A guide for troubleshooting share code errors

The below is a collection of all different error messages displayed when trying to verify a right to work, right to rent, or check someone’s immigration status. Available error messages are vague, and generally unhelpful to identify the cause of error. Below are all scenarios, the real causes of error, and suggested corrective actions.

There are three types of share codes (work, rent, immigration status); and three different URLs where these can be checked:

Right to work: https://www.gov.uk/view-right-to-work
Right to rent: https://www.gov.uk/view-right-to-rent
Immigration status: https://www.gov.uk/check-immigration-status

The above are not interchangeable. A right to work share code will NOT work on the URL for right to rent, nor the URL to check immigration status, and vice versa.

Note that:

Right to work share codes start with the letter W
Right to rent share codes start with the letter R
Immigration status share codes start with the letter S


Error message #1
Details do not match our records
Real error
There are two possible causes:

• There is a typo in the share code

• There is a mistake in the date of birth

Suggested corrective actions

• Copy paste the share code instead of trying to type it manually.

• Double check the date of birth. Remember it is in dd/mm/yyyy format. e.g., 31st of July 1985, will be: 31 07 1985

Error message #2
There’s a problem
You will need to ask the tenant to share their right to rent information with you again.
Real error
You are using the right-to-rent URL with one of the other two types of share codes.
Suggested corrective actions
To verify someone’s right to work, try again with the same share code, but this time use: https://www.gov.uk/view-right-to-work

To verify someone’s right to rent, ask them to generate a new Right-to-rent share code. This is because the share code they previously supplied is not a Right-to-rent share code. They have to tick on ‘Right to rent’ when they generate the share code.

To verify someone’s immigration status, try again with the same share code, but this time use: https://www.gov.uk/check-immigration-status

Error message #3
There is a problem with this share code.

To check this person’s immigration status, ask them to give you a new share code.
Real error
You are using the right-to-work, or the immigration status URL, with one of the other two types of share codes.
Suggested corrective actions

To verify someone’s right to work,

• try again with the same share code, but this time use: https://www.gov.uk/view-right-to-work

• If the above does not work, ask them to generate a new Right-to-work share code. This is because the share code they previously supplied is not a Right-to-work share code. They have to tick on ‘Right to work’ when they generate the share code.

To verify someone’s right to rent, try again with the same share code, but this time use: https://www.gov.uk/view-right-to-rent

To verify someone’s immigration status,

• try again with the same share code, but this time use: https://www.gov.uk/check-immigration-status

• If the above does not work, ask them to generate a new Immigration status share code. This is because the share code they previously supplied is not an Immigration status share code. They have to tick on ‘Other’ when they generate the share code.

Error message #4
Sorry, there is a problem with the service
Real error
You are using the right-to-work URL with an immigration status share code.
Suggested corrective actions

To verify someone’s right to work, ask them to generate a new Right-to-work share code. This is because the share code they previously supplied is not a Right-to-work share code. They have to tick on ‘Right to work’ when they generate the share code.

To verify someone’s right to rent, ask them to generate a new Right-to-rent share code. This is because the share code they previously supplied is not a Right-to-rent share code. They have to tick on ‘Right to rent’ when they generate the share code. Then make sure to use https://www.gov.uk/view-right-to-rent

To verify someone’s immigration status, try again with the same share code, but this time use: https://www.gov.uk/check-immigration-status