EEA AND Swiss National

Swiss Nationals and EEA Nationals have a right to live and work in the United Kingdom. This is called a Right of Residence.

You have a Right of Residence in the United Kingdom if you are an EEA National and:

In order to enter the United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom

You can:

You do not need a Work Permit, however you may need to register as a worker under the Workers Registration Scheme.

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 without needing help from public funds.

Residence Permits

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 for less than 12 months.

You will probably not be given a residence permit if:

Your Family

If you have a right to live in the United Kingdom, your family may join you. Your family is defined as:

If you are a student, only your spouse, civil partner or dependent children are entitled to a Right of Residence.

Other relatives (including extended family members such as brothers, sisters and cousins) do not have an automatic right to live in the United Kingdom. To be considered, the extended family member must be able to demonstrate that they are dependent on you. If you and your partner are not married or in a civil partnership, you must be able to show that, you are in a durable relationship with each other.

Family members who are not EEA or Swiss Nationals

If your family members are not EEA or Swiss Nationals and they are coming to live with you permanently or on a long-term basis, they will need to apply for an EEA Family Permit before coming to the United Kingdom. The EEA Family Permit is similar to a Visa and is issued by Visa Services. Your family members should apply for an EEA Family Permit.

Residence Cards are issued to non-EEA National family members (family members of EEA Nationals who are not themselves EEA Nationals). The card confirms that person's Right of Residence under European law.

Non-EEA National family members of nationals of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia or Slovenia are not eligible to apply for a Residence Card until the EEA National has completed twelve months of continuous employment in the United Kingdom. Non-EEA National Family Members can apply for a Family Member Residence Stamp to confirm their Right of Residence under European law.

Tier 2 English Language Requirements

To gain entry into the United Kingdom under all categories* of Tier 2 it is necessary to fulfil the English Language Requirement. This is intended to demonstrate an applicant's ability to succeed in his or her new job and to successfully integrate into the United Kingdom society.

* Please see the notes at the bottom of this page

Applicants must be able to speak English at a level that shows familiarity with everyday expressions and basic phrases. They must be able to introduce themselves to others and answer basic personal questions about themselves.

An applicant can demonstrate the necessary competence in English in one of three ways.

1. By being a national of a majority English-speaking country

Nationals of the majority English-speaking countries listed below automatically meet the English Language Requirement:

Documentary evidence of nationality can be in the form of a current valid original passport or travel document, current national identity card or an original letter from the applicant’s home government or embassy

2. By successfully completing a degree equivalent to a THE United Kingdom Bachelors degree taught in English

An applicant may provide evidence that he or she holds a degree, which:

3. By passing an acceptable English language test

The test certificate must have been issued by an organisation approved by the United Kingdom Border Agency.

As an example, the following test and pass mark is acceptable in the general category:

Notes

1: It is assumed that people applying for entry under Tier 2 for Ministers of Religion, generally require a higher level of English language ability as they must address a congregation. For them an IELTS - Level B2 - score 5.5 is the required minimum if the English language test is their chosen method of demonstrating their necessary competence in English.

2: People applying for entry under Tier 2 for Intra Company Transfers do not have to satisfy the English Language Requirement unless they are applying for leave extension that takes their total leave under this scheme beyond 3 years.