How do I prove my Pre-Settled or Settled Status to authorities, employers and landlords?
a. Proving your immigration status: creating your ‘Share Code’
To evidence your immigration status, individuals should create a ‘shared code’ which acts as digital proof of this. To create this shared code, you will need the same details you used when making your application to the EU Settlement Scheme. These three things include:
- Your passport/national ID card number, used when making your application
- Your Date of Birth
- Your mobile number or email address, used when making your application
Please note that proof of your status is ‘digital’, there will be no physical document issued such as a visa in a passport.
From 1 January 2021 up until 30 June 2021, authorities, employers and landlords in the UK cannot force EU, EEA or Swiss nationals to prove their immigration status (Pre-Settled or Settled Status). You can however demonstrate this using your share code, if you wish to do so.
From 30 June 2021, it is a legal requirement for authorities, employers and landlords in the UK to check whether EU, EEA or Swiss nationals have to right to stay, work or rent in the UK. Beyond this date, if an EEA national refuses to demonstrate their immigration status they may be refused entry to the UK, access to public funds, their offer of employment may be withdrawn or right to rent refused.
How can I prove my legal status to relevant authorities, my right to work or right to rent in the UK?
Authorities (DWP, ports of entry, educational providers such as Adult Education etc.): EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can check and prove their digital status online on the GOV.UK website.
Landlords: EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can prove their right to rent privately in England online on the GOV.UK website.