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Frontier Worker permit

United KingdomFree movement

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

Explore pathways in United Kingdom Read the five questions ↓

Which citizenship, status or regional agreement creates the person's right to move/reside?

Being from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, living outside the UK and having begun working in the UK by 31 December 2020; the Withdrawal Agreement protects the rights of EU citizen frontier workers who began working in the UK by 31 December 2020. Irish citizens do not need a permit but may choose to apply; British citizens (including dual citizens) cannot apply.

See recorded sources

Under which circumstances can the person reside: worker, self-employed, student, jobseeker, self-funded person or another recognised basis?

Only as a worker or self-employed person who lives primarily outside the UK: eligible if they spent less than 180 days in the UK in any 12-month period, or, if 180 days or more, returned to their country of residence at least once every 6 months or twice in that 12-month period. They must have started working in the UK while living elsewhere by 31 December 2020 as an employed or self-employed person, do genuine and effective work, and usually have worked in the UK at least once every 12 months. ‘Retained worker’ or ‘retained self-employed person’ status covers temporary inability to work due to illness, accident, pregnancy or childbirth, voluntary unemployment with vocational training related to the last occupation, or involuntary unemployment while looking for work in the UK or doing vocational training.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.gov.uk/frontier-worker-permit/print
    You must live ‘primarily’ outside of the UK. How you meet this requirement depends on how much time you’ve spent here since 1 January 2020. You’ll be eligible if you’ve spent less than 180 days in total in the UK over the course of any 12 month period. If you’ve spent 180 days or more in the UK within 12 months You’ll still be eligible if, in that 12 month period, you returned to the country you live in at least either: once every 6 months twice in the 12 month period
  • https://www.gov.uk/frontier-worker-permit/print
    have started working in the UK while living elsewhere by 31 December 2020, either as an employed or self-employed person do eligible work usually have worked in the UK (as an employed or self-employed person) at least once every 12 months since you started working here
  • https://www.gov.uk/frontier-worker-permit/print
    Your work in the UK must be ‘genuine and effective’.
  • https://www.gov.uk/frontier-worker-permit/print
    You might still be eligible if you’ve been unemployed or not worked during this time because you were: temporarily unable to work because of an illness or accident temporarily unable to work because you were pregnant or had given birth voluntarily unemployed and doing vocational training related to your last occupation involuntarily unemployed, and either looking for work in the UK or doing vocational training This is known as having ‘retained worker’ or ‘retained self-employed person’ status.

What entry, registration or residence-document formalities remain?

Applications for a Frontier Worker permit are made online; there is no fee and no immigration health surcharge, though biometric submission may cost. A valid passport or national identity card is needed, and identity is proved via the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app, or photo/fingerprints at a visa application centre (from outside the UK) or a photo at a UKVCAS service point (from inside the UK). The permit is issued digitally (if the app was used) or physically, and lasts 5 years, or 2 years with ‘retained’ status. Holders must tell the Home Office if they stop working in the UK and do not meet a retained status criterion.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.gov.uk/frontier-worker-permit/print
    There’s no fee to apply for the permit, and you do not have to pay the immigration health surcharge. You may have to pay to submit your biometric information (photograph or fingerprints).
  • https://www.gov.uk/frontier-worker-permit/print
    You must apply online for a Frontier Worker permit.
  • https://www.gov.uk/frontier-worker-permit/print
    When you apply you’ll need a valid passport or national identity card.
  • https://www.gov.uk/frontier-worker-permit/print
    use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document (you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration account) have your photograph and fingerprints taken at a visa application centre (if you’re applying from outside the UK and cannot use the smartphone app)
  • https://www.gov.uk/frontier-worker-permit/print
    If you applied using the ‘UK Immigration: ID check’ app, you’ll be issued a digital version of your permit. If you do not use the smartphone app to apply, you’ll either be sent: a physical version of the permit (if you applied inside the UK) an email explaining how you can come to the UK and collect your permit (if you applied outside the UK) Your permit will last for 5 years, or 2 years if you apply with ‘retained’ status.
  • https://www.gov.uk/frontier-worker-permit/print
    You need to tell the Home Office if you stop working in the UK and do not meet one of the retained status criteria.
  • https://www.gov.uk/frontier-worker-permit/print
    have your photograph taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point (if you’re applying from inside the UK and cannot use the smartphone app)

Which non-member-country family members can accompany or join, and what broad rights do they receive?

Family members are not covered by the Frontier Worker permit; they may be eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme for settled or pre-settled status. The family member must show evidence of the family relationship and that the person meets the definition of frontier worker. The official source does not state which non-EU family members qualify or the rights they receive.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The pages consulted do not describe which non-EU family members qualify or the rights they receive under the EU Settlement Scheme.

When do permanent/long-term rights arise and what continuity, absence or retention conditions matter?

The frontier-worker right lasts for as long as the person continues to be a frontier worker. The permit lasts 5 years, or 2 years with ‘retained’ status; on renewal the holder must show they continued to meet the eligibility requirements since the last application, and someone not working at renewal may get a 2-year permit with retained status. Continuity requires having usually worked in the UK at least once every 12 months. The official source does not state whether or when frontier-worker status leads to a permanent right of residence.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The pages consulted do not state whether or when frontier-worker status leads to any permanent right of residence.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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