Frontier Worker Permit
The Frontier Worker Permit may apply to you if you live mainly outside of the UK, but often work in the UK. This permit allows you to continue working in the UK, provided your main home is located in a different country.
For specialized guidance on eligibility and the application process, please call our team now at +2080162308. We’re here to help you, whether it’s over the phone, online, or even in person.
The Frontier Worker Permit may apply to you if you live mainly outside of the UK, but often work in the UK. This permit allows you to continue working in the UK, provided your main home is located in a different country.
For specialized guidance on eligibility and the application process, please call our team now at +2080162308. We’re here to help you, whether it’s over the phone, online, or even in person.
What is a Frontier Worker Permit?
The Frontier Worker Permit targets people who spend the majority of their life outside the UK, in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, but work or are self-employed in the UK.
This permit is designed to enable eligible workers to enter, reside, and work in the UK while maintaining their primary residence overseas. The permit holders can also:
- rent property,
- Receive some benefits and services, and
- Utilize the NHS without paying the immigration health surcharge,
Assuming they fit the required eligibility rules.
The permit comes amid Brexit, which saw EU citizens lose their automatic right to live and work freely in the UK. Since the Brexit transition period concluded on 31 December 2020, EU citizens residing and working in the UK could either:
- Apply under the EU Settlement Scheme to gain settled status, or
- (provided they wanted to remain in employment whilst resident in a foreign country) Apply for a Frontier Worker Permit.
It is worth mentioning that:
- The permit does not give a person the right to reside in the UK permanently
- You cannot bring family members on this permit; they must apply for their visas.
- Irish citizens are not required to apply, but can do so should they wish, as they are entitled to do so under the Common Travel Area rights.
You must fit all of the following criteria to be eligible to obtain a Frontier Worker Permit:
- You are a national of an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein
- Your main home is not in the UK
- You started employment in the UK before 31 December 2020.
Did your job in the UK start on or after 1 January 2021?
If you do not qualify to apply for a Frontier Worker Permit, you should instead apply for a UK work visa.
Even having begun to work in the UK before 1 January 2021, you may still be eligible if you had some periods of unemployment or were temporarily unable to work, e.g., because of illness or pregnancy, and can demonstrate the continuous connection to the UK labour market.
Evidence of Main Residence Outside the UK
To prove that you do not use the UK as your primary residence, you will have to fulfil one of the following:
- You have not spent more than 180 days in the UK in any period of rolling 12 months
- If you have spent over 180 days in the UK, you must have gone back home to your country at least once in the last six months, or twice in the past 12 months.
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To obtain a Frontier Worker Permit in 2025, you have to fit all of the following requirements:
- You have worked in the UK, either as an employed or self-employed individual, before 1 January 2021
- You have been working in the UK at least once within 12 months
- Your main home is not in the UK
- You have performed qualified work
What Is Eligible Work?
The Home Office further defines eligible work as genuine and practical work. This does not include minor or infrequent jobs, including:
- Going to interviews or brief business meetings
- Signing or negotiating contracts
- Participating in one-time-only competitions, auditions, or promotional activities
Such kinds of engagements are not considered actual employment.
In the Case of Employed Workers
The employer-employee relationship should be clear and consistent, and the work performed should be frequently conducted in the UK.
Self-Employed Workers
You must be engaged in a stable and continuous economic activity, rather than providing services on a temporary or ad hoc basis.
This work must be regular, well-defined, and verifiable through other documents, such as contracts, invoices, or tax documents.
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The answer is yes, you can still qualify for the Frontier Worker Permit even if you have been unemployed within the last 12 months, provided that you meet certain conditions.
You can maintain your frontier worker status if you were unemployed because of any of the following reasons:
- You had a temporary inability to work because of sickness or accident
- You were pregnant or had given birth, or were in the post-birth recovery stage
- You could not come to the UK because of COVID-19 restrictions
- You were temporarily unemployed, of your own volition, and pursuing vocational training for your former occupation.
- You have been unemployed in the UK voluntarily, but you were seeking work or undergoing suitable vocational training.
Status of Retained Worker or Self-Employed
You might be eligible as a retained worker, or a retained self-employed person, in such instances:
- You are allowed to remain in your status and seek employment in the UK within 6 months if you have worked in the country for less than one year before losing your job
- In case you have worked in the UK for a year or more, you can keep your status indefinitely, provided you are actively seeking employment
Documenting That You Are Job-Hunting
To retain your status, you will be required to:
- Make an account as a job seeker at a UK unemployment office
- Demonstrate current activity of job seeking.
This guarantees that your period outside work does not influence your eligibility to obtain the Frontier Worker Permit.
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In 2025, when you apply for a Frontier Worker Permit, you will be required to provide a variety of documents that demonstrate your eligibility. These include:
- An international passport or a national identity card
- A contract of employment (or several contracts) that fixes work in the UK
- Among others are payslips (if the applicant is employed) or invoices (if the applicant is self-employed) that demonstrate that the work was performed in the UK.
Further Documents Required – Retained Status
When you are applying under retained worker or self-employed status, because of involuntary unemployment, illness, or other justified causes, you should also bring:
- Documentation to back up your cause of unemployment (e.g., a doctor’s note if you were sick, pregnant, etc.)
- Evidence that you are actively trying to work, e.g.:
- Job application acknowledgements
- Interview invitations
- Letters of rejection by prospective employers
You should be prepared to submit complete and accurate documentation to ensure your application is not delayed or rejected.
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To apply, you must use the official gov.uk site to apply online to obtain a Frontier Worker Permit.
You can apply regardless of being in or out of the UK.
Identity Verification
In the application process, you will be required to verify your identity in any of the following ways:
- UK Immigration: ID Check app
This one will enable you to scan your identity document (passport or national ID) and upload it to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. - Visa Application Centre
In case you are applying outside the UK and are unable to use the app, you will be required to attend a centre to give biometric data. - UKVCAS service point
If you are applying within the UK and cannot use the app, you may be required to make an appointment to have your picture taken.
When applying, you will be guided on which method to use.
Documents Required
You will be required to bring:
- An international passport or a national identity card
To back up your work in the UK, including:
- (Where used) Employment contracts
- Invoices, evidence of work (in case of being self-employed)
Ensure that all documents are accurate and up-to-date to avoid delays in the process.
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A formal decision will be made once your application to obtain a Frontier Worker Permit is received.
- In case of approval through the UK Immigration: ID Check app:
A digital copy of your permit will be sent to you online. - What happens when you do not use the app:
- Within the UK, you will receive a hard copy permit by post.
- Outside the UK: You will get a welcoming email with guidelines on the process of picking up your permit once you are in the UK.
Permit Duration
- Standard Frontier Worker Permit: It is valid for 5 years.
- Allowance under Retained Status: 2 years allowance
As long as you still fit the eligibility requirements, permits may be renewed or extended.
In case your Frontier Worker Permit application is rejected, a formal notice will be provided to you by the Home Office stating the grounds of refusal.
In this notice, we will also explain whether you have the right to:
- Administer review, or
- Appeal to the immigration law.
You usually have 28 days after the decision date to lodge your appeal.
As the procedures involved in appealing a visa are somewhat complicated, it is highly advised that professional counsel is sought from an immigration lawyer with experience and knowledge in Frontier Worker Permit cases.
This will give you a better chance of achieving a successful result.
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What We Offer
Our Services
we understand that immigrating to a new country is a significant
decision that comes with its own set of challenges.
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The immigration changes after Brexit have created new complications for cross-border workers.
In case you want to keep working in the UK but live in another country, our team will help you apply for a Frontier Worker Permit easily and successfully.
At ISUK, our skilled immigration lawyers:
- Be current with the current UK Home Office policies and eligibility requirements
- Assist you on an end-to-end basis to make your application complete, correct, and professionally produced.
- Guide on necessary documentation and assist in solving any issues with the application
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies to get a Frontier Worker Permit?
You can qualify if you are a resident outside the UK most of the time and you have worked in the UK at least once every 12 months before 1 January 2021. You should be working or self-employed in a real and meaningful occupation.
Can I apply for a Frontier Worker Permit in 2025?
Yes. You can apply or renew a Frontier Worker Permit if you fit the eligibility requirements, such as being able to demonstrate that you began working in the UK before 1 January 2021 and that your primary residence is outside the UK.
Can I bring my family to the UK using a Frontier Worker Permit?
No. You cannot bring dependents with the Frontier Worker Permit. If family members need to join you in the UK, they will have to apply for their visas.
Will I be required to pay the immigration health surcharge using this permit?
No. Holders of a Frontier Worker Permit are not required to pay the immigration health surcharge and can receive NHS services in the UK.
What is the definition of work that is considered to be real and efficient?
The definition of work that is genuine and effective is that of consistent and continuous employment or self-employment in the UK. It excludes minor or occasional activities, such as meetings, interviews, and contract signings.
What documents are required to apply for the Frontier Worker Permit?
You will require a valid passport or national ID card, evidence of your work in the UK (contracts or invoices), and proof that your primary residence is outside the UK.
What is the duration of receiving a decision?
The majority of the applicants are informed within several working days. This may, however, be different in cases where extra documentation or identity verification is needed.
