The following countries are members of the European Economic Area (EEA).

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

From 1 January 2007 Bulgarian and Romanian nationals looking for work in the UK will need permission to work before starting any job.

Nationals of these countries who come to the UK to work need to register under the Worker Registration Scheme: Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

As an EEA national do I have a right to live and work in the UK?

Yes! European Community law gives EEA nationals a right to live and work in the UK . This is called a right of residence.

You have an initial right of residence in the UK for three months if you are an EEA national. You would lose this right of residence if you or your family members became an unreasonable burden on the social assistance system of the UK.

If you are an EEA national and you want to live in the UK for more than three months, you must be a 'qualified person'. A qualified person means an EEA national who is in the UK as:

• a jobseeker
• a worker
• a self-employed person
• a self-sufficient person (someone who can support themselves financially), or
• a student.

• As an EEA national can I work in the UK if I am studying?
• What is the Worker Registration Scheme?
• As an EEA national do I need a visa to enter the UK?
• When I enter the United Kingdom as an EEA national do I need to show my passport or national identity card?
• Do I need to apply for a registration certificate or register with the police?
• How long are registration certificates valid for?
• What are the rights of the family members of an EEA national?
• I am an EEA national but my family members are not. Can they join me in the UK?
• My family members are non-EEA nationals. How can they come to live with me in the UK?
• What is an EEA family permit?
• I am an EEA national. Do my family members need an EEA family permit if they are coming to visit me in the UK?
• What supporting documents should my family members include with their application?
• Do I have to be present when my family members apply for an EEA family permit?
• How much does it cost to apply for an EEA family permit?
• I am an EEA national. Can my family members work in the UK?
• I am an EEA national. Do my family members need to register with the police?
• I am an EEA national. Do my family members need a residence card?
• I am an EEA national. Can my family members lose their right to stay in the UK?
• How can I appeal against a decision?