What is immigration status?

Immigration status is a person's legal position under UK immigration law. It shows whether they need permission to be in the UK, what permission they hold, for how long and on what conditions. For most people with permission it is recorded online as an eVisa, which they can prove to employers and landlords with a share code.

How immigration status works

Your immigration status is your position under UK immigration law. An eVisa is the digital record of it. It holds two things: your identity and immigration status, for example the type of visa you have or whether you have indefinite leave to remain, and the conditions of your status, for example whether you can work or study.^{[1]Home Office, eVisas: access and use your online immigration status}

Your status also sets your rights. Your eVisa shows what rights you have in the UK, for example to work, to rent or to claim benefits.^{[2]Home Office, eVisas: View your eVisa and get a share code to prove your immigration status} The service that lets others check a share code shows whether you have the right to live in the UK and any restrictions on your rights or on your access to benefits and services.^{[3]Home Office, Check someone's immigration status: use their share code}

You reach your eVisa through a UKVI account.

The main kinds of status

The Immigration Act 1971 sets the base. A person who is not a British citizen must not enter the UK unless given leave to do so, and leave can be for a limited or an indefinite period.^{[4]UK Parliament, Immigration Act 1971, section 3: General provisions for regulation and control}

The rows come from the 1971 Act and the Immigration Rules.^{[4]UK Parliament, Immigration Act 1971, section 3: General provisions for regulation and control[5]Home Office, Immigration Rules: introduction}

People with the right of abode are British citizens and some Commonwealth citizens. See right of abode.^{[6]Home Office, Prove your right to work to an employer}

Proving your status

GOV.UK says you can get a share code to prove your immigration status to people such as employers or landlords. You will need to give them your date of birth, and you will not need to show them your eVisa. The person who uses your share code sees some of your personal details. A share code lasts 90 days, and you can use it as many times as you need before it expires or get a new one whenever you need one.^{[2]Home Office, eVisas: View your eVisa and get a share code to prove your immigration status} For more, see share code.

British and Irish citizens use documents such as a British or Irish passport or passport card instead.^{[6]Home Office, Prove your right to work to an employer[7]Home Office, Prove your right to rent in England} You only need to prove your right to rent in England. It is not needed in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.^{[7]Home Office, Prove your right to rent in England}

If you cannot prove your right to work, your employer can check with the employer checking service. If you cannot prove your right to rent, your landlord can ask for a Home Office right to rent check.^{[6]Home Office, Prove your right to work to an employer[7]Home Office, Prove your right to rent in England}

If your status is wrong

Report an error with your eVisa if the details are wrong, for example the wrong date of birth or immigration status. You should also report one if you can view your eVisa but cannot use it to get a share code.^{[2]Home Office, eVisas: View your eVisa and get a share code to prove your immigration status} UKVI aims to fix most issues within 5 working days. A complex issue can take up to 15 working days.^{[9]Home Office, eVisas: Report an error with your eVisa}

If your access to work, benefits or government services has been affected because of your immigration status, GOV.UK says you can ask the Home Office to check that your status is correct.^{[8]Home Office, Complaints procedure - UK Visas and Immigration}

Example

Ibrahim holds limited leave to remain on a Skilled Worker visa. He starts a new job. He signs in to his UKVI account, generates a share code and gives it to his employer with his date of birth. The employer sees some of his personal details. A week later he starts to rent a flat in England. He generates a new share code for his landlord.

Sophie is a British citizen. She can show her British passport to her employer and to her landlord.

What people get wrong

Your eVisa is the digital record of your status. If the details on it are wrong, for example the wrong date of birth or immigration status, GOV.UK says you should report the error.

A second mistake is to assume a right to rent check applies everywhere. You need to prove your right to rent in England. You do not need to in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.^{[7]Home Office, Prove your right to rent in England} A third is to ignore a problem that is affecting your access to work or services. GOV.UK says you can ask the Home Office to check that your status is correct.^{[8]Home Office, Complaints procedure - UK Visas and Immigration}

The bottom line

Immigration status is the legal position that decides whether you may be in the UK, for how long and on what conditions. For most people with permission it is held as an eVisa. You prove it with a share code, or with documents such as a passport if you are a British or Irish citizen. If the record is wrong, report an error.