The entire identity record has been moved to the online eVisa (electronic visa), which can be viewed with a UKVI account.

The reality is: Employers and landlords now generally no longer accept expired BRP. What they want is a string of share codes you generated online. The good news is that expired BRP can still be used to register a UKVI account - but this channel is time-limited (generally within 24 months after the card expires, and no later than December 31, 2026, subject to the latest announcement from GOV.UK). If you haven't set up an account yet, don't delay.

How to generate UK Share Code? Work and renting a house are two different codes

This is the most common pitfall. After logging in to your UKVI account, the system will ask you "What is the purpose of generating this code?". Different options will result in different codes:

🔑 The code for work starts with W and the code for rent starts with R. Send the R code to HR, and they won't be able to find it in the system. You'll have to wait a week in vain. Both codes
are valid for 90 days and , and can be used repeatedly during this period. You do not need to generate ten times for submitting ten resumes.

There are only two pieces of information the other party needs: share code + your date of birth. British and Irish citizens do not go through this process and can simply show their passport.

From October 1, 2026, who will the UK Right to Work inspection be expanded to?

This is the most substantial change this round. According to the relevant provisions of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025, starting from October 1, 2026, the right to work inspection obligation no longer only covers traditional employees, but extends to individual subcontractors, intermediary dispatch workers, and platform/gig economy practitioners who provide services in the name of the company.

The most affected are industries such as construction, food delivery, express delivery, warehousing and logistics, catering, cleaning, security, and manicure and beauty—which happen to be the source of part-time jobs for many Chinese friends. The previous statement "I am self-employed, no need to check" is likely to be invalid under the new regulations.

📌 In terms of penalties: the civil fine for illegal employment is currently up to £45,000 per worker for the first time and up to £60,000 for subsequent offenses; serious cases may involve criminal liability. So you will see more and more platforms and intermediaries suddenly asking for a share code before dispatching an order - not to make things difficult for you, but because they are afraid of being fined.

UK Rent Right to Rent inspection, what’s changing in 2026

Let me first talk about a fact that many people don’t know: Right to Rent plan only applies to in England, and not in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The new version of the Right to Rent Code of Conduct issued by Home Office will also be effective from October 1, 2026. The changes mainly fall in the area of ​​"digital identity verification service providers" - if an intermediary uses a third-party digital verification service, the service provider must complete the corresponding registration. For tenants, you can generate the R code yourself and give it to the landlord, and the process has not changed .

Also updated simultaneously is the Code of Conduct to Avoid Discrimination, which clearly requires that someone should not be disadvantaged just because they cannot successfully use digital services. If you encounter a landlord who refuses on the grounds of "I won't rent if you don't have a physical card," this is worth citing.

After obtaining British permanent residence (ILR), do you still need to provide Share Code?

want. ILR is a permanent residence status, but it also exists in the form of eVisa. You still need to generate a share code when joining a job and renting an apartment. The difference is: the query results will show that you have no working time limit and no condition restrictions. The employer can verify it once. does not need to follow-up check in the future.

Friends who are still saving their seniority should pay attention: when changing jobs, frequently accepting jobs across agencies, or updating identity status, there may be a "code not found" window. This type of gap itself does not affect the calculation of continuous residence for permanent residence, but it will affect your income and employment record, which will indirectly cause trouble for future application materials. If you want to calculate your timeline clearly, you can use 永居计算器 to be accurate to the day.

4 practical tips for UK visa holders

1️⃣ Make sure today that your UKVI account can be logged in normally, and that your mobile phone number and email address are both in use (changing the number without changing the link is the most common problem in retrieving the account).
2️⃣ When generating the code, check the purpose clearly. Choose work for work and rent for rent. Don’t mix them.
3️⃣ Expired BRP Don’t throw it away, it may be used for registration and subsequent applications.
4️⃣ If you accept odd jobs or do subcontracting after October, prepare the code in advance to avoid getting stuck on the day of start of work.

📎 This article is for reference only. Please consult a licensed attorney for specific questions.

[Data source] GOV.UK "Check a job applicant's right to work: use their share code"; GOV.UK "Code of practice for landlords and their agents: the right to rent scheme: 1 October 2026"; GOV.UK "Employer's guide to right to work checks".

💬 I want to ask everyone: the last time you generated a share code, was it for joining a job or renting an apartment? Have you ever encountered a situation where HR or the landlord said "your records cannot be found"? How did you solve it in the end? Talking about your experience in the comment area can help many people later.

If you find it useful, bookmark this article and read it again before the new regulations take effect in October.

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