Lost Your Share Code? Recover online Via UKVI Account

If you have lost your UK sharing code, you can get a new one through the “recover visa (UKVI) and immigration account service”. For this purpose, visit the gov.UK official website and provide your identity documents and date of birth. Once you recover your account, you can get a share code easily.

Banner shows Share Code recovery instructions

How To Recover The Lost Share Code?

You can retrieve your lost or forgotten code online via “recover visa (UKVI) and immigration account service”. For this purpose, you need the ident documents you used to create the account and your date of birth. Here is the detailed breakdown of it:

First of all, visit the “recover visa (UKVI) and immigration account service” page on the official gov.uk website. Scroll down and click on the start button for further processing.

Date of birth entry form for account recovery

Now choose the identity document that you used to create the account. You will get the following options:

Passport
National Identity card
Biometric residence card/ permit

Account recovery instructions with Start button

Now provide the identity number of your selected document. For example, if you have selected the passport, provide your passport number in the required field. Once done, click on continue for further processing.

Provide your passport number as shown on official documents. Ensure the number is valid and accurate. Click Continue to proceed.

Passport number input form with Continue button

The system will verify your details and give you access to the account if the details are valid.
Once you gain access to your account, you can view your immigration status and generate a new code.

Note: If you face any issues in recovering your account, contact the UKVI helpline. The helpline will provide you with the solution. Follow the helpline guide to your recovery account and sharing code. You can also contact the helpline if your code is not working.

Follow the above guide carefully for account recovery. This is the only solution to recover the lost code online.

How to Prove Your Rights Without Code?

If your code is lost and you have failed to recover the code, you can still prove all your rights in the UK. Here is how to prove rights without the share code:

British And Irish Citizens

British and Irish citizens do not need the code. They can prove your right by showing your:

New or expired British or Irish passport
UK or Irish birth/adoption certificate, along with an official letter from a government agency showing your name and National Insurance number.

Non-British and Irish Citizens

If you’re not able to generate a code, you can often use your original immigration documents. Acceptable alternatives include:

Valid passport with a UK immigration endorsement (a stamp or vignette) showing your right to work or stay.
Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or Biometric Residence Card (BRC) (physical card) – only in specific situations, as many checks now use digital records
Other home office documents confirming your right to work or rent

Employers and landlords must accept these documents if you present them in person for checking. Employers should perform a “manual right to work check” by seeing the original documents and making copies for their records.

Tips To Avoid Code Loss

The code is very important to prove your right to work, rent, settlement, studies, and immigration status. Therefore, you must keep the code secure to avoid code loss. Here are some practical tips that you should follow:

Save your code on a computer or a mobile phone after generating it. You can use the Notes app or a secure document folder for this purpose. Additionally, write it down on paper and keep it in a safe place.
Store your code in a trusted cloud service (like Google Drive, OneDrive, or iCloud) with password protection. This way, you can access it from any device if you lose your phone or computer.
Email the code from your official email address to yourself. Keep the email in a special folder named “Important Documents” to make it easy to find later.

Above, I have shared the useful ways that I use to save my code. You can follow these tips to avoid the loss of code.

FAQs

If your code is lost, go to the official GOV UK website and use the “recover visa (UKVI) and immigration account service”. Prove your identity and get access to your account. After it, you can generate a new code online.

No, online checks require a code. Manual document checks are the alternative.

No, only the original document or, in some cases, a physical BRP/BRC card in person will be accepted for manual checks.

Conclusion

If your code is lost, you can recover it via the “recover visa (UKVI) and immigration account” service. For this purpose, prove your identity using the official document and get access to your account.

You can also prove your right to work or rent in the UK without a code. Use your passport, BRP/BRC, or other immigration documents. If you have failed to recover your code online, contact the helpline for assistance.