United Kingdom•Europe

Open

Frontier Worker Permit

Work Dependents Allowed

At a Glance

Processing Time

3 weeks

Application Fee

Free

Stay Duration

5 years

Renewable

Yes

Job Offer

Not Required

Dependents

Allowed

PR Pathway

Remote Work

Not Required

Apply Now Official Information

Living in United Kingdom

Cost of Living

2% cheaper than United States

Avg Salary£31,200

Quality of Life

176/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

For EU, EEA or Swiss citizens who work in the UK but live outside it.

The Frontier Worker Permit lets EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals who began working in the UK before 31 December 2020 continue crossing the border to work without switching to the points-based system. The permit is free, requires no job offer, and imposes no language test.

A standard permit lasts 5 years (2 years for retained-status holders) and is renewable. Holders can change employers or go self-employed without notifying the Home Office. There is no PR pathway — holders must keep living primarily outside the UK. Family members apply separately under the EU Settlement Scheme.

This visa is ideal for EU, EEA, or Swiss cross-border workers who built a working pattern in the UK before Brexit and want to continue without sponsorship or salary thresholds.

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant

5 years

Eligible Nationalities (31)

Austria

Belgium

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

Czechia

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Ireland

Iceland

Italy

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg Malta

Malta

Netherlands Norway

Norway

Poland

Conversion Paths

Visas you can typically switch to from this status.

United Kingdom

Skilled Worker Visa

Validity5 years per grant (renewable indefinitely)

Processing5-56 days

View Visa Details

United Kingdom

Spouse/Partner Visa

Validity33 months

Processing3 months

View Visa Details

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

EU, EEA (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) or Swiss national

Must live primarily outside the UK (fewer than 180 days/year in UK, or return to home country at least once every 6 months)

Must have started working in the UK by 31 December 2020 and continued since

Must work in the UK at least once every 12 months

Work must be genuine and effective — not minor or one-off tasks

Work must be performed in the UK or UK territorial waters (within 12 nautical miles)

Irish citizens are exempt but may apply voluntarily

British citizens (including dual nationals) cannot apply

KEY CRITERIA

Education

none or higher

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport or national identity card

Evidence of employment or self-employment in the UK (e.g., employment contract, payslips, or invoices)

Evidence of primary residence outside the UK

Evidence of 'retained' status (if currently unemployed, e.g., doctor's letters or job applications)

Biometric information (photo and fingerprints)

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

No application fee and no Immigration Health Surcharge
5-year validity — one of the longest permits available
No annual cap — open scheme with no quota
Job mobility: can change employers or become self-employed without notifying the Home Office
No language requirement
No job offer required at point of application
Digital permit proves right to work and right to rent
Access to NHS, benefits, and services where eligible
Can work for multiple employers simultaneously

Worth Knowing

Must continue living primarily outside the UK — exceeding residency threshold risks losing frontier worker status
Only available to those who began working in the UK by 31 December 2020; new EU/EEA workers after that date must use the points-based system
Family members are not automatically covered — they must apply separately under the EU Settlement Scheme
Must notify the Home Office if you cease working in the UK
Purely remote work from outside the UK does not satisfy the 'work in the UK' requirement
No direct pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or British citizenship through this permit
Must demonstrate continued eligibility at each renewal

Application Process

Complete online application (separate portals for inside/outside UK); progress can be saved

Verify identity via UK Immigration: ID Check app, visa application centre (outside UK), or UKVCAS service point (inside UK)

Enter personal details, UK time spent, and work history; complete criminality declaration

Submit employment or self-employment evidence (contracts, payslips, invoices)

Receive decision; permit issued digitally (via ID Check app) or as a physical card delivered within 10 days

Application Forms

Go to application portal

Online Application (Outside UK) Frontier Worker Permit online application for applicants outside the UK	Fill online
Online Application (Inside UK) Frontier Worker Permit online application for applicants inside the UK	Fill online

Verified Claims (20)

Last verified May 31, 2026

Application Steps	Complete online application (separate portals for inside/outside UK); progress can be saved; Verify …	gov.uk
Dependent Visa	EU Settlement Scheme family permit	gov.uk
Fee Breakdown	Application Fee: 0 GBP	gov.uk
Fees	Free — no application fee	gov.uk
Forms	Online Application (Outside UK); Online Application (Inside UK)	gov.uk
Included Nationalities	AT; BE; BG; HR; CY; CZ; DK; EE; FI; FR; DE; GR; HU; IE; IS; IT; LV; LI; LT; LU; MT; NL; NO; PL; PT; …	gov.uk
Job Offer Required	false	gov.uk
Application Portal	https://apply-to-visit-or-stay-in-the-uk.homeoffice.gov.uk/sort/start/frontier_worker_out_uk	gov.uk

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