FRONTIER WORKER PERMIT

A UK Frontier Worker Permit allows eligible EU, EEA and Swiss nationals who live outside the UK but worked in the UK before the end of the Brexit transition period to continue entering the UK for work.

The route is not a general UK work visa. It is a protected post-Brexit route for people who had already established frontier worker rights by 31 December 2020 and who have continued to meet the relevant requirements since then. EU, EEA and Swiss nationals who first wish to start working in the UK after 31 December 2020 will usually need to apply under another UK work visa route.

A Frontier Worker Permit can be important for cross-border workers, consultants, self-employed professionals, contractors and employees who are based outside the UK but travel to the UK for genuine and effective work. It does not, however, cover family members and it does not itself lead directly to settlement in the UK.

This guide explains the eligibility requirements, residence rules, retained status provisions, supporting evidence, renewal process, family member options and what to do if a Frontier Worker Permit application is refused.

1. What Is a UK Frontier Worker Permit?

A frontier worker is a person who works in one country but lives primarily in another. In the UK immigration context, the Frontier Worker Permit route protects certain EU, EEA and Swiss nationals who were working or self-employed in the UK before the end of the Brexit transition period but were not primarily resident in the UK.

The Frontier Worker Permit certifies the holder’s frontier worker rights. It allows the holder to enter the UK as a frontier worker and to continue working in the UK, provided they continue to meet the legal requirements.

The route is most commonly relevant to people who live in an EU or EEA state or Switzerland and travel to the UK periodically for employment, self-employment, contract work, consultancy, project work or other genuine and effective work.

A Frontier Worker Permit is not the same as a Skilled Worker visa, Global Business Mobility visa or Visitor visa. It is not a route for a person who simply wishes to take up new work in the UK now. The key question is whether the applicant had qualifying frontier worker status by 31 December 2020 and has preserved that status since then.

2. Who Can Apply for a UK Frontier Worker Permit?

To qualify for a UK Frontier Worker Permit, an applicant must normally show that they:

• are a national of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein;
• are not also a British citizen;
• live primarily outside the UK;
• started working or self-employment in the UK while living elsewhere by 31 December 2020;
• carried out genuine and effective work in the UK;
• have continued to work in the UK, or have retained worker or self-employed status, since then; and
• are not subject to a decision or restriction that prevents them relying on frontier worker rights.

The requirements are cumulative. It is not enough simply to have travelled to the UK for work before 31 December 2020. The applicant must be able to show that they established qualifying frontier worker status and that any later interruptions in UK work are covered by the retained-status rules.

Nationality Requirement

The Frontier Worker Permit route is for eligible nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

For ease of reference, this page uses “EU, EEA and Swiss nationals” to refer to nationals of EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Irish citizens do not need a Frontier Worker Permit in order to enter and work in the UK because their rights are protected separately under the Common Travel Area. However, an Irish citizen may choose to apply for a Frontier Worker Permit if they wish to have evidence of frontier worker status.

British Citizens and Dual British Citizens

British citizens cannot apply for a Frontier Worker Permit. This includes dual British citizens who also hold nationality of an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

This point is important because some applicants who worked between the UK and Europe before the end of the transition period may have since become British citizens or may already have held British citizenship. The Frontier Worker Permit route is not available to a person who is a British citizen.

Work Started in the UK by 31 December 2020

The applicant must have started working in the UK while living elsewhere by 31 December 2020.

This work may have been employment or self-employment. What matters is that the work was carried out in the UK, was genuine and effective, and was not merely marginal, ancillary or a one-off activity.

Evidence of historic UK work is often central to the application. The more time that has passed since the applicant first established frontier worker status, the more important it becomes to document the chronology of work, travel, residence and any gaps.

Continuing Frontier Worker Status

An applicant must also show that they have continued to meet the frontier worker requirements since the end of the transition period.

In practical terms, an applicant will usually need to show that they have worked in the UK at least once in each 12-month period since they started frontier working, unless they can rely on retained worker or retained self-employed status.

Continuity can become complex where there have been long gaps in work, unemployment, illness, pregnancy, childbirth, business interruption, travel restrictions, change of employment, change from employment to self-employment, or a period of vocational training.

3. Not Primarily Resident in the UK

A Frontier Worker Permit applicant must live primarily outside the UK. This is one of the central requirements of the route.

The test does not require the applicant to have spent no time in the UK. Frontier workers, by definition, may travel to the UK regularly for work. The question is whether they are primarily resident outside the UK during the relevant period.

The 180-Day Residence Test

An applicant will generally be treated as not primarily resident in the UK if they have been present in the UK for fewer than 180 days in the relevant 12-month period.

This means that a person who lives outside the UK but travels to the UK for short assignments, meetings connected with genuine work, project delivery or recurring work may be able to satisfy the residence requirement, provided the wider eligibility requirements are met.

The calculation should be approached carefully. Evidence may be needed to show travel dates, time spent in the UK, time spent abroad, and the applicant’s real place of residence outside the UK.

Returning to Your Country of Residence

If an applicant has spent 180 days or more in the UK within a 12-month period, they may still be able to satisfy the “not primarily resident” requirement if they returned to their country of residence either:

• at least once in the relevant six-month period; or
• at least twice in the relevant 12-month period.

This alternative is important for frontier workers who spent substantial time in the UK for work but maintained their primary residence abroad.

Evidence may include travel records, boarding passes, passport stamps where available, tenancy or property documents, tax residence evidence, utility bills, employment records, family residence evidence and other documents showing that the applicant’s home remained outside the UK.

Exceptional Reasons for Not Returning

Where an applicant did not return to their country of residence with the required frequency, they may still be able to rely on exceptional reasons.

Exceptional reasons are fact-sensitive. Examples may include serious illness, accident, pregnancy, travel disruption or other circumstances outside the applicant’s control. The evidence should explain what happened, why it prevented travel, how long the circumstances lasted, and why the applicant nevertheless remained primarily resident outside the UK.

A bare assertion that travel was inconvenient or commercially difficult is unlikely to be enough. The evidence should be specific, dated and supported by documents wherever possible.

4. Eligible Work in the UK

To qualify as a frontier worker, the applicant must have carried out eligible work in the UK. The work may be employment or self-employment.

The work must be in the UK. This includes work in UK waters and work on the UK Continental Shelf, where the relevant legal requirements are met.

Genuine and Effective Work

The applicant’s work in the UK must be genuine and effective.

This means that the work must be real work of substance. It must be more than a small, marginal or one-off activity. Attending a single interview, signing a contract, attending a one-off audition, or taking part in a one-off competition will not normally be enough.

There is no single minimum salary threshold in the Frontier Worker Permit route. However, pay, duration, frequency, contractual obligations, actual work performed, commercial value and the surrounding evidence may all be relevant when assessing whether the work was genuine and effective.

Where earnings from UK work are low, irregular or difficult to document, the application should explain the nature of the work and provide supporting evidence showing that the activity was genuine and effective rather than marginal and ancillary.

Employment and Self-Employment

Employment evidence may include:

• employment contracts;
• letters from UK employers;
• payslips;
• P60s or P45s;
• work schedules;
• assignment letters;
• evidence of UK work locations;
• travel records linked to work; and
• correspondence confirming duties, dates and payment.

Self-employment evidence may include:

• contracts for services;
• invoices for work carried out in the UK;
• proof of payment;
• evidence of active trading;
• client correspondence;
• tax or accounting records;
• business bank statements; and
• evidence of travel to the UK for the self-employed activity.

The evidence should link the applicant personally to work performed in the UK. General business documents may not be enough if they do not show that the applicant themselves carried out genuine and effective work in the UK.

Work in UK Waters and on the UK Continental Shelf

Eligible work can include work carried out in UK waters and on the UK Continental Shelf.

This may be relevant to workers in sectors such as energy, shipping, offshore operations, technical services, marine engineering and project-based consultancy. In these cases, it is important to document the location, dates and nature of the work carefully.

Changing Jobs or Moving Between Employment and Self-Employment

A frontier worker may change jobs or move between employment and self-employment without losing status, provided they continue to meet the requirements.

However, a person who stops working in the UK and does not meet the retained-status criteria may be at risk of losing frontier worker status. The practical issue is not simply whether the person has changed role, but whether they can show continuing qualifying work or retained status throughout the relevant period.

5. Retained Frontier Worker Status

A person who has temporarily stopped working in the UK may still be treated as having frontier worker status in certain circumstances. This is known as retained worker status or retained self-employed status.

Retained status is particularly important where the applicant has had a period of unemployment, illness, accident, pregnancy, childbirth, business interruption or vocational training.

The applicant must show that they previously carried out genuine and effective work in the UK and that the reason for the break in work falls within one of the retained-status categories.

Temporary Illness, Accident, Pregnancy or Childbirth

A person may retain frontier worker status if they are temporarily unable to work because of illness or accident.

A person may also retain status where they are temporarily unable to work due to pregnancy or childbirth, subject to the relevant requirements.

Evidence may include medical letters, hospital records, fit notes, maternity records, correspondence with an employer or client, and evidence showing when the applicant stopped work and when they were able to resume work or seek work.

The evidence should address both the reason for the interruption and the applicant’s continuing connection with UK work.

Involuntary Unemployment and Job Seeking

A person may retain status if they are in duly recorded involuntary unemployment and are continuing to seek work or self-employment in the UK.

If the applicant had worked in the UK for less than one year before becoming involuntarily unemployed, retained status as a jobseeker is generally limited to a maximum of six months.

If the applicant had worked in the UK for at least one year before becoming involuntarily unemployed, they may be able to retain status for longer, provided they continue to seek employment or self-employment in the UK and can provide sufficient evidence.

Evidence may include:

• a dismissal letter or redundancy letter;
• evidence that the contract ended involuntarily;
• confirmation from a former employer or client;
• evidence of registration as a jobseeker with the relevant employment office, where applicable;
• recent UK job applications;
• interview invitations;
• recruitment correspondence;
• evidence of attempts to secure UK contracts; and
• evidence of a realistic prospect of re-entering the UK labour market.

The longer the period of unemployment, the more important it becomes to show a continuous and credible attempt to obtain genuine and effective UK work.

Vocational Training

A frontier worker may retain status where they are involuntarily unemployed and have embarked on vocational training.

A person who voluntarily stopped working may also be able to rely on vocational training if the training is related to their previous occupation.

Evidence may include enrolment documents, course content, attendance records, proof of payment, evidence of completion and an explanation of how the training relates to the applicant’s previous work or prospects of future UK work.

Evidence of Continuing to Seek Work

Where retained status depends on continuing to seek work or self-employment in the UK, the evidence should show more than general interest in returning to work.

The applicant should normally provide a structured record of job applications, recruitment activity, correspondence, interviews, business development efforts or attempts to secure contracts. Where there are gaps, the application should explain them.

A retained-status application can fail if the evidence does not show a continuing connection with the UK labour market or if the previous work relied upon was not genuine and effective.

6. Can New Cross-Border Workers Apply After 31 December 2020?

A person who did not start working in the UK while living elsewhere by 31 December 2020 cannot normally qualify for a Frontier Worker Permit.

The route protects frontier worker rights that existed before the end of the Brexit transition period. It does not create a new route for EU, EEA or Swiss nationals who now wish to begin cross-border work in the UK for the first time.

A person who wants to work in the UK but cannot qualify as a frontier worker may need to consider another immigration route, such as:

• Skilled Worker;
• Senior or Specialist Worker;
• UK Expansion Worker;
• Service Supplier;
• Creative Worker;
• International Sportsperson;
• Global Talent; or
• another appropriate UK work or business immigration route.

The correct route will depend on the nature of the work, whether there is a UK sponsor, whether the role is employed or self-employed, the length of the assignment and the applicant’s wider circumstances.

7. How to Apply for a UK Frontier Worker Permit

Applications for a Frontier Worker Permit are made online. An application can be made from inside or outside the UK.

There is no general application deadline. However, a person who wishes to enter the UK as a frontier worker must hold a valid Frontier Worker Permit, unless they are an Irish citizen and do not need to rely on the permit.

Applying From Inside or Outside the UK

The application form asks for personal details, identity information, residence history, UK travel and work details, and information about any period of retained status.

The applicant should ensure that the form is consistent with the supporting documents. Inconsistencies in dates, work history, residence history or travel records can cause difficulty.

For applicants with complex work patterns, it is often helpful to prepare a clear chronology before completing the form. This should identify:

• when UK work started;
• the nature of each UK role or contract;
• dates of UK travel for work;
• periods spent outside the UK;
• any gaps in work;
• any period of illness, unemployment, pregnancy, childbirth or vocational training;
• evidence of continued UK work or retained status; and
• current or proposed UK work arrangements.

Proving Your Identity

Applicants must prove their identity as part of the application process.

Depending on the identity document used and the applicant’s circumstances, this may be done by using the UK Immigration: ID Check app or by attending an appointment at a visa application centre or UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services service point.

An applicant may need to provide a valid passport or national identity card. Where biometrics are required, the applicant may need to provide a photograph and fingerprints or attend an appointment to provide identity evidence.

Evidence of Employment or Self-Employment

The evidence required will depend on whether the applicant relies on employment, self-employment or retained status.

Employment evidence may include contracts, employer letters, payslips, payroll records and evidence of UK work duties. Self-employment evidence may include contracts, invoices, payments, client correspondence, tax records and proof that the business activity was carried out in the UK.

Where the applicant has worked for different employers or clients over time, it is usually important to show a continuous picture rather than isolated documents. The application should explain how the evidence fits together and why the applicant has remained a frontier worker throughout.

Evidence of Retained Status

If the applicant relies on retained status, they must provide evidence showing which retained-status category applies.

For example, a person relying on illness or accident should provide medical evidence. A person relying on involuntary unemployment should provide evidence of the involuntary loss of work and evidence of active job-seeking. A person relying on vocational training should provide evidence of enrolment, attendance and the relationship between the training and their previous occupation, where relevant.

Retained-status cases can be more legally demanding than straightforward continuing-work cases. The application should identify the legal basis of retained status and support it with evidence covering the whole period relied upon.

8. Frontier Worker Permit Fees, Biometrics and After You Apply

There is no application fee for a Frontier Worker Permit.

Applicants do not need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. However, some applicants may need to pay a fee to attend an appointment or submit biometric information, depending on how they prove their identity.

No Application Fee or Immigration Health Surcharge

The absence of an application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge makes this route unusual compared with many UK work visa routes.

However, the evidential burden should not be underestimated. The fact that the application is free does not mean that eligibility is straightforward. Applicants must still prove that they meet the legal requirements.

Possible Biometric Appointment Costs

Where an applicant can use the identity app and has a suitable biometric passport or national identity card, an appointment may not be required.

Where the app cannot be used, the applicant may need to attend a visa application centre or UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services service point. Appointment availability and any commercial partner charges will depend on the applicant’s location and circumstances.

Digital and Physical Frontier Worker Permits

If the application is successful, the applicant may receive a digital Frontier Worker Permit or a physical permit, depending on how identity was verified.

A digital permit can usually be used to prove frontier worker status online. A physical permit may still require the holder to use the online checking services to prove the right to work or rent.

Holding a permit does not remove the need to continue meeting the frontier worker requirements. A permit can be renewed, refused, revoked or cancelled if the holder no longer qualifies or never qualified.

9. Duration, Renewal and Losing Frontier Worker Status

A Frontier Worker Permit is normally valid for five years if the holder is working or self-employed in the UK when the permit is issued.

Where the permit is issued on the basis of retained worker or retained self-employed status, it is normally valid for two years.

Five-Year Frontier Worker Permits

A five-year permit may be issued where the applicant is currently working or self-employed in the UK and meets the requirements.

The permit can be useful evidence of frontier worker status, but it is not a guarantee that the holder will always be admitted as a frontier worker. The holder must continue to meet the requirements.

Two-Year Permits for Retained Status

A two-year permit may be issued where the applicant is not currently working or self-employed but qualifies on the basis of retained status.

A retained-status permit may be particularly relevant where a person is temporarily unable to work, involuntarily unemployed, seeking UK work or undertaking relevant vocational training.

Renewing a Frontier Worker Permit

A Frontier Worker Permit can be renewed. When applying to renew, the applicant must show that they continued to meet the eligibility requirements during the period since the previous application.

Renewal evidence should not be left until the last moment. Frontier workers should keep records of UK work, travel, residence abroad, contracts, payslips, invoices, tax records and any retained-status evidence throughout the life of the permit.

Where the holder is not employed or self-employed at the time of renewal, they may still be able to apply for a two-year permit if they meet the retained-status requirements.

When a Permit Can Be Revoked or Cancelled

A Frontier Worker Permit may be revoked if the holder ceases to be, or never was, a frontier worker. It may also be refused or revoked on public policy, public security, public health, conducive grounds, misuse of rights or where the person is subject to a relevant restriction decision.

A permit may also be revoked at the border or while the person is outside the UK.

A person whose permit has been revoked or whose admission has been refused should take advice promptly because strict deadlines may apply.

10. Entering the UK and Proving Frontier Worker Rights

A Frontier Worker Permit allows the holder to enter the UK as a frontier worker. The holder should travel with a valid identity document and be ready to show evidence of frontier worker status if required.

The permit can also help the holder prove rights connected with frontier worker status, including access to certain benefits and services where the relevant eligibility requirements are met.

Admission to the UK

A frontier worker should ensure that their permit remains valid before travelling to the UK for work.

A person who cannot show that they meet the requirements may face questions at the border. This may be more likely where there has been a long gap since the person last worked in the UK, where the person’s permit was issued on retained status, or where the person’s work pattern has changed.

Proving Your Right to Work or Rent

A Frontier Worker Permit may be used to prove the right to work in the UK. Where the holder has digital status, they can generally use the online status-checking process. Where the holder has a physical permit, they may still need to use the online service to prove the relevant right.

Employers and landlords may need to complete the correct online check. A physical document alone may not always be sufficient for a statutory excuse.

Tax and Social Security Considerations

A Frontier Worker Permit is an immigration document. It does not determine the holder’s tax residence, tax liability, social security position or employment-law rights.

Frontier workers who work across borders should consider taking tax and social security advice, especially where work is carried out in more than one country, where the person is self-employed, or where there are questions about UK income tax, National Insurance contributions or overseas social security obligations.

11. Family Members of Frontier Workers

Family members are not covered by a Frontier Worker Permit.

This means that a frontier worker’s spouse, civil partner, durable partner, child or other family member does not automatically have a right to enter or live in the UK simply because the frontier worker holds a permit.

EU Settlement Scheme Family Permits

A family member of a frontier worker may be eligible to apply for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit, but this is a separate application with separate requirements.

The family member will need to show that they fall within an eligible family category and that the sponsor is a qualifying frontier worker. Where the sponsor holds a Frontier Worker Permit, this may be important evidence. Where the sponsor has not applied for a permit, the family member may need to provide evidence that the sponsor became a frontier worker by 31 December 2020 and has remained a frontier worker since then.

Family-member applications can be fact-sensitive, particularly for durable partners, dependent relatives, late applications or cases involving changes in family circumstances.

Applying to the EU Settlement Scheme

A family member who enters the UK with an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit may then need to apply under the EU Settlement Scheme for pre-settled or settled status, depending on their circumstances.

The deadlines, eligibility rules and evidence requirements under the EU Settlement Scheme are separate from the Frontier Worker Permit route. Applicants should not assume that a Frontier Worker Permit held by the sponsor is enough by itself.

Evidence That the Sponsor Is a Frontier Worker

Evidence may include:

• the sponsor’s Frontier Worker Permit;
• evidence of the sponsor’s nationality;
• evidence that the sponsor lives primarily outside the UK;
• evidence that the sponsor started UK work by 31 December 2020;
• evidence that the sponsor has continued to work in the UK or retained status since then;
• evidence of the family relationship; and
• evidence of dependency, where required.

The sponsor’s frontier worker evidence should be organised carefully. A weak sponsor chronology can undermine the family member’s application.

12. Does a Frontier Worker Permit Lead to Settlement?

A Frontier Worker Permit does not itself lead to indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

This is because the permit certifies frontier worker rights; it is not a grant of permission under a settlement route. The purpose of the route is to allow eligible people who live primarily outside the UK to continue working in the UK.

Some frontier workers may have separate rights or options under the EU Settlement Scheme if they meet the relevant residence requirements. Others may need to consider a different immigration route if they wish to move to the UK permanently.

A person who wants to settle in the UK should take advice on their wider immigration position. Relevant options may include the EU Settlement Scheme, Skilled Worker, family routes, long residence, partner routes or other immigration categories, depending on the facts.

13. Frontier Worker Permit Refusals, Administrative Review and Appeals

A Frontier Worker Permit application may be refused if the decision-maker is not satisfied that the applicant meets the requirements.

Common issues include lack of evidence of genuine and effective work, insufficient proof of residence outside the UK, long gaps in UK work, weak retained-status evidence, uncertainty over self-employment, or inconsistency between the application form and supporting documents.

Common Reasons for Refusal

Common refusal issues include:

• the applicant did not start working in the UK by 31 December 2020;
• the work relied upon was not genuine and effective;
• the applicant was primarily resident in the UK;
• the applicant has not shown continuity of frontier worker status;
• the applicant has not provided sufficient evidence of retained status;
• the applicant has not shown active job-seeking after involuntary unemployment;
• the evidence does not show that self-employment was carried out in the UK;
• the application contains inconsistent dates or unexplained gaps; or
• the applicant is subject to a relevant restriction decision.

A refusal does not always mean that the person cannot qualify. In some cases, the problem is evidential. In others, the legal requirements may not be met. The decision needs to be analysed carefully before deciding whether to request administrative review, appeal, make a fresh application or consider another route.

Administrative Review

Some Frontier Worker Permit decisions carry a right to administrative review. This may apply, for example, where a permit is refused, renewal is refused, or a permit is revoked on the basis that the person is not a frontier worker.

Administrative review is a process by which the decision is reviewed for caseworking error. It may also be possible to submit new information or evidence to show that the applicant is a frontier worker.

The application for administrative review must normally be made within 28 days of the decision. If the person is detained on the date of decision, the deadline is shorter. An administrative review application currently costs £80.

The decision notice should be checked carefully because it should explain whether administrative review is available and how to apply.

Appeals and Judicial Review

Some decisions relating to frontier worker rights may carry a right of appeal. The availability of an appeal depends on the nature of the decision.

Judicial review may be relevant where there is no adequate alternative remedy, or where a decision is unlawful on public law grounds. Judicial review is not a general appeal on the merits and strict time limits apply.

Because the remedy depends on the type of decision, applicants should take advice promptly after receiving a refusal, revocation, cancellation or border decision.

14. Frequently Asked Questions: UK Frontier Worker Permit

Who Can Apply for a UK Frontier Worker Permit?

A Frontier Worker Permit is for eligible EU, EEA and Swiss nationals who live primarily outside the UK but started working or self-employment in the UK by 31 December 2020 and have continued to meet the frontier worker requirements since then. The route is not open to people who first wish to start UK work after that date.

Can British Citizens Apply for a Frontier Worker Permit?

No. British citizens cannot apply for a Frontier Worker Permit. This includes dual British citizens who also hold nationality of an EU country, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. A person who is a British citizen will need to rely on their British citizenship or consider any other relevant immigration position.

Do Irish Citizens Need a Frontier Worker Permit?

Irish citizens do not need a Frontier Worker Permit in order to enter and work in the UK because of the Common Travel Area. However, an Irish citizen may choose to apply for a Frontier Worker Permit if they want documentary evidence of frontier worker status.

What Does “Not Primarily Resident in the UK” Mean?

A person is generally not primarily resident in the UK if they spent fewer than 180 days in the UK in the relevant 12-month period. A person who spent 180 days or more in the UK may still qualify if they returned to their country of residence with the required frequency or had exceptional reasons for not doing so.

What Counts as Genuine and Effective Work?

Genuine and effective work means real work carried out in the UK. It must be more than small, marginal or one-off activity. Signing a contract, attending a single interview or taking part in a one-off audition will not normally be enough. Evidence may include contracts, payslips, invoices, work records and proof of payment.

Can I Apply if I Stopped Working in the UK?

You may still be eligible if you have retained worker or retained self-employed status. This can apply where you stopped working because of illness, accident, pregnancy, childbirth, involuntary unemployment, job-seeking or relevant vocational training. The evidence must show why you stopped working and how you retained frontier worker status.

How Long Does a Frontier Worker Permit Last?

A Frontier Worker Permit is normally valid for five years if you are working or self-employed when it is issued. If you are granted a permit on the basis of retained worker or retained self-employed status, it is normally valid for two years. Permits can be renewed if the requirements continue to be met.

Is There a Fee for a Frontier Worker Permit?

There is no application fee for a Frontier Worker Permit and applicants do not need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. However, some applicants may need to pay to attend an appointment or provide biometric information, depending on how they prove their identity.

Can Family Members of Frontier Workers Come to the UK?

Family members are not covered by a Frontier Worker Permit. However, a family member may be eligible to apply for an EU Settlement Scheme Family Permit or under the EU Settlement Scheme if the relevant requirements are met. They may need to provide evidence that the sponsor holds, or would qualify for, a Frontier Worker Permit.

Does a Frontier Worker Permit Lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain?

No. A Frontier Worker Permit does not itself lead to indefinite leave to remain because it is not a settlement route. Some frontier workers may have separate options under the EU Settlement Scheme or another UK immigration route, but this depends on their residence history and personal circumstances.

What Can I Do if My Frontier Worker Permit Application Is Refused?

You may be able to apply for administrative review, appeal or make a fresh application, depending on the reason for refusal and the type of decision. The decision notice should be checked urgently because strict deadlines apply. The best option will depend on whether the refusal is legally wrong, evidentially incomplete or substantively correct.