EU workers living in the UK by 31 Dec 2020 – can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021.
How can you prove your right to work in the UK?
Up until the 30th of June 2021 you can prove your right to work in the following ways:
- EU, EEA or Swiss citizens can use their passport or national identity card
- non-EU, EEA or Swiss citizen family members can use an immigration status document listed in the right to work checks employer guide
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members can use the online right to work checking service
If an applicant uses the online checking service, this will generate a share code. You must then use the employers’ online service to check the right to work using this share code.
Irish citizens will continue to prove their right to work in the UK as they do.
New immigration system from 1 January 2021
A new points-based immigration system will apply to people arriving in the UK from 1 January 2021. You can find more information here: New immigration system: what you need to know
Skilled workers
From January 2021, anyone coming to the UK for work, including EU citizens, will need to demonstrate they meet a specific set of requirements for which they will score points. There is no overall cap on the number who can apply for this Skilled Worker route.
Details of how the points system will work are in the further details document.
If you’re not already a licensed sponsor and you think you’ll want to sponsor migrants through the skilled worker route from January 2021, you should apply now.
*Equally, UK citizens wishing to work within EU / EEA or Switzerland will need to familiarize themselves with the specific requirements of each country.
Visa application process for EU / non-EU employees
EU, EEA and Swiss citizen:
For most visas:
- A digital photo of the face using a smartphone app.
- Fingerprints are not required.
Other routes (to be confirmed later this year):
- You will need to go to an overseas visa application centre to have your photo taken.
Non-EU citizens:
You will continue to submit fingerprints and a photo at an overseas visa application centre.
Your next steps – EU Settlement Scheme is open.
Get your employees to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme if they meet the criteria. The deadline for applying is 30 June 2021. It’s free to use the scheme. They will most probably be some delays due to COVID.
Should you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at +44 20 7017 3110 or [email protected]