Who must register?

This page explains who is required to register under the Worker Registration Scheme and what exceptions there are to this requirement.

European Community law gives you the right to live in the United Kingdom if you are working here or you have enough money to support yourself without help from public funds.

However, you will normally have to register under the Worker Registration Scheme if you wish to work for an employer in the United Kingdom for more than one month and are a citizen of:

• Czech Republic;
• Estonia;
• Hungary;
• Latvia;
• Lithuania;
• Poland;
• Slovakia; or
• Slovenia.

Who is exempt from registration?

You are not required to register if you:

• are self-employed;
• have been working legally in the United Kingdom for 12 months without a break in employment;
• are providing services in the United Kingdom on behalf of an employer who is not established in this country;
• have dual citizenship of the United Kingdom, another country within the European Economic Area (EEA) that is not listed above, or Switzerland;
• are the family member of a Swiss or EEA citizen (except the countries listed above) and that person is working in the United Kingdom; or
• are the family member of a Swiss or EEA citizen who is living in the United Kingdom as a student, or a retired or self-sufficient person.

If you are self-employed, you do not need to register under the Worker Registration Scheme, but you must contact HM Revenue & Customs immediately to register for tax purposes. There is a £100 fine for late registration.

Once you have completed 12 months work with no more than 30 days break, you will no longer need to register on the Worker Registration Scheme. If you wish, you can then obtain a registration certificate confirming your right to live and work in the United Kingdom, although you are not obliged to do so.

If you are exempt from registration on the Worker Registration Scheme, you can obtain a registration certificate confirming your status, although you are not obliged to do so.

To obtain a registration certificate, you will need to complete application form EEA1. See For European citizens for more information.

If you are the family member of an EEA citizen, you can obtain a residence card that confirms this. You will need to complete application form EEA2. See For European citizens for more information.

You can contact us for more information on immigration issues. There is no dedicated enquiry helpline for the Worker Registration Scheme and you cannot make enquiries or applications in person at our public enquiry offices.

Latvian non-citizen (alien) passport holders

If you have a Latvian alien passport, you do not have the right to work in the United Kingdom under the Worker Registration Scheme and must apply for permission to enter the country before you come to the United Kingdom to work.

We call this permission 'entry clearance'. It will be in the form of a visa or entry clearance certificate. To obtain it, you should apply to the British diplomatic post in the country where you live. For information about visas, see the UK Visa Services website.

Have enough money to support and house yourself without needing to seek help from the social assistance system. You will normally need to show you have comprehensive sickness insurance to pay for any medical treatment you may need in the United Kingdom.A British diplomatic post is a United Kingdom embassy, high commission or consulate.The partner, child or other dependent relative of the main applicant.