Frontier workers in EU and EFTA countries
This guidance explains what to do to show you have rights as a frontier worker.
Who is a frontier worker
You are eligible for a frontier worker permit if, before 1 January 2021:
- you were commuting regularly to work in a country or countries where you do not live
- the countries where you were commuting to work are in the EU or EFTA (European Free Trade Association: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland)
If you do not meet these conditions or if you were providing services, you may need a visa or permit to work in an EU or EFTA country where you do not live.
Read our guidance on working in other EU and EFTA countries. Each country listed includes links to the London embassy and government department(s) for the country where you want to work.
Some countries refer to frontier workers as ‘cross-border workers’. This guidance uses the term ‘frontier worker’.
Your rights as a frontier worker
If you were frontier working before 1 January 2021, your rights are protected by the:
- UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement. Read our Withdrawal Agreement explainer
- UK-EEA EFTA (European Economic Area - European Free Trade Association) Separation Agreement. Read the Separation Agreement and our explainer
- UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement. Read the Citizens Rights Agreement and our explainer
As a frontier worker, you may:
- also work in the country where you live
- be employed or self-employed
- work in more than 1 country, if you already did so before 1 January 2021
You can only continue to work in countries where you were previously regularly commuting to work. You cannot start working in new countries as a frontier worker.
Frontier worker permit
To prove you are a frontier worker, you may need to apply for a permit in the country where you work. Check the requirements for the country or countries you work in.
If you work in a country where a permit is not required, you still have the right to ask for a permit if you want one. If you do not obtain a permit, this does not lose you your rights as a frontier worker. However it might mean it is difficult for you to show evidence of your rights.
Read the European Commission’s documentation for UK frontier workers (which is part of the European Commissions’ guidance on citizens’ rights).
Residence information for frontier workers
As a frontier worker you may require 2 cards:
- a frontier worker permit for the country or countries where you work
- if you live abroad, a new residence document. Read the Living in Europe guide and the EU guidance on residence schemes for more information
Travelling as a frontier worker
When you travel, carry your frontier worker permit, as well as your valid passport, especially within the Schengen Area (PDF, 2.5 MB).
If you are asked to show your passport at border control, you must proactively show your frontier worker permit, or other evidence of your frontier worker status.
If you cannot prove that you are a frontier worker in the country you are travelling to, you may be asked additional questions at the border to enter the Schengen Area, and your passport may be stamped on entry and exit. This will not affect your rights as a frontier worker.
The requirement for British citizens to have at least 6 months validity remaining on their passport does not apply to you for entering or exiting a Schengen Area country or countries where you frontier work. It also does not apply to entering or leaving the country where you are resident.
Time spent frontier working does not count towards your 90-days visa-free limit within a 180 day period for the Schengen Area. The same rule applies to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen area. You should check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.
Citizens’ rights: advice and complaints
The European Commission provides information on the enforcement of citizens’ rights in each EU country.
Its assistance service provides advice (link may not be accessible on some web browsers) on your rights in EU countries and how to resolve issues with or submit a complaint about a public body regarding your rights. You can also bring your case to national courts and tribunals to resolve issues relating to your citizen rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.
You can complain to the European Commission about a breach of EU law.
You can also contact the European Ombudsman to submit a complaint about an EU institution or body.
How to prove your rights as a frontier worker (or cross-border worker)
This list refers to the country where you are frontier working (not where you may be living).
Note that some foreign governments’ websites do not support linking to guidance specifically for frontier workers. For some of the guidance links, you will need to scroll down to find this information.
Austria
You need a frontier worker permit to continue working in Austria. You should apply for a ‘Bestätigung gemäß § 3 Absatz 8 Ausländerbeschäftigungsgesetz für Artikel 50 EUV - Grenzgänger und Grenzgängerinnen’ certificate at the regional office of the Austrian Public Employment Service (Arbeitsmarktservice).
Read:
- Austrian government’s guidance on residency and access to the labour market: read the ‘can I continue to work in Austria’ section on frontier worker permits
Belgium
You need a frontier worker permit to continue working in Belgium. You should apply for a new frontier worker ‘N’ card by 31 December 2021. Contact the local municipality (commune/gemeente) where you work for more information.
Read:
- Belgian government’s information on frontier worker permits
- Belgian government’s 16 December 2020 law on frontier workers in Dutch or in French
- Belgian government’s 24 December 2020 Royal Decree on frontier workers in Dutch or in French
Bulgaria
You need a frontier worker permit to continue working in Bulgaria. You should register with the Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Interior.
Read:
- Bulgarian government’s information about Brexit: the ‘Travelling to Bulgaria’ section includes information for frontier workers
Croatia
You need a frontier worker permit to continue working in Croatia.
Read:
- Croatian government’s UK-EU relations information: read the ‘frontier worker’ section of the guidance
- Croatian government’s 17 December 2020 legislation on frontier workers (in Croatian)
- Croatian government’s 29 December 2020 legislation on the Withdrawal Agreement (in Croatian)
Cyprus
The Cypriot government has not yet confirmed if frontier workers need a different permit. We will update this page as soon as information is available.
Czech Republic
You do not need a frontier worker permit to continue working in the Czech Republic. We will update this guidance on how to ask for a permit, if you wish to have one, when we have more information.
Read:
- Czech government’s information on frontier worker permits (PDF, 521 KB) in section 4 ‘Issue of certificates regarding the rights of cross-border workers’
Denmark
You need a frontier worker permit to continue working in Denmark.
Read:
- Danish government’s information on frontier workers at the end of the ‘Applying for new residence documents under the Withdrawal Agreement’ section
- Danish government’s legislation on frontier workers (in Danish)
Estonia
You may need a frontier worker permit to continue working in Estonia.
Read:
- Estonian government’s Brexit guidance: read the section ‘information concerning frontier workers who are UK citizens’
Finland
You do not need a frontier worker permit to continue working in Finland. If you wish, you can apply for a permit on the Immigration Service website using the ‘Brexit_7’ form (right of residence under the Withdrawal Agreement).
Read:
- Finnish government’s guidance on how to register for a frontier worker permit
- Finnish government’s guidance and timings for applying for permits, including frontier worker permits
- Finnish government’s legislation on frontier workers (in Finnish)
France
You need a frontier worker permit to continue working in France. You should apply for a frontier worker permit from the Prefecture where you work.
To apply, you need a valid passport, a recent photograph, and a certificate of employment or proof of self-employed activity on French territory.
Read:
- French government’s employment guidance: read the FAQ on ‘Do British residents who had already started working in France before 1 January 2021 but who reside in another country (frontier workers) have to take any steps?’
- French government’s legislation on which documents you need and how to apply for a frontier worker permit (in French)
- French government’s legislation on frontier worker permits (in French)
Germany
You need a frontier worker permit to continue working in Germany. You should apply for a new frontier worker permit (Aufenthaltsdokument für Grenzgänger-GB), at the local Foreigners Authority for your workplace.
Read:
- our guidance on how to register as a frontier worker with your local Foreigners Authority
- German government’s information on frontier worker permits
- German government’s legislation on frontier workers (PDF, 67.7 KB) (in German)
Greece
The Greek government has not yet confirmed if frontier workers need a different permit. We will update this page as soon as information is available.
Hungary
You need a frontier worker permit to continue working in Hungary.
Read:
- Hungarian government’s Brexit guidance for UK nationals which includes ‘rules for residence for frontier workers in Hungary’
- Hungarian government’s legislation on frontier workers (in Hungarian) and further related legislation (in Hungarian)
Iceland
You need to register with the Icelandic Immigration Directorate to continue working in Iceland.
Ireland
The Common Travel Area allows British citizens to work in Ireland (including on a self-employed basis) without needing to obtain permission. If you are a frontier worker you do not need a permit but may request one if you wish.
Read the Irish government’s guidance for UK nationals, which includes information for frontier worker permits.
Italy
You do not need a frontier worker permit to continue working in Italy. However, you can apply for one if you wish. You can obtain a frontier worker permit from the immigration office (questura) nearest to where you work.
Read:
- Italian government’s information for British citizens residing in Italy (PDF, 315 KB). Page 8 information on ‘what is foreseen for frontier workers’ explains how to request an electronic document to certify you are a frontier worker
Latvia
You need a frontier worker permit to continue working in Latvia.
Read:
- Latvian government’s Brexit guidance which includes how to apply for a frontier worker permit
Liechtenstein
You need a frontier worker permit ‘Grenzgängerbewilligung’ to continue working in Liechtenstein.
Read:
Lithuania
You do not need a frontier worker permit to continue working in Lithuania. However if you stay longer than 90 days in a 180-day period, you will need to apply for a temporary residence permit issued on grounds of working there.
Read:
- Lithuanian government’s information on residence permits (available in Lithuanian and English)
Luxembourg
You do not need a frontier worker permit to continue working in Luxembourg. However, you can apply for one if you wish. Contact the local municipality where you work for more information on what documents you need.
Read:
- Luxembourg government’s information on frontier worker permits
- Luxembourg government’s legislation on frontier workers (in French)
Malta
You need a frontier worker permit to continue working in Malta.
Read:
Netherlands
You need a frontier worker permit to continue working in the Netherlands.
Read:
- Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) guidance on how to apply for a frontier worker’s permit
- Dutch government’s Brexit Q&A including about frontier workers
- Dutch government’s legislation on frontier workers (in Dutch)
Norway
You need a frontier worker permit to continue working in Norway.
You should apply on the Norwegian Immigration Directorate’s (UDI) website by completing the application form under ‘Brexit regulations’ (right of residence under the Separation Agreement).
Read:
Poland
You need a frontier worker permit to continue working in Poland. You should apply for a frontier worker permit before 31 December 2021.
Read:
- Polish government’s guidance on after the end of the transition. There is a section with information for frontier workers.
- Polish government’s information on application forms and supporting documents (in English and Polish)
- Polish government’s information on frontier worker permits (in Polish)
- Polish government’s legislation covering frontier workers (in Polish)
Portugal
The Portuguese government has not yet set out the full process to obtain a frontier worker permit.
Read:
- Portuguese government’s Brexit frequently asked questions. Read the response to question about a British Citizen living in London but often travelling to Lisbon for work
Romania
You need a frontier worker permit to continue working in Romania. You should apply for the permit (‘permis de ședere temporară pentru lucrători frontalieri’) at the immigration office nearest to where you work.
Read:
- Romanian government’s guidance on staying in Romania: read the section on permits for frontier workers
- Romanian government’s legislation covering frontier workers (in Romanian)
Slovakia
You do not need a frontier worker permit to continue working in Slovakia. However, you can request one if you wish.
Read:
- Slovak government’s Brexit information: read section 6 on cross-border workers
Slovenia
You do not need a frontier worker permit to continue working in Slovenia. However, you can request one if you wish.
Read:
- Slovenian government’s Brexit information: read the ‘frontier worker’ and ‘application forms’ sections
- Slovenian government’s legislation on frontier workers (in Slovenian)
Spain
You do not need a frontier worker permit to continue working in Spain. However, you can request one if you wish.
Read:
- Spanish government’s guidance for UK nationals, which includes information for frontier worker permits
- Spanish government’s legislation on frontier workers (in Spanish)
Sweden
You do not need a frontier worker permit to continue working in Sweden. However, you can request a certificate of your status if you wish.
Read:
Switzerland
You need a frontier worker permit to continue working in Switzerland.
Read: