Get a share code online

If you’re not a British or Irish citizen, you can usually get a share code to prove your right to rent. Your landlord can use the share code to check if you can rent and how long for. There is a different way to prove your right to rent if you’re a British or Irish citizen . Who can get a share code You can use this service to get a share code if you have: a biometric residence permit ( BRP ) - you can use it for 18 months after the expiry date printed on the card a biometric residence card ( BRC ) a UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI ) account You’ll have a UKVI account if you’ve ever: applied to the EU Settlement Scheme used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to prove your identity when applying for a visa created one when applying for a visa (you’ll have received a UKVI account confirmation email) created one to get access to an eVisa (an online record of your immigration status) If you cannot use the service, you can prove your right to rent with your original immigration documents . If you’re a landlord, there’s a different way to view a tenant’s details after you’ve been given a share code . Get a share code to prove your right to rent online You’ll need your date of birth and details of one of the following: your BRP your BRC your passport or national identity card Start now

Using immigration documents

If you’re not a British or Irish citizen, you can use one of the following documents to prove your right to rent: a passport a travel document issued by the Home Office an immigration status document sent to you when you were given permission to stay in the UK Your passport, travel document or immigration status document needs to have a Home Office endorsement in it - for example, a stamp or a vignette (a sticker). This must say that you have one of the following: indefinite leave to enter or indefinite leave to remain in the UK no time limit to your stay in the UK a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode exemption from immigration control limited leave to enter or limited leave to remain in the UK, or permission to stay for a time limited period - this must cover the time you’ll be renting a certificate of entitlement to readmission to the UK You can no longer use a physical biometric residence permit or card to prove your right to rent - you’ll need to get a share code instead. Your document usually needs to be current. It can only be expired if it’s a passport showing you have one of the following: indefinite leave to remain in the UK no time limit to your stay in the UK a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode exemption from immigration control Find out about the original immigration documents you can use . If you’re a Ukrainian citizen You can get a share code to prove your right to rent if you have: a biometric residence permit (BRP) a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account If you do not have a BRP or a UKVI account yet, you can use your passport with an ‘endorsement’ stamp or vignette sticker in. If you do not have a passport, you can give your landlord an entry clearance vignette sticker attached to a ‘Form for Affixing the Visa’ (FAV). They’ll use it to check your immigration status with the Home Office. If you applied for settled or pre-settled status in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man You can show your landlord a letter or email confirmation to prove your settled or pre-settled status was given there. Your landlord can use this to confirm your immigration status with the Home Office. If you applied for settled status in Jersey, you’ll need to use the online immigration status checker to get a confirmation letter. If you’re waiting for a decision on an EU Settlement Scheme application You can get a share code to prove your right to rent. You can also use a physical certificate of application from the Home Office to prove your right to rent if you have one. You’ll need to show your physical certificate to your landlord, who will ask for a Home Office right to rent check to see if you can rent in England. If you do not have your original immigration documents You may be able to get a share code to prove your right to rent or use a combination of 2 documents . Your landlord can also ask for a Home Office right to rent check to see if you can rent in England.

Using other documents

You may be able to use 2 documents together to prove your right to rent. You can use any 2 of the following if you have them: a current UK driving licence (full or provisional) a full birth or adoption certificate from the UK, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man or Ireland a letter from your employer a letter from a British passport holder in an ‘ accepted profession ’ a letter from a UK government department or local council proof that you currently get benefits a letter from a British school, college, or university that you currently go to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate proof that you’ve served in the UK armed forces a letter from a private rented sector access scheme or a voluntary organisation that’s helping you with housing a letter confirming you’ve been released from prison within the past 6 months a letter confirming you’re on probation from your offender manager a letter from the UK police about the theft of your passport Anyone can use these documents to prove their right to rent - you do not have to be a British or Irish citizen. If the document is a letter, email or DBS certificate, it usually needs to be dated within the last 3 months. Check you can use a document There are rules on what some of these documents must show and how old they can be. Check what the rules are before showing them to your landlord. Using a birth or adoption certificate You can use a full birth or adoption certificate from Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man. It must list at least one birth or adoptive parent. Using a letter from your employer The letter must be dated within the last 3 months. It needs to show: your National Insurance number or employee number your employer’s name your employer’s signature your company address Using a letter from a British passport holder The letter must be dated within the last 3 months. It needs to include the passport holder’s name, address, signature, passport number, job, and most recent work address. It should also explain how long they’ve known you and how you know each other - for example you met at work. The passport holder must be in an ‘ accepted profession ’. Using a letter from a UK government department or local council The letter must be dated within the last 3 months. It needs to show the signature and work address of a named official. Using proof you get benefits You can use a letter or a screenshot of an email about your benefits as one of your two documents. It must be dated within the last 3 months. It must show the type of benefits you’re currently getting, and come from one of the following: the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Jobcentre Plus HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) a local council the Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland Using a DBS certificate The DBS certificate must be dated within the last 3 months. Using a letter from a British school, college, or university The letter needs to show: that you’re currently enrolled to study there how long you’ve been studying for what you’re studying - for example, your course name Using proof you’ve served in the UK armed forces You can use evidence that you’re currently serving or have served in the past as one of your 2 documents. This could be an identity card or document. Using a letter from a housing scheme or charity If you’re getting help with housing through a private rented sector access scheme or a voluntary organisation, you can use a letter from the scheme provider or organisation as one of your 2 documents. The letter needs to confirm the address of the property you’re renting or about to rent and explain the kind of support you’re getting. It must also be dated within the last 3 months. Using a letter confirming you’ve been released from prison The letter must be from HM, Scottish or Northern Ireland Prison Service and show that you’ve been released from prison within the past 6 months. It also needs to show your date of birth. Using a letter confirming you’re on probation The letter from your offender manager needs to be dated within the last 3 months. Using a letter from the UK police about the theft of your passport The letter needs to: say that your passport was stolen have a crime reference number on it be dated within the last 3 months If you cannot prove your right to rent If you’re not a British or Irish citizen, your landlord can ask for a Home Office right to rent check to see if you can rent in England. If you’re a Commonwealth citizen, you may be able to get documents to show that you can rent in the UK through the Windrush Scheme .

Prove your right to rent in England

Overview

Before you can rent in England, you need to prove your right to rent to your landlord.

How you prove your right to rent depends on your nationality and your immigration status.

You do not need to prove your right to rent in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.

If you’re a British or Irish citizen

If you’re a British or Irish citizen, you can prove your right to rent in England by showing your landlord one of the following:

a British passport (current or expired)
an Irish passport or passport card (current or expired)
a certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen

If you do not have a passport, passport card or citizenship certificate, you may be able to use other documents to prove your right to rent.

You may be able to use an online identity service provider (IDSP) to prove your right to rent instead of giving your landlord your documents to check. Ask your landlord if they offer this.

If you’re not a British or Irish citizen

If you’re not a British or Irish citizen, you can prove your right to rent in England with:

a share code - you can get a share code online
your original immigration documents

If you cannot use a share code or immigration documents, you may be able to use other documents to prove your right to rent.

You can choose which option you use. Your landlord cannot reject your application because you gave them an eligible immigration document instead of a share code, for example.

If you cannot prove your right to rent

If you’re not a British or Irish citizen, your landlord can ask for a Home Office right to rent check to see if you can rent in England.

If you’re a Commonwealth citizen, you may be able to get documents to show that you can rent in the UK through the Windrush Scheme.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Prove your right to rent in England

Overview

If you’re a British or Irish citizen

If you’re not a British or Irish citizen

If you cannot prove your right to rent

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK

Cookies on GOV.UK

Prove your right to rent in England

Overview

If you’re a British or Irish citizen

If you’re not a British or Irish citizen

If you cannot prove your right to rent

Related content

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK