European Economic Area and Swiss Nationals- Tier 4

All EEA and Swiss Nationals are free to enter and live and work in the UK without the need to apply for a visa or permmission. Outlined below is general information about work schemes that are applicable for EEA and Swiss Nationals.

BULGARIAN AND ROMANIAN NATIONALS

SEASONAL AGRICULTURAL WORKERS SCHEME

The SAWS is designed to allow farmers and growers in the United Kingdom to recruit low-skilled overseas workers to undertake short-term agricultural work (Eg. planting and gathering crops, handling livestock). The scheme works on a quota basis. Farmers and growers who participate in the scheme are allowed to employ a fixed number of overseas workers though the scheme each year. In 2008 the quota is 16,250 places.

To be able to apply to come to the UK under the SAWS you must be a national of either Bulgaria or Romania.

Participants in the scheme will be issued with a work card. This work card gives them permission to work in the United Kingdom for a fixed period of time. Participants will be allowed to work in the United Kingdom under the scheme for up to 6 months.

SECTORS BASED SCHEME

The SBS allows UK-based employers to recruit low-skilled workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to vacancies that cannot be filled by resident workers (For example, work within the food manufacturing and hospitality sectors).

WORKER REGISTRATION SCHEME

The Worker Registration Scheme was introduced in 2004 at the time that new countries joined the European Union. It allows the Border and Immigration Authority to monitor where citizens of those countries (except Malta and Cyprus) are coming into the labour market, the type of work they are doing, and the impact this has on the UK economy.

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.

Note that there are exceptions to the requirement to register. Once you have been working in the UK legally for 12 months without a break in employment, you will no longer have to register on the Worker Registration Scheme. You can then obtain a residence permit confirming your right to live and work in the United Kingdom.