Frontier Worker Permit

The Frontier Worker Permit is for EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens who live outside the UK but began working in the UK by December 31, 2020, and have continued to work there at least once every 12 months since. You must apply for this permit to enter the UK for work purposes.

Step 1: Prepare Your Evidence

Before starting, gather digital copies of the documents required to prove your eligibility. You must demonstrate three things: your identity, your residency outside the UK, and your history of working in the UK.

• Identity: A valid biometric passport or national identity card.
• Residency: Evidence that you live "primarily" outside the UK (e.g., utility bills or a rental agreement from your home country). You must show you spent less than 180 days in the UK in any 12-month period, or that you returned home at least once every 6 months (or twice a year).
• Work History: You must prove you were working in the UK by December 31, 2020, and have worked there at least once a year since. Use employment contracts, payslips (salary statements), P60s (annual tax summaries), or invoices if you are self-employed.

Step 2: Submit the Online Application

All applications must be started on the official GOV.UK portal. You will be asked to create an account, answer questions about your work history, and upload your supporting documents.

Step 3: Verify Your Identity

You must prove who you are before your application can be processed. There are two ways to do this:

• Via Smartphone App: Most applicants can use the "UK Immigration: ID Check" app. You will use the app to scan your biometric passport or ID card and take a digital photo of your face. This is the fastest method.
• In-Person Appointment: If you cannot use the app or do not have a biometric document, you will be prompted to book an appointment. You will visit a Visa Application Centre (VAC) if you are outside the UK, or a UKVCAS service point if you are currently in the UK, to provide your fingerprints and a photograph.

Step 4: Receive Your Decision

Once your identity is verified and your documents are reviewed, you will receive an email with the decision.

• Digital Status: If you used the app, you will usually receive a digital eVisa. You can use the UK government's "View and Prove" service to show your right to work to employers.
• Physical Permit: If you attended an in-person appointment and are not from the EU/EEA, you may receive a physical permit, though the UK is transitioning almost all users to digital status.

The Frontier Worker Permit is one of the few UK immigration routes that does not charge a government processing fee.

Item	Cost
Application Fee	£0
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)	£0
Biometric Enrollment (if using the app)	£0
Total Estimate	£0

Does not include: Optional priority processing fees (if available), travel costs to a biometric appointment center, or fees for translating documents that are not in English or Welsh.

Processing begins once you have verified your identity and submitted all required documents.

• Standard Processing (App): Usually 10 to 15 working days.
• In-Person Appointments: Can take up to 8 weeks if you are required to visit a service center.
• Document Validity: If your application is successful, your permit is valid for 5 years (or 2 years if you are applying under "retained status" because you are temporarily unable to work due to illness or pregnancy).

You can renew your permit indefinitely as long as you continue to meet the work and residency requirements. Note that this permit does not lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (permanent residency) or British citizenship, as it is based on the fact that you do not live in the UK.