UK registration services will accept UKVI share codes as proof that a party is exempt from immigration control when giving notice to marry or form a civil partnership. The regulations were made on 29 January 2026, laid before Parliament on 2 February, and take effect on 25 February 2026, applying across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The change sits within the long‑running referral and investigation scheme created by Part 4 of the Immigration Act 2014. That scheme allows the Home Office to extend the standard 28‑day notice to 70 days in cases it chooses to investigate for potential sham marriages or civil partnerships; the concept of an exempt person remains unchanged. The update streamlines how exemption is shown, not the threshold for investigations. (gov.uk)

In practical terms, a party who is exempt from immigration control may either present a Home Office letter confirming exemption or give their date of birth with a valid share code so the registrar can view their UKVI account. The account must display a digital record confirming the person is exempt; if access fails or a code has expired, the registrar can request a fresh code. These routes are set out in the new amendments to the 2015 regulations.

For England and Wales, the amendments update Schedule 1 of the 2015 Referral of Proposed Marriages and Civil Partnerships Regulations. Parallel amendments apply to the Scotland and Northern Ireland administrative regulations to keep a consistent approach across the UK. (legislation.gov.uk)

For couples, the process mirrors other digital checks. Share codes are generated via the government’s View and Prove service and are time‑limited; registrars will also need the applicant’s date of birth to run the check. Share codes currently last 90 days and can be recreated at any time, so it is sensible to generate and test one before booking an appointment. (gov.uk)

Digital verification should cut paperwork for genuine couples and help busy register offices move faster. The Home Office’s own caseworker guidance still requires evidence before any investigation is launched, with decisions based on reasonable grounds rather than automated flags. Genuine cases should continue on the standard 28‑day notice while higher‑risk referrals remain subject to the 70‑day window. (gov.uk)

Inclusive delivery matters. Analysis by the University of Oxford’s Migration Observatory finds that some migrants with digital‑only documents report more difficulty proving their rights than those with physical documents, with confidence especially lower among older people. Registration services should therefore maintain assisted‑digital support and clear communications. (migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk)

Civil society groups tracking eVisa issues also point to account access glitches and confusion among third parties. The eVisa Problems coalition provides troubleshooting and invites users to report problems-useful intelligence for services preparing staff and signage ahead of the change. (evisa-problems.org.uk)

If you are exempt from immigration control and planning to marry or register a civil partnership, prepare early: sign in to your UKVI account, check your details, generate a share code, and keep your ID to hand. If a registrar cannot access your record, you may be asked to create a new code on the spot-a quick fix when your account is set up. (gov.uk)

The shift to digital proof does not alter who is investigated or why; it modernises the evidence registrars can accept. With a clear start date of Wednesday 25 February 2026, local services have a short window to brief teams, update appointment letters and keep a paper fallback available for those who need it.