European Union Association Agreements

There is an agreement between the European Union and Turkey that gives Turkish nationals special rights. In the past the EU had association agreements with countries such as Bulgaria, Romania, Poland and other States that have now joined the EU. These allowed nationals of those countries to work in self-employment in the UK. Nationals of those countries, including people who came to the UK under the old association agreements, now have the right to work as self-employed people in the UK because they are members of the European Union.

Turkey

The Association Agreement with Turkey  provides rights for Turkish nationals and requires the Home Office to apply old, and more generous, rules to them. The UK Home Office interpret the agreement as applying only to those who are already in the UK. The agreement affects rights to change employer, to have leave extended, rights of family members to work and rights to establish yourself in business. This is a complex area of the law and Turkish nationals should consider getting specialist advice if they wish to rely on the agreement.

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