EEA Nationals

Swiss nationals and EEA nationals have a right to live and work in the United Kingdom.

You have a right of residence in the United Kingdom if you are an EEA national and:

1. You are working in the United Kingdom; or
2. You do not work in the United Kingdom, but you have enough money to support yourself throughout your stay without help from public funds. Public funds include Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit

In order to enter the UK, you will have to show your passport or national identity card. When you arrive at major ports and airports, you should use the separate channel marked ‘EEA/EU’ where it is available. Immigration officers will check your passport or national identity card to make sure that it is valid and belongs to you.

Working in the UK for EEA and Swiss Nationals

You can:

1. accept offers of work;
2. work (whether as an employee, in self-employment or in business);
3. set up a business;
4. manage a company; or
5. set up a local branch of a company.

You can live in the United Kingdom as a student, as a retired person or if you are not working, as long you have enough money to support yourself throughout your stay.

Residence permits for EEA Nationals

A residence permit simply confirms that you have a right to live in the United Kingdom under European Community law. You will need to apply for a residence permit if your family members want to apply for a residence document.

A residence permit is normally valid for five years. However, residence permits may be issued for a shorter period if you are working or studying in the United Kingdom.

You will probably not be given a residence permit if:

1. you are in the United Kingdom for a short visit;
2. you are looking for work;
3. you will work and live in the United Kingdom for less than three months; or
4. you do not work in the United Kingdom and cannot support yourself without help from public funds.

If you are a national of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia or Slovenia and you are working, you probably need to register under the WORKER REGISTRATION SCHEME before you are eligible to apply for a residence permit.

This can be evidenced by:

1. you have passed a test in English equivalent to level c1 of the council of Europe’s common European framework for language learning (equivalent to grade c at GCSE) or;
2. you come from a country where English is the majority language or;
3. you have taken a degree taught in English.

Maintenance Section

Applicants will need to evidence £2800 savings for the set period throughout.

Contact Sultan Lloyd Solicitors

Looking for more information on EEA Nationals? Call us on: 01212482850, email: [email protected] or click here to make an online enquiry.

We are open from 9am till 5.30pm, Monday to Friday. If you work full time and can’t see us during the week, we offer pre-arranged Saturday appointments for your convenience.