European Union

European Union nationals benefit from more favourable provisions of immigration law than nationals of other countries.  These differ depending on which European Union state you are from.

In general there are three groups.

• EEA18 nationals including Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.  Nationals of these countries are free to come to the UK to visit, work, and study.  Workers can bring a wide range of family members with them including non-European family members.  (N.B.  Switzerland, although not a member of the EEA has signed an agreement allowing its citizens the same rights as EEA nationals.)

• A8 countries including the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.  Nationals of A8 countries are required to register under the Workers Registration Scheme to work for an employer in the UK.  They can be self-employed and there is no special registration for self-employed A8 nationals, just the normal self-employment requirements that apply to anyone in the UK.  After a year of registered work A8 nationals become entitled to all the same rights as EU nationals.

• A2 countries including Romania and Bulgaria who joined the European Union on 1 January 2007.  Nationals of these two countries are subject to a separate Workers Registration Scheme.  They must obtain a registration document before starting work and the types of work Bulgarian and Romanian nationals are allowed to do are limited. They can be self-employed and there is no special registration for self-employed A2 nationals, just the normal self-employment requirements that apply to anyone in the UK.  After a year of registered work, workers can apply for a registration card and are then entitled to all the rights of EU nationals.

If you are a European Union state national do not assume the general law applies to you, check for special provisions.  For further advice contact Jamie Kerr, our immigration expert.