Employing EEA and Swiss Nationals
Nationals of EEA (European Economic Area) countries and Switzerland can enter the UK freely. However, not all EEA and Swiss nationals are permitted to work. Nationals of some EEA countries may require permission to work from the UK Border Agency before they take employment.
Those with free rights to work in the UK
Nationals of the following countries can enter the UK and work without restriction:
| Austria | France | Italy | Norway |
| Belgium | Germany | Liechtenstein | Portugal |
| Cyprus | Greece | Luxembourg | Spain |
| Denmark | Iceland | Malta | Sweden |
| Finland | Ireland | Netherlands | Switzerland |
| Czech Republic | Hungary | Lithuania | Slovakia |
| Estonia | Latvia | Poland | Slovenia |
When completing right to work checks on nationals from one of the above countries, departments should ensure that they view and copy one of the documents/ combinations of documents detailed in List A 
(44kb).
Worker Registration Scheme
The Worker Registration Scheme closed with effect from 1 May 2011. Nationals of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia, Poland and Slovenia are now able to work in the UK without restriction.
Bulgarian and Romanian Nationals
Bulgarian and Romanian nationals are free to enter the UK but must have permission to work before taking employment. The majority of Bulgarian and Romanian nationals will require a Work Permit and Accession Worker Card. See the Work Permits website for details of how to apply for a Work Permit and Accession Worker Card for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals.
When conducting right to work checks for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals, departments should retain a copy of both the Work Permit (usually a letter of permission to work from the UK Border Agency) and the Accession Worker Card
Bulgarian and Romanian nationals are exempt from the requirement to obtain a Work Permit and Accession Worker Card if:
- they have leave to enter under the Immigration Act 1971 and their leave does not place any restrictions on taking employment in the UK. For example, someone who has been given leave to enter/remain as the spouse of a British citizen, as the dependant of a work permit holder, or as the dependant of a student with a visa valid for more than 12 months.
- they have been working with permission, and without interruption, in the UK for a period of 12 months. For example, someone already present in the UK as a work permit holder, or as a student who has been in part-time employment continuously for 12 months.
- they are providing services in the UK on behalf of an employer based elsewhere in the EEA.
Details and illustrations of the types of documents that departments should copy to prove that a Bulgarian or Romanian national is exempt from the requirement to obtain a Work Permit and Accession Worker Card can be found on pages 62-66 of the UK Border Agency's guidance document on right to work checks.