Human Resources

Employing nationals from the European Economic Area (EEA)

EEA and Swiss nationals and their family have the right to live and work in the UK (known as the ‘right of residence’) unless otherwise indicted in their passport or national identity card.

Family members who are not EEA or Swiss nationals may need to apply for an EEA family permit before they can come to the UK. This permit is similar to a visa. Full information about EEA nationals can be found on the UKBA website: http://www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/rightsandresponsibilites/

EEA member countries

EEA nationals who can work without restriction are:

Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Republic of 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
UK

Note: an ID card must show the person’s nationality.

*EU countries

Switzerland is neither, an EU, or EEA member but is part of the single market – so have the same rights to live and work in the UK as other EEA nationals.

Croatian nationals


Croatian nationals require sponsorship and must apply for an Accession Worker Card unless they have a Blue Registration Card allowing them to work without restriction.
The Accession Worker Card only relates to their current job and work permit. If they change jobs, a new work permit and Accession Worker Card or Blue exemption card is required. They cannot work without either the Blue Registration Card, or Tier 2 CoS and Accession Worker Card (purple card).
If they are a student and do not have a student stamp granting the right to work then they must have a Yellow Registration Certificate, which confirms their right to work under student restrictions.
A Blue Registration Card can be obtained once a Croatian national has completed 12 months continuous work in the UK.
Please see the pre-employment checklist in respect of Croatian nationals at http://www.cms.rdg.ac.uk/internal/humanresources/Recruitment/humres-documents.aspx