eVisa Right to Work Check: How Agencies Do It After BRPs
How to do an eVisa right to work check now BRPs have ended: share codes, the online check, common candidate problems and what to record.
Last reviewed: 12 October 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice.
An eVisa right to work check is an online check. The candidate gives you a share code and their date of birth, and you view their status on GOV.UK. Since biometric residence permits (BRPs) ended, candidates with an eVisa can only prove their right to work this way. You cannot accept a physical BRP, expired or not, in place of the online check.
In short:
- All BRPs expired by 31 December 2024. A manual check of an expired BRP is not acceptable proof of right to work.
- Candidates create a UKVI account, link it to their eVisa and generate a right to work share code.
- A right to work share code starts with "W" and lasts 90 days. Codes starting "R" or "S" are for other services and will not do.
- You check the code with their date of birth and confirm the photo is them. Then you keep the profile page and the date of the check.
- From 1 October 2026, the agency supplying the worker is the employer for right to work purposes, so the check sits with you.
What changed when BRPs were replaced by eVisas?
Physical immigration documents were replaced by eVisas, which are digital records of a person's immigration status held by the Home Office.
According to the Home Office caseworker guidance on issued documents, BRPs are no longer issued and all of them expired by 31 December 2024.
The Employer's guide to right to work checks (version dated 1 October 2026) is clear on two points:
- A person issued with an eVisa can only evidence their right to work through the Home Office online service.
- A manual check of an original, expired BRP is not acceptable proof of right to work.
So a candidate who walks in holding a BRP still needs to give you a share code.
Are there any transitional arrangements still running?
One matters right now. GOV.UK says a candidate can use an expired BRP to set up their UKVI account for 24 months after its expiry date, or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first. Candidates who have put off creating an account should do it now. Check the current position on the UKVI account set-up page.
Some other documents work differently. Visa stickers (vignettes) stay valid until they expire, and some biometric residence card holders may still use their card in certain situations. The GOV.UK eVisa page sets out the detail.
For which documents count for British, Irish and other candidates, see our UK right to work checks guide. Students and Graduate visa holders have extra points to record, which our separate guides cover.
How does a candidate create a UKVI account and get a share code?
The candidate sets up a free UKVI account and links it to their eVisa. Then they generate a right to work share code.
Step 1: Create the UKVI account
GOV.UK lists what the candidate needs before they start:
- a phone number and email address they can use every time they sign in
- one of: a valid passport plus their visa application number, a valid passport plus their BRP number, or their expired BRP
- a smartphone to confirm their identity in an app, with alternatives if they cannot use one
GOV.UK also says anyone who already has a UKVI account, for example from an EU Settlement Scheme application, should not create another.
Step 2: Link the account to the eVisa
The candidate cannot see their eVisa until the account is linked. They can do this later if they skipped it during set-up.
Step 3: Generate a share code for right to work
The candidate signs in to view their eVisa and get a share code, choosing right to work as the reason. The code lasts 90 days and can be used as many times as needed in that period.
How do you do an eVisa right to work check online?
You enter the share code and date of birth into the view a job applicant's right to work service. Then you check and record the result.
- Get the share code and date of birth from the candidate before their start date. The check must be done before they start work.
- Check the first letter. A right to work share code begins with "W". The employer's guide says codes starting "R" or "S" are designed for other services and cannot be accepted.
- Run the check on GOV.UK. The profile page shows the candidate's photo, the type of work they can do and any time limit.
- Match the photo to the candidate, for example in person or on a live video call.
- Check the work conditions. Look for restrictions on hours or job type and compare them with the role.
- Save the profile page as a PDF or HTML copy and record the date of the check.
- Diary a follow-up check if their permission is time-limited.
What changed for agencies on 1 October 2026?
Under the 1 October 2026 employer's guide, the employment business is the employer for right to work purposes. This applies when the worker is on a worker's contract. Civil penalties for these arrangements apply where the employment started on or after 1 October 2026.
In practice, your agency runs and keeps the check. Do not assume the client will do it.
What goes wrong with eVisa checks, and how do you fix it?
Most problems come from the candidate's side, and most are fixed by the candidate updating their account or generating a fresh code.
| Problem | What you see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Candidate sends a photo of their BRP | A card, usually expired, and no share code | Explain that BRPs cannot be accepted and ask for a right to work share code. |
| Candidate has no UKVI account yet | "I never got an eVisa" or "I don't know how" | Send them the account set-up page. If their only document is an expired BRP, they need to act before 31 December 2026. |
| Locked out of the account | Lost phone number or email used to sign in | Point them to GOV.UK webchat for eVisa and UKVI account help. |
| Account set up by the Home Office but never accessed | Candidate cannot get in at all | Ask them to use the report an error page. |
| Name does not match | Profile name differs from the name on your records | The employer's guide says to advise the candidate to update their Home Office account. |
| New passport not on the account | Old passport details on the account | Ask them to update their UKVI account, then generate a new code. |
| Wrong type of share code | Code starts with "R" or "S" | Ask for a new code chosen for proving right to work. It must start with "W". |
| Share code expired | The service rejects the code | Codes last 90 days. Ask for a new one. |
| Service cannot confirm status | No result, or the candidate has a pending application | Use the Employer Checking Service. At the time of writing, it aims to respond within five working days. |
What about a name change after marriage or divorce?
The candidate should update their name in their UKVI account before generating a code. GOV.UK says they cannot change their name or passport details while waiting for a visa decision. In that case, note the reason on the candidate's record and check again once the account is updated.
How should you record an eVisa right to work check?
Keep a PDF or HTML copy of the profile page and a secure record of the check date. Keep both while the candidate works for you and for two years after.
The employer's guide says writing a date on a copy is not enough on its own. Keep the date as a proper record, such as a field in your ATS.
Use this checklist for every eVisa check:
- Share code starts with "W" and is within its 90 days
- Check done before the candidate's first shift
- Photo on the profile matches the candidate, in person or on live video
- Work conditions checked against the role (hours, job type)
- Profile page saved as PDF or HTML on the candidate's record
- Date of the check recorded in a separate field
- Name on profile matches your records, or the difference explained
- Expiry of permission noted, with a follow-up check diarised before it
- Name of the person who did the check recorded
- Record kept for the length of employment plus two years
When do you need to repeat the check?
If the candidate's permission is time-limited, you need a follow-up check before it ends. The employer's guide says you repeat the same online process for the follow-up.
Set the reminder well before the date. If the candidate has applied to extend in time, the guide explains how to use the Employer Checking Service.
Where does Amy fit?
Amy, our AI document agent, asks candidates for their share code and date of birth on WhatsApp or by email from your agency's domain. She answers "how do I get a share code?" in the same thread and keeps chasing until it arrives. Candidates get no portal and no login.
Your team still runs the online check. The other documents you request are checked and filed to the candidate's record in your ATS, so your audit trail sits in one place. You can read how we handle candidate data on our security page.
Frequently asked questions
Can I accept an expired BRP as proof of right to work?
No. The Home Office employer's guide says a manual check of an original, expired BRP is not acceptable proof of right to work. The candidate needs to give you a share code so you can do an online check.
How long does an eVisa share code last?
A right to work share code lasts 90 days from when it is issued. The candidate can use it as many times as needed in that period, then generate a new one.
What letter does a right to work share code start with?
A right to work share code starts with "W". Codes starting with "R" or "S" are for other services, such as renting, and cannot be used for an eVisa right to work check.
What should I keep after an eVisa right to work check?
Keep a PDF or HTML copy of the profile page and a secure record of the date of the check. Keep both for as long as the candidate works for you and for two years afterwards.
Who does the right to work check when an agency supplies a worker?
From 1 October 2026, the Home Office guide treats the employment business as the employer for right to work purposes. This covers workers on a worker's contract. Your agency should run the check and keep the record, not the client.
Want share codes in before the start date?
If chasing candidates for share codes is eating your week, we can show you how Amy does it in a normal conversation with each candidate. Book a call and we'll walk you through it with your own documents and chase rules.
Please note: this article is general information, not legal advice, and was correct at the time of writing (October 2026). Rules and guidance change, so please check the latest guidance from the Home Office and UK Visas and Immigration before relying on it.