Rights Of Workers
Citizens of the European Economic Area, Switzerland and the UK
If you are a British citizen, a Swiss national or a national of a country in the
European Economic Area (EEA) you do not need our permission to work in the
United Kingdom.
The EEA includes these countries:
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom
Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are not members of the European Union
(EU). However, the European Economic Area Agreement gives nationals of
these countries the same rights to enter, live in and work in the United
Kingdom as EU citizens.
From the 1 June 2002, Swiss nationals have had the same rights as EEA
nationals within the United Kingdom. They can work without a work permit.
The Immigration and Nationality Directorate cannot help people find jobs or
provide information about tax or National Insurance contributions. For help
finding work, contact Job Centre Plus. This is part of the Department of
Works and Pensions.
For information on National Insurance and tax contributions, you should
contact the Inland Revenue.
Bulgaria and Romania
Parliament has now approved the regulations that will manage the flow of
new workers into the UK from Romania and Bulgaria when they join the EU
on 1st January 2007.
These regulations follow the Government’s decision, announced on 24
October, to put in place transitional arrangements for these new member
states whilst we make progress on our immigration reforms, and properly
understand the wider impacts of an expanded European Union.
At the heart of the new regulations is the restriction of low-skilled workers
to existing quota schemes in the agricultural and food processing sectors.
Skilled workers will continue to be able to work in the UK if they qualify for
a work permit or under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme.
For further guidance and downloadable versions of all Bulgarian & Romanian
application forms, please go to the All forms section of the Working in the
UK website.
Position for New Member States - Workers Registration Scheme
The statement by the Home Secretary to Parliament on 23 February
announced that workers from the new member states must register with
the Home Office.
From 1 May 2004 nationals from New Member States will be free to come
to the United Kingdom. Nationals from Malta and Cyprus will have full free
movement rights and are not required to obtain a workers registration
certificate.
Nationals from the following new member states; Poland, Lithuania, Estonia,
Latvia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic who find a job in
the United Kingdom are required to apply to register with the Home Office
under the new 'Worker Registration Scheme' as soon as they find work.
Full details on the Worker Registration Scheme are available this website.
If this page does not answer your questions, please telephone or write to us
for further advice
If you are a British citizen, a Swiss national or a national of a country in the
European Economic Area (EEA) you do not need our permission to work in the
United Kingdom.
The EEA includes these countries:
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom
Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are not members of the European Union
(EU). However, the European Economic Area Agreement gives nationals of
these countries the same rights to enter, live in and work in the United
Kingdom as EU citizens.
From the 1 June 2002, Swiss nationals have had the same rights as EEA
nationals within the United Kingdom. They can work without a work permit.
The Immigration and Nationality Directorate cannot help people find jobs or
provide information about tax or National Insurance contributions. For help
finding work, contact Job Centre Plus. This is part of the Department of
Works and Pensions.
For information on National Insurance and tax contributions, you should
contact the Inland Revenue.
Bulgaria and Romania
Parliament has now approved the regulations that will manage the flow of
new workers into the UK from Romania and Bulgaria when they join the EU
on 1st January 2007.
These regulations follow the Government’s decision, announced on 24
October, to put in place transitional arrangements for these new member
states whilst we make progress on our immigration reforms, and properly
understand the wider impacts of an expanded European Union.
At the heart of the new regulations is the restriction of low-skilled workers
to existing quota schemes in the agricultural and food processing sectors.
Skilled workers will continue to be able to work in the UK if they qualify for
a work permit or under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme.
For further guidance and downloadable versions of all Bulgarian & Romanian
application forms, please go to the All forms section of the Working in the
UK website.
Position for New Member States - Workers Registration Scheme
The statement by the Home Secretary to Parliament on 23 February
announced that workers from the new member states must register with
the Home Office.
From 1 May 2004 nationals from New Member States will be free to come
to the United Kingdom. Nationals from Malta and Cyprus will have full free
movement rights and are not required to obtain a workers registration
certificate.
Nationals from the following new member states; Poland, Lithuania, Estonia,
Latvia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic who find a job in
the United Kingdom are required to apply to register with the Home Office
under the new 'Worker Registration Scheme' as soon as they find work.
Full details on the Worker Registration Scheme are available this website.
If this page does not answer your questions, please telephone or write to us
for further advice