If you live outside the European Economic Area (EEA), in order to work in the UK you will need a valid work permit.
European Community law allows nationals from the following EEA nations the right to live and work in the UK without obtaining a work permit:
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
On 1st May 2004 the EEA was enlarged to include the following states:
Cyprus, Czech Republic*, Estonia*, Hungary*, Latvia*, Lithuania*, Malta, Poland*, Slovakia*, Slovenia*
Citizens from these countries are now free to come and work within the UK but those from countries marked with an asterisk in the list above are subject to a Home Office Workers Registration Scheme to monitor the participation in the UK labour market of workers from those countries.
Since 1st January 2007 citizens from Bulgaria and Romania have been able to travel freely around the EU, but will need either an Accession Worker Card or other type of UK work permit or visa to allow them to take up employment in the UK.
The following British Overseas Territories Citizens are not subject to UK immigration control (but must have a British passport endorsed British Citizen):
- Anguilla - Falkland Islands - Ducie and Oeno Islands - Bermuda - Gibraltar - St Helena and Dependencies - British Indian Ocean Territory - British Antarctic Territory - Montserrat
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia - Pitcairn - Turks & Caicos Islands - Cayman Islands - Henderson - Virgin Islands
For information obtaining a work permit or Visa please see www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk
Home Office - www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk Working visas - www.workpermit.co.uk Foreign & Commonwealth Office (London) - www.fco.gov.uk