A UK share code is valid for 90 days from the date it is generated. After 90 days, the code is deactivated and cannot be used for a right-to-work check. This 90-day limit is fixed and does not depend on the worker's visa, immigration status, or length of employment.
The 90-day rule explained
When a worker generates a share code through their UKVI online account, the Home Office creates a time-limited access code to their immigration record. That code has a 90-day window — after which it expires automatically.
This means:
- A worker with indefinite leave to remain (permanent right to work) can still have an expired share code
- A worker with pre-settled status expiring in 2 years can still have an expired share code
- The share code expiry has nothing to do with the worker's underlying immigration status
The 90-day clock starts on the day the worker generates the code — not on the day you check it, and not on the date their visa was issued.
Share code validity timeline
| Day | What happens | |---|---| | Day 1 | Worker generates share code — code is active | | Day 1–89 | Code is valid — employer can check it at any time | | Day 90 | Code expires — checking will return an error | | Day 91+ | Code is deactivated — worker must generate a new one |
Does the share code validity affect the worker's right to work?
No. The 90-day limit is on the code, not on the worker's status.
If a worker's share code expires, they simply generate a new one. Their right to work is determined by their visa or immigration status — not by whether their share code is currently active.
However, as the employer, you must check a valid (unexpired) share code before the worker starts employment. If you try to check an expired code and it fails, that check does not count — you need a new code to complete a valid check.
When must the check be completed?
You must complete the right-to-work check:
- Before the worker's first day of employment — not after they start
- Using a valid, unexpired share code
- By entering the code and the worker's date of birth at gov.uk/view-right-to-work
There is no legal requirement for the worker to generate the share code on the same day you check it — they can generate it in advance. But it must still be within the 90-day window when you run the check.
Best practice: when to ask for the share code
| Scenario | Recommended timing | |---|---| | New hire with overseas immigration status | Ask for share code at offer stage — check it before their first day | | Worker with time-limited right to work | Set a reminder to request a new share code before their visa expires | | Worker whose share code was generated months ago | Check the code is still valid before conducting the check |
The safest approach is to conduct the check as close to the start date as practical — ideally within the week before the worker begins. This minimises the risk of the code expiring before you check it.
What happens after the 90 days
If you attempt to check an expired share code at gov.uk/view-right-to-work, you will receive an error message indicating that the code is not valid. The check fails.
What to do:
- Tell the worker the code has expired
- Ask them to log in to their UKVI account at gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status and generate a new code
- This takes under two minutes
- Once you have the new code, complete the check immediately
- Save a record of the new check
The worker does not lose any right to work — they simply need to generate a fresh code.
How long to keep the right-to-work check record
Once you have completed a valid check:
- Keep the record for the full duration of employment
- Keep it for a further two years after the employment ends
A screenshot of the gov.uk/view-right-to-work result page (showing the date, the worker's name, photo and status) is sufficient to satisfy the legal record-keeping requirement.
Do I need to check again after 90 days?
For most workers: No. Once you have completed a valid check, you do not need to check again just because the 90-day code window has passed.
The exception is workers with a time-limited right to work (e.g. pre-settled status, a visa with an expiry date). For these workers, you must conduct a follow-up check before their right to work expires — regardless of the share code's 90-day window.
| Worker status | Follow-up check required? | |---|---| | Settled status (unlimited right to work) | No — unless status changes | | Pre-settled status | Yes — before status expires | | Visa with expiry date | Yes — before visa expires | | British / Irish citizen | No — check once with valid document |
Frequently asked questions
Can the worker use the same share code twice? Yes — as long as it is still within the 90-day validity window, the same share code can be shared with multiple employers or checked multiple times.
What if the worker generated the share code but I have not checked it yet — is it still valid? Yes, as long as fewer than 90 days have passed since the worker generated it. Check the date the worker generated the code against today's date.
Do I need a new share code for a follow-up right-to-work check? Yes. When a worker's visa or pre-settled status is approaching expiry and you need to conduct a follow-up check, the worker must generate a new share code for that check.
Can I conduct a right-to-work check remotely? Yes. The online share code check at gov.uk/view-right-to-work can be completed remotely — you do not need to be in the same room as the worker. This has been the standard approach since the online system replaced physical document checks for overseas workers.
KornerIQ records the date of every right-to-work check and the expiry date of each worker's visa or immigration status. Automated alerts at 90, 60, 30 and 7 days before expiry mean you always know when a follow-up check is due — without tracking anything manually.