The United Kingdom government has outlined the 31 countries whose citizens may qualify for a Frontier Worker permit to work in the UK while living primarily outside the country. This permit is designed for eligible European nationals who live outside the UK but work in the country. The list includes all 27 EU member states, alongside Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
According to official Home Office guidance, applicants must be nationals of an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein and must live outside the UK. The 31 countries whose nationals are covered by the Frontier Worker permit include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, 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, and Switzerland.
Being a citizen of one of the listed countries does not automatically qualify someone for the permit. The applicant must live primarily outside the UK and must have started working in the UK, either as an employee or self-employed person, while living elsewhere by December 31, 2020. Applicants will generally also need to have worked in the UK at least once every 12 months since they began working there, although exceptions can apply in certain circumstances.
The Home Office says applicants may need to provide documents such as an employment contract, payslips, or invoices to demonstrate their work in the UK. Successful applicants can receive a permit valid for five years, or two years where they apply with retained status. The scheme therefore provides eligible cross-border workers with a way to maintain their work in the UK while continuing to live outside the country.
Another feature of the Frontier Worker permit is that eligible applicants do not pay a fee to apply. The UK government also confirms that Frontier Worker permit holders are exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge. Irish citizens do not need a Frontier Worker permit to work in the UK because of the Common Travel Area, although they can choose to apply for one.
The UK government has also released a fresh travel update affecting citizens of selected countries, highlighting a special route available to eligible travellers planning to enter Britain. This update is separate from the Frontier Worker permit but demonstrates the UK's ongoing efforts to update its immigration policies.
The Frontier Worker permit scheme provides eligible cross-border workers with a way to maintain their work in the UK while continuing to live outside the country. Eligible applicants can apply for the permit, which is valid for five years, and work in the UK without paying an application fee or Immigration Health Surcharge.
Key points
- The UK has listed 31 countries whose citizens are eligible for a Frontier Worker permit.
- Eligible applicants do not pay a fee to apply for the Frontier Worker permit.
- The permit is valid for five years and allows holders to work in the UK while living abroad.
