Imagine handing a prospective employer a short code instead of a folder full of immigration papers. The process is designed to limit what they receive, but the information shown is still personal data, so it helps to understand exactly what happens after you share it.
When you look up immigration status for a job, tenancy or another purpose, you choose the reason for sharing your information before generating the code. That choice controls the information available to the person checking, so selecting the wrong option can create confusion and may require a new code.
A share code is not a password
A share code does not give another person access to your UKVI account. The checker needs the code and your date of birth, then uses the relevant Home Office online checking service. They cannot use the code to sign in to your account or browse through everything stored there.
The code is also tied to the purpose you selected. A code created for a right to work check cannot be used as a right to rent code, for example. Each code remains valid for 90 days, and you can create another one when you need to share your status for a different purpose.
This distinction is easy to miss. Someone may ask you to send them the code by email, and you might assume it is a general access key. It is better to treat it as permission for one defined check rather than a general pass to your immigration record.
What an employer can see
For a right to work check, the employer receives the information needed to establish your permission to work. The result can show your photograph and the personal details or work-related conditions relevant to the check. The employer uses the Home Office service to conduct the check rather than asking you to hand over your full eVisa.
That means your employer does not automatically receive every piece of information connected with your immigration history. The purpose of the check determines the relevant information presented. UKVI also allows you to preview what will be shared before you create the code, which gives you a chance to spot a mistake.
Your photograph matters too. The employer must establish that the online result relates to the person applying for the job. If your name has changed or your passport details are out of date, resolve those account details before relying on a code.
What a landlord can see
A right to rent code works in a similar way, but it is designed specifically for renting in England. A landlord or agent enters the share code and your date of birth into the Home Office service to see whether you have the right to rent and, where applicable, how long that right lasts.
The landlord also needs to check the photograph against you. The online result provides the identity and status information needed for the prescribed check, but the landlord does not receive unrestricted access to your wider UKVI account.
There is another detail worth remembering. Right to rent codes are purpose-specific and begin with the letter R. A code beginning with W is for right to work, while an S code is used for another status-sharing purpose. Sending the wrong code can delay a tenancy even though your underlying status has not changed.
What a general checker can see
For some situations, you can create a code for purposes other than work or renting. The information shown then depends on the reason you selected. GOV.UK says the service tells you what the person or organisation will see before you generate the code, and this preview is one of the simplest privacy checks available.
The checking service can show information about your right to live in the UK and any restrictions on your rights or access to benefits and services, depending on the type of check. A bank or another organisation may also use the status service for an identity-related check where permitted.
Remember that the person checking still needs your date of birth. A code by itself is not enough. Once the code expires after 90 days, it cannot be used to access the shared result, so a new code is needed for a later check.
Conclusion
The safest habit is to generate a share code only for the reason you actually need and read the preview before sending it. Keep your UKVI account details current, especially after a passport or name change, and avoid forwarding an old code when a new check is required. Knowing what the recipient will see lets you share proof of your status without handing over more information than the particular check requires.
