Prove Right to Rent UK: BRP & eVisa Steps That Work

Need to prove right to rent UK fast? Here’s the up‑to‑date, no‑nonsense way to pass a letting agent’s check first time, even if your BRP card is expired and your status is digital.

Below you’ll find what counts as proof in 2026, step-by-step share code instructions, scripts to use with agents, special-case workarounds, and a quick checklist. If you’re on the road to ILR or citizenship, we also share a smarter way to pass the Life in the UK Test.

Before You Start: What Counts as Proof in 2026

The Home Office moved most visa holders to digital status (eVisas). For many renters, the only valid way to prove your right to rent is an online check using a share code. British and Irish citizens can still use manual document checks.

Accepted evidence at a glance

Right to rent documents 2026 – quick list

• Online share code (preferred): For most non‑UK/Irish nationals with an eVisa or BRP. Generate a Right to Rent code and give it to your landlord/agent for the GOV.UK online check.
• British passport: In‑person, manual check (original passport) remains acceptable.
• Irish passport or Irish passport card: Manual check is acceptable.
• Alternative routes (specific categories): For example, documents under the Home Office lists, or a positive response via the Landlord Checking Service (LCS) where applicable.

Landlords must check all adult occupiers (18+) before the tenancy starts and apply the same process to everyone.

What’s no longer accepted (and common misconceptions)

• Physical BRP alone is not valid: For BRP/eVisa holders, landlords must use the online service. A plastic card by itself is not acceptable proof.
• Photocopies or screenshots aren’t proof: Landlords need an online result (or an approved manual document check for British/Irish documents).
• Out‑of‑date BRP cards do not block you: If your immigration permission is current, your digital record will show it. Use the online check.

Tip: If a property is exempt (e.g., certain student accommodation), standard right to rent checks may not be required. Always confirm the type of accommodation.

Step-by-Step: Prove Your Right to Rent with a BRP or eVisa

Follow these steps to generate a share code and pass the GOV.UK online check on the first try.

Create or access your UKVI account

1. Go to the GOV.UK service for viewing or proving immigration status and select the option to sign in.
2. If you’ve never used the service, create a UKVI account with the email/phone you’ll use for sign‑in codes.
3. Link your current passport (or BRP details) so your digital status is matched to the document you’ll use.
4. Make sure your name, date of birth and document numbers are correct. Correct mismatches now to avoid tenancy delays.

Generate a Right to Rent share code (valid 90 days)

1. In your UKVI account, choose Prove your right to rent.
2. Confirm the document you will use (usually your passport details) and follow prompts to verify access.
3. Generate the code. You’ll receive a 9‑character alphanumeric code, valid for 90 days.
4. Note what the result will show: your name, photo, immigration status, and any permission to rent dates.

Best practice: Create a fresh code close to the check date and keep a record of the code you share.

Give the code to your landlord/agent and what they will see

1. Share your code and date of birth with the landlord/agent.
2. They will use the GOV.UK landlord online service to view your right to rent.
3. The page will display your photo, full name, and whether you have a time-limited or unlimited right to rent, with relevant dates.
4. To create a statutory excuse, the landlord will capture and retain a date‑stamped copy of the online result.

If your BRP card has expired but your status hasn’t

This is common. The physical BRP’s printed date does not limit your digital immigration permission. Ignore the card and use the online service to show your current status. For background on what your BRP does (and doesn’t) prove, read Your biometric residence permit: work, rent, travel rights.

No UKVI account or can’t access it?

• Recover your account: Use the UKVI sign‑in recovery options (email/phone reset) and re‑link your current passport details.
• Update documents: If you’ve renewed your passport, update your UKVI record so the online check matches you.
• Landlord Checking Service (LCS): In limited cases (e.g., pending applications), landlords can ask the LCS to confirm if you have a right to rent. A positive notice gives them a statutory excuse for a time‑limited period.
• Replace lost BRP: If you need a replacement BRP for travel or identity admin, see our step‑by‑step Apply for BRP or Replace One: Guide 2025. For rent checks, your digital status remains the core proof.

Right to Work vs Right to Rent: Don’t Mix Them Up

These are separate legal checks that often apply to the same person at different times.

Proving your right to work (employee steps)

1. Sign in to your UKVI account.
2. Select Prove your right to work and generate an employer share code.
3. Share the code with your employer before you start work. The code is also valid for up to 90 days.

Employer responsibilities and follow-up checks

• Employers create a statutory excuse by recording the online result on or before the start date.
• If your permission is time‑limited, employers must do a follow‑up check before the permission expires.
• Where status cannot be confirmed online (e.g., certain pending cases), the Employer Checking Service can issue a Positive Verification Notice (PVN) giving a temporary statutory excuse.

Special Cases and Workarounds

Pending applications, in-time appeals, or administrative review

• Rent: Landlords can use the Landlord Checking Service (LCS) to confirm your right to rent if your online record is not yet available. A positive response provides a statutory excuse for a limited time.
• Work: Employers can use the Employer Checking Service (ECS) to obtain a Positive Verification Notice (PVN) if an online check is not possible.
• EUSS CoA (digital): For EU Settlement Scheme applications made on/after 1 July 2021, landlords no longer need to separately verify a digital Certificate of Application with LCS when completing a digital check.
• Section 3C leave: If your previous permission is extended by law while a timely application is decided, LCS/ECS can confirm your continuing permission where the online view has not yet updated.

Name, passport, or date‑of‑birth mismatch

• Update your UKVI record with your new name or passport details so the online result matches your ID and photo.
• Provide supporting evidence (e.g., marriage certificate or deed poll) if requested by the agent to reconcile records.

Students, lodgers, and short‑term lets

• Students: Standard checks apply unless the accommodation is exempt (certain purpose‑built student housing).
• Lodgers (live‑in landlords): You must be checked before moving in, just like tenants in other private lets.
• Time‑limited permission: If your status has an end date, expect a follow‑up rent check before it expires.

When a landlord or agent insists on the physical BRP

Use this compliant wording: “As I hold digital immigration status, my right to rent must be verified via the GOV.UK online service using a share code. The physical BRP is not acceptable on its own. Here is my share code and DOB.”

Landlord and Agent Compliance Essentials

Creating a statutory excuse (and what evidence is kept)

Statutory excuse = the landlord’s legal protection against a civil penalty for renting to someone without the right to rent. To create it, they must:

• Complete the check before the tenancy starts (or in the 28 days before the start for time‑limited status).
• Save a date‑stamped copy of the online result (or certified copies of manually checked British/Irish documents).
• Store records securely for the required period and set reminders for any follow‑up check.

Avoiding unlawful discrimination

• Apply the same process to all prospective tenants. Do not select who to check based on nationality or appearance.
• It’s lawful to run affordability/referencing checks, but not to refuse lets because someone has children or receives benefits.

Follow-up checks and diary reminders

• Where permission is time‑limited, landlords should schedule a follow‑up before the status end date shown in the online result.
• Tenants should expect a reminder near the expiry date and be ready to share a new code.

Copy-&-Paste Scripts You Can Use Today

Email to a letting agent requesting an online check

Subject: Right to Rent – Share Code for [Property Address]

Hello [Agent Name],
I hold digital immigration status. Please use the GOV.UK online service to verify my right to rent with the details below:
Share code: [ABC‑123‑XYZ]
Date of birth: [DD/MM/YYYY]
This code is valid for 90 days. Let me know if you need anything else.
Kind regards,
[Your Name]

Reply if asked for a physical BRP or photocopies

Hi [Name],
As a BRP/eVisa holder, my right to rent must be verified via the GOV.UK online service using a share code. Physical BRP cards or photocopies are not acceptable as standalone proof. I’ve included my share code and DOB above so you can complete the check and keep your statutory excuse.
Thanks,
[Your Name]

Planning ILR or Citizenship? Nail the Life in the UK Test

Right to rent and right to work checks are milestones on the same journey to settlement. If ILR or citizenship is your goal, the Life in the UK Test is mandatory—and failing means extra cost and delay.

Study smarter with the Life in the UK Test App

• Optimised official study material you can actually remember.
• Brit‑Bear smart assistant to focus your weak spots.
• Readiness score tracker to know exactly when to book.
• 650+ questions with explanations and realistic mocks, including Hard Mode.
• Offline access for study on the move.

Many users report passing on their first attempt after a week of focused practice. See our in‑depth review: Best Life in the UK Test App 2025. If you’re mapping your path, don’t miss our guides to Indefinite Leave to Remain and British citizenship.

Download links

• Download on the App Store
• Get it on Google Play

FAQs: Quick Answers to Common Rent/Work Proof Issues

How long is a share code valid?

Up to 90 days. Create a fresh code a few days before your check to avoid expiry issues.

Can a landlord insist on seeing the physical BRP?

No. For BRP/eVisa holders, landlords must use the online check. The card alone is not acceptable proof.

Do I need a new code for each landlord or employer?

You can reuse a valid code, but best practice is to generate a new one for each new check for clarity and control.

Will a right to rent check affect my credit score?

No. It verifies immigration status, not credit. Referencing/affordability checks are separate.

What if my name changed after marriage or deed poll?

Update your UKVI record and provide supporting documents so the online result matches your ID.

Can visitors or short‑stay visa holders rent?

Landlords must verify permission to rent. Time‑limited visitors may not meet letting criteria; checks will confirm eligibility.

How do dependants prove their right to rent?

Each adult occupant must provide their own proof—either a share code (digital status) or eligible documents.

Action Checklist: Get Approved Without Delays

Today’s to‑dos

• Sign in to your UKVI account and confirm your details are correct.
• Update your passport details if you’ve renewed your passport.
• Generate a Right to Rent share code (valid 90 days).
• Draft and send the agent email with your share code.
• Save a copy of the online result when your agent completes the check.
• Set a calendar reminder for any follow‑up check before your permission expiry date.

On a settlement journey? Start preparing for the Life in the UK Test now with the app links above to save time, money and stress later.

Useful references

• Official guidance for landlords and agents on right to rent checks (GOV.UK)
• What documents are acceptable, when to check, and anti‑discrimination rules (GOV.UK)
• Overview of renting changes in 2026 and what landlords must give tenants (GOV.UK)
• Possession grounds and statutory processes if right to rent is lost (GOV.UK)