UK Frontier Worker Permit

UK FRONTIER WORKER PERMIT FOR SWISS (AND EU/EEA) CITIZENS

The Frontier Worker Permit is available to EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens who work or are self-employed in the UK but do not primarily reside there. This permit is mandatory for all Frontier Workers, except Irish citizens, to enter the UK.

You must have started working in the UK (while residing outside the UK) before 1 January 2021. If you are not eligible for a Frontier Worker Permit, you should apply under a different route, such as the Skilled Worker Visa route.

Family members of Frontier Workers can apply for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit.

Requirements for a Frontier Worker Permit

To qualify for a Frontier Worker Permit, you must meet the following criteria:

Nationality: You are an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen.
Residence: You are not primarily resident in the UK.
Employment: You are working or self-employed in the UK, or have retained this status.
Continuity: These conditions were met before 31 December 2020 and have been maintained since.

The exact requirements may vary based on individual circumstances. Consulting a UK immigration law firm in Switzerland is advisable for personalised guidance on your UK visa application.

To discuss your Frontier Worker Permit application, contact our UK immigration law firm in Switzerland on +41 21 588 07 70 or complete our enquiry form below.

Not Primarily Resident in the UK

You are considered not primarily resident in the UK if:

Less than 180 Days: You have been in the UK for less than 180 days in any 12-month period from 1 January 2020 to the application date.
Frequent Returns: You have been in the UK for over 180 days in any 12-month period but returned to your primary residence at least once every 6 months or twice every 12 months.
Exceptional Reasons: You were unable to meet the travel requirements due to circumstances beyond your control or other compelling reasons.

Each day spent in the UK counts as a full day.

Worker or Self-employed Person

To qualify as a Frontier Worker:

Work History: You worked or were self-employed in the UK at least once in the 12 months before 31 December 2020.
Continuity: You continue to work or be self-employed in the UK at least once every 12 months.
Genuine Employment: Your work must be genuine and effective, not marginal or ancillary to your life in the UK.

If you have not worked in the UK for over 12 months since 1 January 2020, you may still qualify as a retained worker or self-employed person if:

Unemployment: You became unemployed due to illness, accident, involuntary unemployment, vocational training, or temporarily unable to work due to pregnancy or childbirth.
Job Seeking: You have registered as a jobseeker with an unemployment office or recruitment agency in the UK.

If you do not begin working or job seeking after 12 months, you lose your retained status.

Frontier Workers from 1 January 2021

If you plan to start working in the UK while residing outside the UK but begin after 1 January 2021, you are not eligible for a Frontier Worker Permit and must apply under a different route, such as the Skilled Worker route.

Entry to the UK as a Frontier Worker

A valid Frontier Worker Permit is required to enter the UK as a Frontier Worker, except for Irish citizens.

Validity Period of Frontier Worker Permits

Current Frontier Workers: Permit valid for 5 years.
Retained Worker Status: Permit valid for 2 years.

Extending a Frontier Worker Permit

You can renew your Frontier Worker Permit as long as you continue to meet the criteria.

Frontier Worker Permit and ILR

This permit does not lead directly to settlement. To pursue long-term status, consider applying for Pre-Settled or Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme or the Skilled Worker route.

Application Fees

There is no application fee for the Frontier Worker Permit, and you do not need to pay the Immigration Health Charge.

Family Members of Frontier Workers

Family members can apply for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit to join or accompany a Frontier Worker in the UK. They may also apply for Pre-Settled or Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

How Our UK Immigration Lawyers in Switzerland Can Help

The regulations and guidance for the Frontier Worker Permit Scheme require specific documentation. Consulting an immigration lawyer can ensure your application is professionally presented and accurate.

Our experienced team assists employers and skilled workers across various industries. We can help you plan to meet your start date and align your career progression with your immigration goals.

We are dedicated to providing clear and reliable immigration advice as part of a professional and friendly service. Contact us at +41 21 588 07 70 or complete our enquiry form below.

WE CAN ALSO ASSIST WITH

Applications for EU Settlement Scheme Pre-Settled Status

The EU Settlement Scheme is open to resident EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members who started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 and who wish to remain in the UK after 30 June 2021.

In order to qualify for Pre-Settled Status you will need to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration that:

You are a relevant EEA citizen; or
You are a family member of a relevant EEA citizen; or
You are a family member who has retained the right of residence by virtue of a relationship with a relevant EEA citizen; or
You are a person with a derivative right to reside; or
You are a person with a Zambrano right to reside; and
You started living in the UK by 31 December 2020; and
You are not eligible for Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme solely because you have not completed a continuous qualifying period of residence of at least 5 years.

The exact requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on your circumstances. You may want to speak to an immigration lawyer for expert advice.

Applications for EU Settlement Scheme Settled Status

The EU Settlement Scheme is open to resident EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members who started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 and who wish to remain in the UK after 30 June 2021.

In order to qualify for Settled Status you will need to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration that:

You are a relevant EEA citizen; or
You are a family member of a relevant EEA citizen; or
You are a family member who has retained the right of residence by virtue of a relationship with a relevant EEA citizen; or
You are a person with a derivative right to reside; or
You are a person with a Zambrano right to reside; and
You started living in the UK by 31 December 2020; and
You have completed a continuous qualifying period of residence of at least 5 years.

The exact requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on your circumstances. You may want to speak to an immigration lawyer for expert advice.

Applications for EU Settlement Scheme Family Permits

The EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit is available to non-EEA citizens who wish to travel to and enter the UK in order to join or accompany a close family member who is a relevant EEA citizen, including EEA or Swiss nationals with ‘settled’ status or ‘pre-settled’ status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

In order to qualify for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit you will need to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration that:

You are a non-EEA citizen;
You are the close family member of a relevant EEA citizen;
The relevant EEA citizen is resident in the UK or will be travelling to the UK within 6 months;
You will be accompanying the relevant EEA citizen to the UK or joining them in the UK;
You are not the spouse, civil partner or durable partner of a relevant EEA citizen where either you or your partner have been granted an EEA Family Permit issued under the EEA Regulations or otherwise have been granted leave under or outside the Immigration Rules.

The exact requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on your circumstances. You may want to speak to an immigration lawyer for expert advice.

Applications for Skilled Worker Visas

The Skilled Worker Visa is open to individuals of all nationalities (except British and Irish) who have an offer of an eligible skilled job in the UK from a Home Office-approved sponsor. The route can lead to settlement and applicants can be joined by dependent partners and children.

In order to qualify for a Skilled Worker Visa, you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:

You are aged 18 or over;
You have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the job you are planning to do;
Your job offer is a genuine vacancy;
Your sponsor has paid any required Immigration Skills Charge;
Your job is at an appropriate skill level;
You are competent in the English language to at least CEFR Level B1 (equivalent to IELTS 4.0);
You will be paid a salary which equals or exceeds both a general salary threshold and the ‘going rate’ for the occupation;
You have enough money to support yourself without relying on public funds;
You have provided a criminal record certificate, if required; and
You have provided a valid TB certificate, if required.

The exact requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on your circumstances. You may want to speak to an immigration lawyer for expert advice.

Fresh applications, Appeals, Administrative reviews and Judicial reviews for Frontier Workers

If your application for a Frontier Worker Permit has been refused, our immigration barristers can advise on the merits of making a fresh application or challenging the decision by way of an appeal to the Immigration Tribunal, an application for Administrative Review or Judicial Review.

If the decision-maker failed to apply the Regulations or Home Office policy correctly, we can bring appeal proceedings before the Immigration Tribunal to challenge the decision.

Some refusal decisions made on eligibility grounds also carry a right of Administrative Review. If this applies to you then we can bring Administrative Review proceedings to challenge the decision.

If the decision to refuse your application was unlawful, unreasonable or procedurally improper, our immigration barristers can apply for Judicial Review and provide representation at Judicial Review hearings.