Jump to content

Work permits - Bulgarian and Romanian nationals only

Work permit arrangements

This section explains the eligibility requirements of the work permit arrangements for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals. Employers wishing to employ migrants from non-EEA countries can no longer apply for work permits. See how How I sponsor a migrant for more information about recruiting workers from outside the EEA.

There are six separate sets of work permit arrangements.

  • Business and Commercial
    The Business and Commercial arrangements allow employers in the United Kingdom to employ people from Bulgaria and Romania to fill a vacancy that might otherwise be filled by a resident worker.
  • Training and Work Experience Scheme
    The Training and Work Experience Scheme (TWES) arrangements enable people from Bulgaria and Romania to undertake work-based training for a professional or specialist qualification, or a period of work experience.
  • Sports and Entertainments
    The Sports and Entertainments arrangements allow employers in the United Kingdom to employ established sportspeople, entertainers, cultural artists and some technical or support people from Bulgaria and Romania.
  • Student Internships
    The Student Internship arrangements allow students from Bulgaria and Romania who are studying first or higher degree courses overseas to undertake an internship with an employer in this country.
  • Sectors Based Scheme (SBS)
    The SBS arrangements allow employers based in the United Kingdom to recruit low skilled workers from Bulgaria and Romania to vacancies in the food manufacturing sector that cannot be filled by resident workers.
  • General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)
    The GATS arrangements enable Bulgarians and Romanians, whose employer does not have a commercial presence in the European Union (EU) to work in this country on a service contract awarded to their employer by a UK based organisation.