Your right to work in the UK
A national of the 27 European Union countries, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Switzerland has the right to work in the UK as self-employed.
Coming from most of these countries, there are no restrictions on being employed, but if you are a national of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia or Slovenia and want to be employed for one month or more for a United Kingdom employer you must register with the UK Border Agency (UKBA) under the Worker Registration Scheme (this applies/applied until 30 April 2011). If you are Bulgarian or Romanian and want to be employed in the UK you will almost certainly need to apply for a Workers Accession card and/or a registration certificate from the UKBA.
If you are a national of other countries whether you can work in the UK depends on your residency status and any conditions that have been placed upon it by the UKBA. If you have a residence permit that allows you to live in the UK, it will say what restrictions there are on your employment, if any. If you have a residence permit as a retired person of independent means, you will not be allowed to work at all.
Full details of the provisions for workers can be found on the Working in the UK part of the UKBA website.
Getting your National Insurance Number (NINO)
One of the first and most important things to do on arrival in the UK for the first time is to obtain your own, unique, National Insurance Number (NINO).
Your NINO ensures that the National Insurance contributions or the taxes you pay are properly recorded on your account. It also acts as a reference number for the whole social security system. A NINO is unique to you throughout your life but it is not a form of identity. It is made up of 2 letters, 6 numbers and a final letter for example ZY 98 76 54 A.
You must give your NINO to:
- HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
- your employer
- Department for Work and Pensions, if you claim benefits
- your local council, if you claim Housing or Council Tax Benefit
- the Student Loan Company if you apply for a student loan.
To apply for a NINO you will need to telephone the Jobcentre Plus NINO service on 0845 600 0643. They will make sure you need a NINO and arrange for you to undertake an evidence of identity interview.
The interview will usually be one-to-one (unless, for example, you need an interpreter) and the main purpose is to establish your identity. The interviewer will ask you questions about your background and circumstances and ask to see all your official documents. Take the original documents and not copies with you.
