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European Workers: Worker Registration Scheme
On 1st May 2004, ten countries joined the European Economic Area (EEA). Of these ten countries, the UK requires nationals of eight (the A8 countries) to register with the Home Office if they are working in the UK. They are
- Czech Republic
- Estonia
- Hungary
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Poland
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
The two countries whose nationals do not need to register are Cyprus and Malta.
The table below provides details about permits and regulations for European workers who are required to register under the European Workers: Worker Registration Scheme (WRS). Please note, this information is for the individual rather than the employer.
Information that needs to be provided by the employer is marked with an asterisk (*) or scroll down the page for FAQs about employing A8 workers.
| European workers: Worker Registration Scheme (WRS) | |
|---|---|
| Qualifying criteria | Applies to citizens of some of the new EEA member states (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) planning to work for more than one month for an employer in the UK. For full details of the scheme, please refer to the Border and Immigration Agency website |
| Permitted work | There are no restrictions on the types of jobs citizens of these EEA member states can undertake. They must, however, register for each separate employer they have. After twelve months of continuous employment, the employee will no longer be subject to the WRS. |
| Who applies where? | Applicant applies to the Home Office Worker Registration Team using the form WRS, which is available to download from the Border and Immigration Agency website *The employer must ensure that employees have complied with the law otherwise the employer may be committing a criminal offence. |
| Duration of leave | There is no visa as such, nor a limit on the amount of time the person can spend in the UK. However, the individual must register each employer until they have been working legally in the UK for 12 months. |
| Extending the leave | There is no need for extensions as there is no visa as such, however individuals must register every change of employment. |
| Applying for settlement | The new EEA citizens have a right to live in the UK as long as they are working or they have sufficient funds to support themselves without help from public funds. After they have been working legally in the UK for 12 months without a break they have full rights of free movement and can apply for an EEA residence permit. |
| Family and dependents | New EEA citizens may bring with them dependent children and other dependent close relatives and/or their spouse or long-term partner. Family members who are not EEA nationals must get an EEA family permit from the visa section of a British diplomatic post if they are coming to live in the UK long term or permanently. They must get the permit before they travel to the UK or they will be refused entry. |
| Cost of application | See charges and fees |
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