Free Movement of People

(asked on 26th February 2016) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether EU citizens can enter the UK for the purposes of seeking employment.


Answered by
Lord Bates Portrait
Lord Bates
This question was answered on 7th March 2016

All European Union citizens may enter the UK on production of a valid passport or identity card and have an initial right to reside for three months. Those who wish to stay longer can do so as a jobseeker for a further three months, providing they have a genuine prospect of work. After that period, they must be exercising a Treaty right as a worker, a student, or a self-employed or self-sufficient person, or be liable for removal.

The new EU settlement negotiated by the Prime Minster also confirms that we do not have to pay Universal Credit to EU nationals who come to the UK as jobseekers.

In line with the transitional controls imposed through the Accession of Croatia (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) Regulations, Croatian nationals, who are subject to worker authorisation, have no right to reside in the UK as jobseekers.

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