UK law requires marketplaces like Bubble to check that everyone has the right to work in the UK before they can accept work on the platform.
Bubble’s in-app onboarding process provides a streamlined, digital solution for sitters to complete this check.
To do so requires a passport and for non UK/Irish citizens - a share code.
This article explains two things: how to get a share code in order to prove your right to work in the UK and where to get help if you don't currently have the required right to work in the UK.
A quick note: Bubble's team can help you with the verification process itself, but we're not allowed to give you immigration advice. In the UK, only advisers registered with the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), or qualified solicitors and barristers, can legally advise you on your personal immigration situation. Everything below is general information, with links to official sources.
Part 1: How to get a share code
Who needs one?
A share code is for sitters who are not British or Irish citizens but have a UK immigration status - for example, EU Settlement Scheme status (settled or pre-settled), a visa, or indefinite leave to remain. Your status is held digitally by the Home Office as an eVisa, and the share code is how you prove it to us.
Here’s how to get your share code:
Steps
Go to the official government service: Prove your right to work to an employer on GOV.UK.
Sign in to your UKVI account. This is the account created when you applied for your visa or settled status - use the email address, phone number or identity document linked to it.
Choose the option to prove your right to work (share codes for other purposes, like renting, won't work for this check).
You'll be given a 9-character share code beginning with W. It's valid for 90 days.
Having trouble signing in?
If you can't access your UKVI account, use the recover your UKVI account service on GOV.UK.
If something in your eVisa looks wrong (name, photo, status), you can report an error with your eVisa to the Home Office.
For anything else, contact the UKVI resolution centre via GOV.UK - Bubble can't access or fix your Home Office account for you.
Part 2: What if I don't currently have the right to work?
The right to work in the UK isn't something you apply for on its own - it comes from your immigration status. So what you can do depends entirely on your personal circumstances, and this is exactly the area where we can't advise you and you should get proper guidance.
One thing worth knowing about your work conditions
Some visas allow employment but do not allow self-employment, and sitters on Bubble work on a self-employed basis. For example, Student visa holders are generally not permitted to do self-employed work, even though they can do some employed work. When we check your share code, we have to look at your conditions, not just whether you have a status - so if your visa doesn't permit self-employment, we won't be able to verify you, even if you can work in other jobs. Your conditions are shown in your eVisa.
Situations people in your position often look into
These are general examples only - whether any of them applies to you depends on your circumstances, and you should check the official GOV.UK pages or speak to a registered adviser:
EU, EEA or Swiss citizens who were living in the UK before 31 December 2020 may still be able to make a late application to the EU Settlement Scheme — it's free, and you'll need to explain why you're applying late. If you make a valid application, tell us: while it's being decided, the Home Office can often confirm your position to us directly, so you may not have to wait for the final decision to get verified.
People finishing a degree at a UK university sometimes move onto the Graduate visa, which permits self-employment.
Nationals of certain countries aged 18–35 sometimes use the Youth Mobility Scheme.
Partners and family members of British citizens or people settled in the UK may have a family visa route.
Where to get real advice
Find an immigration adviser on GOV.UK — this lists advisers registered with the Immigration Advice Authority. Some offer free or low-cost help.
Citizens Advice — free, independent guidance and referrals.
Local law centres often provide free immigration help — find one at lawcentres.org.uk.
Please be careful of unofficial "agents" on social media offering to fix visas or sell share codes - a genuine share code can only come from your own UKVI account, and using someone else's documents or status is a criminal offence.
What happens to my Bubble account in the meantime?
If we can't verify your right to work, you won't be able to accept sits - but your account isn't deleted. If your situation changes (for example, a new visa is granted or your EU Settlement Scheme application succeeds), just get in touch and we'll run the check again.
This article is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Immigration rules change - always check GOV.UK for the current position.
Last reviewed: September 2026