International Students and Employment
European Economic Area Nationals and Work
If you are a national from a European Economic Area (EEA) country, or a Swiss national, you may work in the UK without any restrictions on the type or amount of work you undertake. You are however subject to the same tax and national insurance contributions as UK citizens.
As of 1 June 2002, nationals form Switzerland have also had the same free movement and employment rights as existing EEA nationals. You will need to show an employer your passport or identity card as proof that you are a national of an EEA country.
The Worker Registration Scheme On 1 May 2004, ten countries joined the European Union and also became a part of the European Economic Area. The countries that joined were:
Cyprus Malta
Czech Republic Poland
Estonia Slovakia
Hungary Slovenia
Latvia Lithuania
The British Government has set up a Worker Registration Scheme to monitor the participation in the UK labour Market of workers from the eight countries in the list above marked in bold.
If you are subject to the scheme, you will need to register if you plan to work for an employer in the UK for more than one month. Once you have been working legally in the UK for 12 months without a movement and can apply for an EEA residence permit to confirm your status. For more information on the Worker Registration Scheme and how to register, consult the Home Office website: working in the uk.
Non-EEA Nationals and Work
If you are a national from outside the EEA, you can check whether you can work or not by looking at the visa stamp/entry clearance certificate in your passport. A restricted stamp indicates that you can work.
If your passport contains a restriction you may:
Work in your spare time during term-time, and full-time during vacations/holidays
Take a work placement with an employer (sandwich course students)
Take and internship placement with an employer
Provided that:
You do not work for more than 20 hours per week during term time, except in the case o an agreed work placement or internship.
You do not engage in business, self-employment or provide services as professional sportsperson or entertainer. You do not pursue a career by filling a permanent full-time vacancy.
A prohibited stamp indicates that you cannot work.
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