Expired eVisa share code in your Life in the UK test account: does it delay ILR?
If the eVisa share code you used when registering for your Life in the UK test has since expired, that does not invalidate your test pass and is not a reason your indefinite leave to remain (ILR) application will be delayed. Your Life in the UK test pass stands on its own: when you applied, you were issued a unique reference number (URN), and that is what you quote on your ILR form to prove the test requirement. A share code is a separate, short-lived tool for proving your immigration status to third parties such as employers and landlords. The Home Office sees your immigration status directly, so an old, expired code from booking time has no bearing on settlement.
- You provide your Life in the UK test unique reference number (URN) on your ILR form, not a share code.
- A share code lasts 90 days, then expires automatically. This is normal and expected.
- Share codes exist to prove status to employers, landlords and at the border, not to link your test pass to your application.
- The Home Office checks your current immigration status from its own records when you apply for ILR.
- You only need to pass the Life in the UK test once. The same pass is reused for both settlement and citizenship.
Why an expired share code is not a problem
A share code is deliberately temporary. GOV.UK confirms it lasts 90 days and then stops working, after which you simply generate a new one. There is no limit on how many you can create, and each is tied to a specific reason (right to work, right to rent, or travel). So the code you generated months ago when booking your test was always going to expire. That is by design, not a fault on your account.
Crucially, the share code you used at test-booking time is not stored as a permanent link between your test pass and any future application. The booking system used it once to confirm your eligibility on that day. Your ILR application is a fresh, separate process where the Home Office verifies your status from its own systems.
What the Home Office actually checks at ILR
For settlement, two different things are being assessed, and they use different proof:
- The Life in the UK test requirement is proven by your unique reference number. GOV.UK states you provide this number on the application form and you do not normally need to send the certificate itself.
- Your identity and current immigration status are confirmed through your eVisa and UKVI account. When you submit and verify your application, the Home Office can view your live status directly.
Because your status is held electronically, there is no requirement to keep an old share code "alive" in the background. If the application service ever asks you to prove your status with a code during the process, you generate a fresh one at that moment.
Do not skip the test requirement field assuming your account already "has" it. You must enter your unique reference number (or, for tests taken before 1 October 2019, attach the confirmation letter). A blank or wrong reference number is a far more common cause of delay than any expired share code.
The delay anecdote, explained
The post you saw, where someone blamed an expired share code for a delayed ILR, is almost certainly a coincidence. ILR applications are delayed for many reasons: missing documents, biometric appointment backlogs, additional checks, or a mismatched reference number. An expired share code from test-booking time is not a known cause, because that code plays no role in the settlement decision. Correlation is not causation here.
If you do want to be belt-and-braces before applying, sign in to your UKVI account, check your eVisa shows the correct current status, and confirm you can generate a working share code if needed. That is reassurance for you, not a Home Office requirement for the application to proceed.
What to do before you apply in July 2026
Keep it simple and focus on what the Home Office actually wants. Make sure you have your Life in the UK test unique reference number to hand, and double-check your supporting documents against the official checklist for your route. If your visa category has specific evidence rules, see our ILR document checklist so nothing is missing on submission. Budgeting matters too, since fees are substantial, so review how much ILR costs before you start.
When the day comes, enter your URN carefully, verify your identity through your UKVI account as prompted, and submit. The expired share code from when you booked your test in December 2025 is not something you need to fix first.