European Economic Area (EEA) & Swiss nationals
- EEA/ Swiss nationals who want to study in the UK
- Do EEA/ Swiss nationals need a visa to come to study in the UK
- Can EEA/ Swiss nationals receive help with tuition fees & living costs
- Can EEA/ Swiss nationals Work whilst studying in the UK
- National Insurance
- Income Tax
- Minimum Wage
EEA/ Swiss nationals who want to study in the UK
European Directives provide that: Nationals of EEA member states and Switzerland have a right to reside in a member state for three months without conditions other than holding a valid passport or national identity card.
If nationals of EEA member states or Switzerland wish to stay on in the UK for more than three months to study, they must meet the following requirements:
- Be enrolled on a course of study at a government registered instituion
- Have sufficient resources to avoid becoming a burden on the UK's social security system
- Be covered by comprehensive sickness insurance (although this is not investigated)
A student only has to meet these requirements if he/she is not in the UK under some other European Directive capacity: for example as a worker or self employed person.
Nationals of following countries are citizens of the European Union (EU).
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden & UK.
Nationals of the following countries are European Economic Area (EEA) nationals
Iceland, Liechtenstein & Norway as well as all the EU countries listed above.
Swiss Nationals
Switzerland is not a member state of the EU or EEA but Switzerland has an agreement with the EU and EEA which allows Swiss nationals broadly the same rights as EU & EEA nationals in the UK
Do EEA/ Swiss nationals need a visa to come to study in the UK?
No. EEA & Swiss nationals do not require a visa or entry clearance to come to the UK. Like British citizens your passports are not stamped on entry to or exit from the UK. No formal time limit is placed on your stay in the UK. To enter the UK, you just need your National Passport or National Identity Card.
Can EEA/ Swiss nationals receive help with tuition fees & living costs.
For information on finacing your studies in the UK - Tuition Fee loans and maintenance loans and grants please see the Student Money Advice & Rights (SMART) webpages.
Can EEA/ Swiss nationals Work whilst studying in the UK?
Nationals of Austria, Belgium, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia Sweden & Switzerland and their dependants.
Yes you can work. There are no restrictions on the type of work or the number of hours
NOTE: From 1st May 2011 citizens of the A8 member states will no longer have to register under the Worker Registration Scheme in order to work in the UK.
Bulgarian & Romanian nationals
Although EU citizens, with freedom of movement within the EEA, the UK government chose to restrict access to employment for Bulgarian & Romanian nationals for a period of time, probably until 2014. This means that you may be able to work in some areas without restriction and others with restrictions.
You will need to apply for a registration certificate using form BR1 if you are in the United Kingdom as a self employed person, a student or a self sufficient person. There are some exemptions. If you are exempt from worker authorisation you can apply for a registration certificate as a worker or jobseeker. The Home Office can only consider an application for a registration certificate if you are already in the United Kingdom.
Bulgarian and Romanian students who apply for a registration certificate will be able to work up to 20 hours per week during term time and unlimited hours during the official vacation periods. After 1 year with a registration certificate, you can apply for release from the work restrictions imposed by the registration certificate.
For full details on the various schemes for registration for Bulgarian & Romanian nationals see the Home Office website
National Insurance
As an EEA/ Swiss student, you and any dependants must pay National Insurance (NI) contributions if you work, in the same way as UK citizens. National Insurance contributions only commence when you start earning in excess of £146 a week National Insurance is deducated at 12% after the earnings threshold.
If you are working in the UK you will need to apply for your unique National Insurance (NI) number.
Applying for a National Insurance Number
To apply for a NI number you will need to telephone the Jobcentre plus NI allocation service helpline on 0845 600 0643. They will make sure you need a number and arrange for you to undertake an evidence of identity interview at a local jobcentre.
You may apply for an NI number while you are looking for work. You may even begin work without an NI number, but once you have started then you should apply for an NI number if you haven't already got one. Your NI number will be issued to you in the form of a card (similar size to a credit card).
For more information on National Insurance and how to apply for an NI number click here.
General information available from the Department of Work and Pensions - HM Revenues & Customs.
Income Tax
International students and their dependants who work will be liable to pay income tax if they earn over the threshold of over approx £156 a week or approx £675 a month. This is based on the assumption that you will earn over £8,105 in a tax year (which starts and ends in April each year). The tax rates for 2012/13 are
- Basic rate - 20% for earnings up to £34,370
- Higher rate - 40% for earnings over £34,370 but below £150,000
- Additional rate - 50% for earnings over £150,000
More information on UK tax rates, changes and updates can be found at the HM Revenues & Customs website
If you are only working during the vacations and you don't expect that your annual salary will be over £8,105 then you will need to fill in form P38(S), available from your employer. More information on the HM Revenues & Customs website.
If you have paid tax and have stopped working, you can claim tax back, by completing the P50 form available from HM Revenues & Customs
Minimum Wage
There are three rates of minimum wage according to age. You should not be paid at any rate lower than those quoted below, as this is a legal requirement on employers. (correct as at April 2012)
- Main rate: £6.19 per hour (21 years and over)
- Development rate: £4.98 per hour (18 – 20 year olds)
- Young workers rate: £3.68 per hour (for workers under 18 who are above school leaving age)
For more information on the National Minimum Wage click here
National Minimum Wage Helpline 0845 6000 678
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Updated 17/12/12
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