Working in the UK

• Thinking about working in the UK?
• I'm from the European Union (EU)
• I'm from the European Economic Area (EEA)
• I'm from a new EU member country
• I'm from Romania or Bulgaria
• What is the Worker Registration Scheme?
• How does it work?
• How do I register?
• What if I change employer?
• Do I need a National Insurance (NI) number?
• I'm self-employed
• Where can I find more information?
• I am from a non-EEA country
• What are my qualifications worth in the UK?
• Can I get help to improve my English?
• Where are overseas workers finding jobs?
• Where can I find out about Job Vacancies
• What should I do if I employ / am looking to employ overseas workers?

Thinking about working in the UK?

Are you looking for information about coming to work in the UK? You may be an employer looking for information about recruiting overseas workers. Perhaps you are already working in the UK and need help with your English? If so, the following information for overseas workers and employers should help to point you in the right direction.

I'm from the European Union (EU)

If you are a citizen of one of the following states, you can travel and work within the UK without permission.

Austria, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, Cyprus, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Denmark, Greece, Malta, Sweden.

I'm from the European Economic Area (EEA)

Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are not members of the European Union but under the EEA Agreement you have the same right to move and work freely in the UK without permission.

I'm from a new EU member country

If you are from one of the new accession states (known as the A8 states) of eastern and south-eastern Europe, you can move and work freely in the UK but you must register on the Worker Registration Scheme (WRS). You can read more about the WRS on the Border and Immigration Agency website.

Czech Republic, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Latvia, Slovenia.

I'm from Romania or Bulgaria

You can get advice on if you can live and work in the UK on the Border and Immigration Agency website.

What is the Worker Registration Scheme?

The Worker Registration Scheme (WRS) has been set up in the UK to monitor the number of workers coming from the A8 member states.

How does it work?

If you intend to work for an employer in the UK for longer than one month and are from one of these eight countries, you must register on the WRS. You will be issued with a registration card and certificate. You can contact the WRS on 0114 207 6022 or fill in an online application form, which you can download from the Border and Immigration Agency website

If you have been working without permission since before 1 May 2004, you must still register.

How do I register?

To register for the Worker Registration Scheme (WRS), you'll need to supply:

• personal and employment details
• two passport-size photographs
• a valid passport or ID card
• a one-off payment of £70.

What if I change employer?

If you change employers within the first 12 months, you must re-apply to the WRS for a new certificate. You do not have to make a further payment. After 12 months' continuous employment, you can leave the register and apply for an EEA residence permit, which confirms your right to free movement and work. To apply for a permit, visit the Border and Immigration Agency website.

Do I need a National Insurance (NI) number?

You do not need an NI number to start work but once working, you can apply for a NI number to ensure your NI contributions are up to date. You can apply by contacting the nearest Department of Work and Pensions office in England, Scotland and Wales, or Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland.

I'm self-employed

If you are self-employed and from any EU state, you do not have to register with the WRS. However, on arrival in the UK, you must contact the Revenue and Customs immediately for tax purposes. There is a penalty of £100 for late registration.

Where can I find more information?

You can find full details, downloads and forms on the Border and Immigration Agency website.

I am from a non-EEA country

If you are from a country other than those mentioned above, you should contact the UK Visas website to check if you need a permit or visa to work in the UK.

What are my qualifications worth in the UK?

If you have qualifications from your home country, you can find out what they are equivalent to in the UK by contacting the National Recognition Information Centre (NARIC). This information may be required by employers for some jobs.

Can I get help to improve my English?

Yes. Many organisations can help you with your English. One of the main types of support is English Courses in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Call us on 0800 100 900 to find a course near you.

In response to the high proportion of Polish workers registering to work in the UK, the learndirect Language service has added a dedicated Polish helpline, offering advice about careers and education. For details, call 0800 093 1114.

Where are overseas workers finding jobs?

At the moment, London, East Anglia and the Midlands are attracting the most workers from overseas, with the most popular sectors being administration, business and management, hospitality and catering, agriculture, manufacturing, and food, fish and meat processing. See our job profiles for information on the pay, the training and the opportunities on over 700 different jobs.

Where can I find out about job vacancies?

There are lots of different ways to find job vacancies, including the press, Jobcentres and recruitment agencies. Visit our top tips for finding a job section.

What should I do if I employ / am looking to employ overseas workers?

You must check that overseas workers have permission to work in the UK. The four steps for legal compliance are:

1. Obtain the worker's documents - nationals from EEA countries can provide a variety of document types to prove they can work in the UK. You can find a full list of these on the Employing Migrant Workers website.
2. Check the documents' validity - documents must be originals as copies are not acceptable.
3. Copy and save documents - make copies for your records and store securely.
4. Check if the employee is from one of the eight countries that need to register for the Worker Registration Scheme (details on the Border and Immigration Agency website)

Information for employers is available from the Employer's Helpline on 0845 010 6677 and on the Employing Migrant Workers website.

For more information about jobs in the UK, check out our job profiles - there are over 700 to choose from. If you need advice or want to talk through your options with an adviser, call us free on 0800 100 900. Don't worry if you can't call during the day as we're here from 8am to 10pm seven days a week. You can also email an adviser or request a call back at a time to suit you.