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Employment status (worker, employee, self-employed, director or contractor) affects employment rights and employer responsibilities in the workplace

• Overview

  In employment law a person’s employment status helps determine: their…

• Worker

  A person is generally classed as a ‘worker’ if: they have a contract or…

• Employee

  An employee is someone who works under an employment contract. A person…

• Employee shareholders

  An employee shareholder is someone who works under an employment contract…

• Self-employed and contractor

  A person is self-employed if they run their business for themselves and…

• Director

  Company directors run limited companies on behalf of shareholders.…

• Office holder

  A person who’s been appointed to a position by a company or organisation…

• Legal decisions on employment status

  A court or employment tribunal (known as an industrial tribunal in…

How to apply for British citizenship if you're stateless - who's eligible, fees and where to send your application.

• Overview and fees

  You may be eligible to apply to ‘register’ as a British citizen if you’re…

• You were born on or after 1 January 1983

  How you apply depends on where you were born. You were born in the UK or a…

• You were born before 1 January 1983

  Read the guidance to check if you can apply. Fill in the form to apply…

• After you’ve applied

  You’ll get a letter confirming your application. It can take up to 4…

Apply for British citizenship if you have a British parent - who's eligible, fees and how to apply

• Who can apply

  You may be eligible for British citizenship if you have a British parent.…

• You were born on or after 1 July 2006

  You’re automatically a British citizen if you were born outside the UK and…

• You were born between 1983 and June 2006

  You’re automatically a British citizen if you were born outside the UK and…

• You were born before 1983

  You may automatically be a British citizen if you were born before 1…

• After you've applied

  You’ll usually get a decision within 6 months - some applications can take…

Apply for indefinite leave to remain if you have an Innovator Founder or Innovator visa - fees, who's eligible, how to apply.

If your employer is 'insolvent' this means it cannot pay its debts - your rights if this happens, claiming money owed to you, where to get advice

Landlords need to follow certain procedures when evicting tenants - find out about eviction notices, harassment and illegal evictions, and going to court

DNA testing can be used in child maintenance or inheritance disputes, or applications for contact with a child or for a child to settle in the UK

How to apply for bankruptcy. What to do if you’ve been made bankrupt: if you’re at risk of violence, how long it lasts, bankruptcy restrictions, what happens to your home and possessions when you're bankrupt.

If you're terminally ill and might not live longer than 12 months, you may be able to get some benefits at a higher rate.

Find out how you can hire a person or business to deal with customs for you.

• Updated: 6 February 2025