To get a share code to invite someone to the UK, a UK-based host must generate a temporary, secure code using the official GOV.UK 'view and prove' service. This share code allows a host with digital immigration status to prove their right to live in the UK, a required step when supporting a visa application from a Kenyan family member or friend.
This guide explains the steps for a UK host to generate and share the code with a visa applicant in Kenya, ensuring the correct evidence is provided to support the application.
The Purpose of a UK Share Code for Visa Hosts
A UK immigration share code is a unique, time-limited alphanumeric code generated online. Its function is to allow a third party, such as a UKVI Entry Clearance Officer, to view a person's immigration status through the official GOV.UK portal. For a UK-based host inviting a person from Kenya, the share code serves as verifiable proof of their legal right to reside in the UK.
This evidence is a component of many visa applications, particularly for visitor visas. The Entry Clearance Officer must be satisfied that the host is genuinely settled in the UK. The code is temporary, typically valid for 90 days, and provides a secure, digital alternative to photocopying physical documents like a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP).
When a UK Host Must Generate a Share Code
A UK host must generate a share code if their immigration status is managed digitally and they do not have a current physical document proving their right to live in the UK. This applies to most people as UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) transitions to a fully digital system.
A host needs to generate a share code for a Kenyan applicant if they hold one of the following:
- Pre-Settled or Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS).
- A visa that resulted in an eVisa or digital status instead of a physical vignette or BRP card. This includes many Skilled Worker, Student visa, and Family visa holders.
- A BRP that is not available for copying, or where digital verification is the required method for proving status.
For Kenyan applicants, the share code provides definitive proof of the host's current UK status for the visa application.
Steps to Generate a UK Immigration Share Code
The process of creating a share code is conducted on the GOV.UK website. This is a self-service function for the person who holds the immigration status. The applicant in Kenya cannot generate this code.
Follow these specific steps:
- Navigate to the Service: Go to the official GOV.UK website and search for the 'View and prove your immigration status' service.
- Sign In: Sign in to your UKVI account. This is the same account used to manage your UK visa application or EUSS status.
- Choose an Option: Once logged in, the service will show your digital immigration status. Select the option 'Prove your status to someone else'.
- Create a New Share: The system prompts you to get a new share code. Select the button to proceed.
- Select the Reason: The service asks why you need the share code. For inviting a visitor for a visa application, select 'for another reason' or 'something else'.
- Generate and Record the Code: The service will generate a new share code composed of letters and numbers. Record this code exactly as it appears, as it is case-sensitive. The page will also confirm the code's 90-day expiry date.
Information Required to Create a Share Code
To access the 'view and prove' service and generate a code, you must have certain details ready. This preparation prevents delays and login problems. You will need:
- Your Identity Document: The number of the passport, national identity card, or Biometric Residence Card used in your UK status application.
- Your Date of Birth: Entered in the DD/MM/YYYY format.
- Access to Your Phone or Email: The service sends a security code to the mobile number or email address registered with your UKVI account to verify your identity.
Having these details ready makes the process straightforward and takes only a few minutes to complete.
Sharing the Code and Details with the Applicant
Sending only the share code is not sufficient. The person checking the status also needs your date of birth. This two-part system ensures only an authorised person can view your details.
When you send the information to your family member in Kenya, you must provide two specific pieces of information:
- The full, exact share code you generated.
- Your full date of birth (Day, Month, and Year).
The correct practice is to include this information clearly within the body of your signed invitation letter. For example: "To verify my UK immigration status, use the following details on the GOV.UK service: Share Code: [9-character code], My Date of Birth: [DD/MM/YYYY]." Send a high-quality scan of this letter to the applicant to include with their supporting documents.
How Kenyan Applicants Use the Share Code
The applicant in Kenya does not take any action on the GOV.UK website. Their role is to present the share code and the host's date of birth as part of their evidence pack. This pack is submitted during their biometrics appointment at the VFS Global centre in Nairobi or Mombasa.
The UKVI Entry Clearance Officer assessing the application uses the share code. The officer will use the code and the host's date of birth to access the 'view and prove' service internally, which instantly verifies the host's current immigration status.
The applicant must not confuse the host's share code with their own application reference number. The primary reference for their visa application is the GWF (Global Web Form) number, which is generated when they complete the online application form.
Share Codes and the Transition to Digital Status
Share codes are a direct result of the UK's move to digital immigration documents. Previously, proof of status was a sticker (vignette) in a passport or a plastic Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) card. This physical system has now been replaced by the eVisa, a digital record of a person's immigration status.
This transition means many UK residents no longer have a physical document valid for their full stay. Their legal status is held entirely online. The share code is now the primary method for proving status to third parties, including for sponsoring a visitor's visa application.
Families in Kenya should understand this shift. A UK host not providing a copy of a visa sticker is normal. The provision of a valid share code and date of birth is the correct and modern procedure for verifying the host's credentials.
Key Facts for Using a Share Code
| Item | Provided By | Purpose for a Kenyan Applicant |
|---|---|---|
| Share Code | The UK-based host | Allows UKVI to verify the host's immigration status online. |
| Host's Date of Birth | The UK-based host | Used with the share code to access the host's status. |
| GWF Number | The visa applicant | The primary reference number for the applicant's own visa application. |
Complementary Documents and UKVI References
A share code is a verification tool and must be provided alongside other supporting documents. The host should also supply a well-written invitation letter that details the visit's purpose, accommodation arrangements, and the relationship with the applicant. The share code proves the host's legal status, while the letter provides context for the visit.
It is also necessary to distinguish between the different reference numbers involved in a UK visa application. The share code verifies the host's status. The GWF number identifies the applicant's unique visa application. They serve different purposes and must not be used interchangeably.