Work and employment
How to Prove Your Right to Work in the UK
How right to work checks and share codes work, what employers should check, and when to get advice before changing jobs.
Plain-English summary
Many migrants prove right to work online with a share code. The code must match the reason for the check, and your visa conditions still decide what work you can do.
Best for: Employees, job seekers, students, sponsored workers, and dependants.
What this guide covers
Check conditions before accepting work
Right to work is not the same as permission for every job.
- Students may have term-time hour limits.
- Sponsored workers may be tied to role and employer.
- Visitors usually cannot work.
- Dependants can have different conditions.
Keep evidence
Keep contract, payslips, right to work check confirmation, sponsor messages, and visa records.
- Useful for extensions, ILR, citizenship, tax, and employment disputes.
Checklist
Use this as a practical planning list, then confirm official rules for your status and local area.
- 1Read visa work conditions.
- 2Generate official share code.
- 3Check role, hours, employer, and salary restrictions.
- 4Keep proof of check and contract.
- 5Get advice before restricted job changes.
Trusted starting points
Use official and established advice sources before relying on social media, forums, or paid services.
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