Frontier Worker Visa

This page was last updated: 25 January 2021

This visa is suitable for EU citizens who work in one country but who live in another, this is considered frontier working. Frontier workers are protected by the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, which requires the UK government to ensure that frontier workers who commenced their work before 31 December 2020 can continue that work afterwards.

In order to qualify for a frontier worker visa, you need to be an EEA or Swiss national who is not primarily living in the UK and is either a worker or self-employed, or you have retained a worker or self-employed status. Any of these economic activities must have begun before 31 December 2020 and must continue after this date for you to be granted this visa.

The application can be made online from inside or outside the UK. The application is free and does not attract Immigration Health Surcharges. If the application is successful, you will be granted a frontier worker visa valid for five years if you’re an employed or self-employed person, or you will be granted a two-year visa if you have retained that status. If an application is refused, it can be challenged by appealing or applying for an administrative review.

There is no deadline to apply for a frontier worker visa, although if you intend to be in the UK after 30 June 2021 then you must ensure that you apply for a frontier worker visa before that date.

Frontier worker visas do not lead to indefinite leave to remain or settled status. If you are seeking an immigration route that can provide you with the opportunity to reside permanently in the future, then you will need to consider other visas. Although you cannot acquire indefinite leave status as a frontier worker, you can continue to extend this visa indefinitely so long as you continue to meet the requirements.

Your family members can join you in the UK, but they’re not included in your frontier worker visa. In order for them to join you they must each individually apply for an EU Settlement Scheme family permit.