Can EU citizens still work in the UK after Brexit?
If you have settled status, pre-settled status or a valid application under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), you may have the right to work in the UK.
This includes:
- Employment
- Self-employment
- Running your own business
- Accessing employment protections and workplace rights
In most circumstances, people with EUSS status should be treated in the same way as British workers when it comes to employment rights and protections.
The Independent Monitoring Authority (IMA) helps protect the rights of EU, EEA EFTA citizens and their family members under the Withdrawal and Separation Agreements and monitors public authorities to ensure those rights are respected.
Who can work in the UK?
You may have the right to work in the UK if you:
- Have settled status
- Have pre-settled status
- Have a valid Certificate of Application while waiting for an EUSS decision
- Are an eligible family member covered by the EU Settlement Scheme
- Hold another form of immigration permission that allows you to work.
If you have not applied to the EU Settlement Scheme and do not hold another form of immigration status, you may not have permission to work in the UK.
Employment Rights and Equal Treatment
If your rights are protected under the Agreements, you should continue to benefit from many of the same workplace protections you enjoyed before Brexit.
This means you should generally receive equal treatment in areas such as:
- Terms and conditions of employment
- Access to jobs and recruitment opportunities
- Support when looking for work
- Workplace protections
- Social and tax advantages connected to employment
You should not be treated differently solely because of your nationality
Proving Your Right to Work
How do I prove my right to work in the UK?
One of the most common questions people ask is how to prove their right to work.
If you have settled status or pre-settled status, your immigration status is normally held digitally as an eVisa. You can prove your status by generating a share code through the Home Office’s online service.
You will need to:
- Access your UKVI account
- Generate a share code
- Give the share code to your employer
Your employer can then use the code to confirm your right to work online.
What are right to work checks?
Employers in the UK are legally required to carry out right to work checks before employment begins.
These checks help employers confirm that an individual has permission to work in the UK. In some cases, employers may need to carry out follow-up checks.
Employers should carry out these checks fairly and without treating EUSS status holders differently from British workers.
Waiting for a Decision?
If you have applied to the EU Settlement Scheme and are waiting for a decision, you may have received a Certificate of Application (CoA).
A valid Certificate of Application can help demonstrate that you continue to have rights while your application is being considered.
Depending on your circumstances, employers may be able to verify your status through Home Office checking services.
Self-Employment and Running a Business
The right to work can also include self-employment.
If you are protected by the Agreements and hold EUSS status, you may be able to:
- Work as a sole trader
- Become self-employed
- Start and run a business
- Continue existing self-employment activities in the UK
The same principles of equal treatment generally apply to self-employed workers protected under the Agreements.
Professional Qualifications After Brexit
Are my professional qualifications still recognised?
If your professional qualifications were formally recognised in the UK before 31 December 2020, that recognition should continue to be valid.
If you applied for recognition before 31 December 2020 and your application was still being processed, it should generally have been considered under the rules that applied before Brexit.
However, qualifications obtained or submitted for recognition after that date may be subject to different UK rules and requirements.
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Need Help Understanding Your Rights?
The rules around working in the UK after Brexit can be complex, particularly when it comes to share codes, right to work checks, professional qualifications and frontier worker status.
The IMA provides information about the rights protected under the Agreements and monitors public authorities to ensure those rights are respected.
Explore our guidance on: