Frontier Worker Permit: Apply & Retain UK Work Rights

The Frontier Worker Permit is a document that allows eligible EEA or Swiss nationals to continue working in the UK while living in another country. It was introduced after Brexit to preserve the rights of those who were already commuting for work between the UK and their country of residence before 31 December 2020. The permit ensures that frontier workers can maintain their employment status in the UK without requiring a new visa.

To qualify, individuals must demonstrate that they were employed or self-employed in the UK before the Brexit transition period ended and have continued to work in the UK while primarily residing abroad. The permit is valid for up to five years and can be renewed if the eligibility criteria are still met.

Frontier workers must be aware of certain risks and considerations. Permit holders must adhere to the rules of the scheme, including maintaining their cross-border work pattern. Changes to their work or residence status could affect their eligibility for renewal. Travel disruptions or changes in immigration regulations could also pose challenges for maintaining employment in the UK. It is essential for frontier workers to stay informed about the permit’s requirements and ensure they meet deadlines for applications or renewals to avoid potential interruptions to their work rights.

 

Post-Brexit change in frontier worker rules

 

EU freedom of movement had enabled frontier workers to come and go between the UK and EU member states without being subject to immigration control.

However, under the UK’s post-Brexit points-based immigration rules, non-UK residents now require permission to come to the UK to work, live and study. This includes cross-border workers who are EEA or Swiss nationals not primarily resident in the UK.

Post-Brexit, EU workers in the UK in most cases needs to secure lawful UK status by applying under the EU settlement scheme. This scheme was open to EU nationals and their family members who were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020. Individuals needed to apply to the scheme by 30 June 2021 to retain lawful status. Those with five years of more continuous residence are granted settled status, while those with under five years are granted pre-settled status.

However, EU frontier workers in most cases were not be eligible for settled status as they were not resident in the UK.

The special status of frontier workers was therefore recognised during the Brexit negotiations and under the terms of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, the UK guaranteed that frontier workers who began working in the UK before the end of the transition period on 11pm on 31st December 2020 would be able to continue to work after free movement ends, provided they obtain a frontier worker permit.

 

What is the frontier worker permit?

 

The frontier worker permit grants EU workers permission to remain in the UK following the end of the implementation period on 31st December 2020, providing they were already working in the UK by this date. The permit allows cross-border workers to keep their special status if they were ‘frontier working’ in the UK by 31 December 2020, provided they obtained a frontier worker permit.

The permit affords the holder an exemption from UK immigration control, but it does not confer leave to enter or remain, nor does it offer a path to UK indefinite leave to remain.

Key points to note:

 

• Workers can apply if they held frontier worker status by 31 December 2020.
• Applications are free.
• Applications are submitted online, from inside or outside the UK.
• Successful applications are valid for five years for frontier workers and individuals who are self-employed, or two years for retained workers.
• The permit may be renewed indefinitely but will not qualify as a route to indefinite leave to remain or settlement.
• The permit is valid only while the holder continues to be a frontier worker.

 

Dependents and frontier workers arriving in the UK after December 31, 2020 will not be eligible for the frontier worker permit. They must instead apply for a visa under the points-based immigration system.

 

Frontier worker permit requirements

 

To be eligible for a frontier worker permit, the individual must meet the following criteria:

 

• They are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
• Their primary residence is NOT in the UK.
• They have worked in the UK by 31 December 2020.
• They have kept working in the UK at least once every 12 months since they started working here.

 

Their frontier work must have began before 31st December 2020 and they are continuing the same working pattern when applying for a frontier worker permit as one of the following:

 

• A worker,
• Self-employed, or
• A person who has retained the status of being a worker or self-employed under regulation 4.

 

If there has been a 12-month period where the applicant has not come to the UK to work, they might still be eligible.  They must have worked in the UK, while living elsewhere, by 31 December 2020, and during the 12-month period when they were not working, they must have been:

 

• temporarily unable to work because of an illness or accident
• temporarily unable to work because they were pregnant or had given birth
• involuntarily unemployed, and either looking for work or doing vocational training
• voluntarily unemployed and doing vocational training related to your last occupation
• unable to come to the UK and work because of coronavirus (COVID-19)

 

This is known as having ‘retained worker’ or ‘retained self-employed person’ status.

 

What does ‘not primarily resident’ mean?

 

To be considered as not primarily resident in the UK for the purposes of a frontier worker permit, the applicant will need to show:

 

• They have been present in the UK for fewer than 180 days in the immediate twelve months prior to 31st December 2020;
• They returned to their country of residence on at least one occasion during the last six months or twice in the twelve-month period prior to 31st December 2020 unless there are exceptional reasons for not doing so.

 

The permit may also be suitable for EEA nationals ineligible for settled status due to the UK residency requirement, to retain lawful status in the UK provided they return home at least every six months.

 

What qualifies as ‘work’ for the permit?

 

Applicants will be eligible provided their work in the UK is ‘genuine and effective’. This means that their work must be more than small, one-off tasks, such as an interview, taking part in a one-off competition or audition or signing a contract.

 

How do you apply for a frontier worker permit?

 

Applications for the permit are made online and are free of charge.

Most applicants can use the ‘UK Immigration: ID check’ app to verify their identity, or this can be done on the .gov website. Identity documents will need to be provided, including a valid passport or national identity card.

In addition, supporting documents will need to be provided to prove the applicant meets the eligibility criteria and that their work qualifies as frontier work. Depending on whether the applicant is employed or self-employed, or applying with retained status, supporting documents could include:

 

• an employment contract, or contracts to work in the UK
• payslips, or copies of invoices for work carried out in the UK
• a letter from a doctor if they have an illness, or copies of recent job applications if they are unemployed and seeking work.

 

 

How long does a frontier permit last?

 

The Frontier Worker Permit has a five-year eligibility period for frontier workers and individuals who are self-employed, or a two-year validity for retained workers.

Where an individual ceases to qualify as a frontier worker, the permit can be revoked and immigration status lost.

Frontier workers who have to stop working may be able to retain their permit for up to two years, provided their reason for ceasing work is due to one of a number of specific grounds per the government guidelines, including illness or an accident, pregnancy or childbirth, paternity leave, unemployment, or vocational training.

Those who become unemployed can only retain the permit for six months where they have been working in the UK for less than twelve months.

The permit can be renewed in advance of its expiration period, but it cannot be used as a route to attain a long residence application due to the strict requirement of absence. Where UK settlement is the aim, individuals should consider alternative immigration routes.

 

Renewing the frontier worker permit

 

When renewing their permit, applicants will need to show that they continued to meet the eligibility requirements over the period of time since they last applied.

If they are no longer employed or self-employed at the point when they apply to renew their permit, or they are temporarily unable to work, they may still be able to apply for a 2-year permit as someone with ‘retained’ status (as long as they meet the requirements).

 

Is the frontier permit an alternative to the visitor visa?

 

Frontier worker permit holders should not rely on their permit to enter the UK for reasons other than frontier working.

To enter the UK as a tourist, they can use passport through an eGate and obtain leave as a visitor. Entering the UK through an eGate is the usual route for those who are eligible to pass through one, strictly for the purpose of visiting the UK for a reason listed in Appendix V of the Immigration Rules. Individuals cannot enter the UK via an eGate on a national ID card or a non-biometric passport. 

 

 

How much does a frontier worker permit cost?

 

The frontier permit is free to apply for. Applicants are exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge.

 

Can an application for a frontier worker permit be refused?

 

Applications can be refused for a number of potential reasons. Public policy, public health or security grounds are all areas that can lead to a refusal. If an individual has previously lost their frontier worker status, it can also lead to any future applications being refused.

Applications can also be refused under regulation 20 which relates to a ‘misuse’ of frontier worker rights. There will be a misuse of rights where someone ‘intends to obtain an advantage from these Regulations by engaging in conduct which artificially creates the conditions required to satisfy the criteria set out in these Regulations. Arguably, because of its opacity, this gives the Home Office plenty of scope to refuse an application outright.

 

What are the alternatives to the frontier worker scheme for non-UK resident workers?

 

Non-UK resident workers coming to the UK from 1st January 2021 have to apply for an appropriate visa for permission to enter or remain in the UK to work. If not eligible for the frontier worker scheme, alternative routes under the new system could include:

 

Skilled workers

 

There is a route for skilled workers to join the UK workforce who have an offer of employment from an approved employer sponsor. You will need to have reached a level of ‘RFQ3 or above’ which is equivalent to a UK A level, need to be able to speak English, and be paid the relevant threshold salary. The threshold salary rules are complex, and dependent on a number of factors. In some cases, you may be able to apply by ‘trading’ points on particular characteristics against salary. For example, if you have an offer of employment for a role that is on the Immigration Salary List.

 

Global Business Mobility

 

The Global Business Mobility (GBM) visa allows EU citizens to work in the UK if they are transferred by their employer or come as part of a business expansion. This visa is divided into several categories, such as the Senior or Specialist Worker route, tailored to specific business needs and roles.

 

Global talent scheme

 

The global talent scheme allows highly skilled researchers and scientists to enter the UK without the offer of employment.

 

International students and graduates

 

International students can apply for a visa to study in the UK if:

 

• They have been offered a place on a course
• They understand, read, speak, and write English
• They are able to support themselves financially and pay for the course

 

The UK’s graduate route is for international students who have completed a degree, allowing them time to look for work, or work in the UK at any skill level for up to two years, or up to three years for PhD students.

 

Visiting the UK

 

EU, EEA and Swiss nationals will not require a visa to enter the UK if they are visiting for up to six months, however, they may need pre-authorisation to travel under the UK’s new ETA scheme.

If there is an intention to work or study, which sits outside the visitor permissible activities, they should apply for entry clearance in advance of entering the UK under the relevant route.

 

Need assistance?

 

As employer solutions lawyers, DavidsonMorris’ immigration specialists advise employers on all aspects of workforce global mobility and international recruitment. Working closely with our expert HR consultants, we provide a holistic advisory and support service to enable employers to consider the full people and legal risk concerns of hiring from overseas. For advice on your organisation’s needs, contact us.

 

Frontier worker permit FAQs

 

What is a Frontier Worker Permit?

The Frontier Worker Permit allows eligible EEA or Swiss nationals to continue working in the UK while living abroad, provided they meet the required criteria.

 

Who qualifies for a Frontier Worker Permit?

You must have been working in the UK before 31 December 2020, continue to reside in another country, and maintain a cross-border working pattern. Irish citizens are exempt.

 

How long is the permit valid?

The permit is typically valid for up to five years, or two years for shorter-term arrangements. It can be renewed if you remain eligible.

 

Is there a cost to apply?

The Frontier Worker Permit is free to apply for.

 

Do I need a Frontier Worker Permit to work in the UK?

If you are an EEA or Swiss national working in the UK while living abroad, you need a permit unless you are an Irish citizen.

 

What documents are required to apply?

You’ll need proof of your identity, work history in the UK, and evidence of residence abroad.

 

Can I lose my Frontier Worker status?

If you no longer meet the eligibility criteria, such as by ceasing to work in the UK or moving your residence to the UK.

 

Can employers check my permit?

Employers are required to verify your right to work in the UK using the Home Office’s online right to work checking service.

 

What happens if my permit expires?

You must renew your permit before it expires to continue working legally in the UK.

 

Can I switch to a different visa?

If you meet the criteria for another visa, you can apply to switch, but this must be done before your Frontier Worker Permit expires.

 

Glossary

 

Term	Definition
Frontier Worker	An individual who works in the UK but resides in another country, frequently travelling for employment.
Frontier Worker Permit	A permit allowing eligible EEA or Swiss nationals to work in the UK while living abroad, introduced post-Brexit.
EEA	The European Economic Area, comprising EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
Swiss National	A citizen of Switzerland, which has distinct agreements with the UK for post-Brexit immigration.
Irish Citizen	Nationals of Ireland, who are exempt from the Frontier Worker Permit under the Common Travel Area agreement.
Eligibility Criteria	The conditions that must be met to qualify for a Frontier Worker Permit, such as prior work in the UK before 31 December 2020.
Cross-Border Working Pattern	The arrangement where an individual works in one country while primarily living in another.
Certificate of Application (CoA)	A temporary document confirming receipt of a Frontier Worker Permit application, used for right to work checks.
Right to Work Check	A legal requirement for employers to verify that an employee is permitted to work in the UK.
Residency Requirement	The rule that Frontier Worker Permit holders must live primarily outside the UK to maintain their status.
Permit Renewal	The process of extending the validity of a Frontier Worker Permit to continue working in the UK.
Travel Disruption	Delays or issues that could affect a frontier worker’s ability to commute between their residence and workplace.
Application Deadline	The time limit by which individuals must apply for or renew their Frontier Worker Permit.
Home Office	The UK government department responsible for immigration, security, and law and order.
Immigration Rules	The legal framework governing entry, residence, and employment in the UK for non-citizens.