European Union Nationals
Nationals of European Union Member States
This page gives an overview of your rights as an EEA national. The EEA includes all EU states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway and, for immigration purposes, Switzerland. It is worth mentioning that Romanian and Bulgarian nationals were subject to separate rules up until 01 January 2014. From 01 January 2014, Romanian and Bulgarian nationals do not have any restrictions on working in the UK. Croatian nationals on the other hand, do not yet have the same rights to claim benefits in the UK as other EEA nationals. If you are a Croatian national, you are normally allowed to work in the UK if you obtain authorization from the Home Office.
As an EEA national you have a right to come and live or work or study in the UK without any restrictions. You can reside here for up to three months, or longer if you are a qualified person. The category of qualified people includes people looking for work, workers, self-employed and self-sufficient people and students. Your family, whether European nationals themselves or not, can come with you or join you, subject to certain restrictions. There are two groups of family members: immediate and wider family, and different rules apply to each.
Family members of a qualified person may retain their rights to residence in the UK in a wide range of circumstances, even where the qualified person dies or a marriage or partnership breaks down.
EEA nationals and their family members have rights to documentation providing evidence of their status. After five years' residence in the UK relying on your rights as an EEA national, you can apply for permanent residence. Later, if you wish, you can apply for British citizenship.