Frontier Workers Permit

Frontier Workers in Ireland and Northern Ireland

On 31st December 2020 the Brexit transition period came to an end which will affect some frontier workers.  If you work on one side of a border but live on the other, and return home at least once a week, you are a frontier worker, or a cross-border worker.

Current information regarding the Frontier Workers Permit Scheme can be obtained on the following Government websites:

www.GOV.ie  or www.GOV.uk

Irish, British & EU citizens

If you are an Irish, British or EU citizen and you started a cross-border job on or before 31st December 2020 the Withdrawal Agreement applies to you; EU frontier worker rights and EU social security coordination will continue to apply to you.

• EU citizens, living in Ireland and working in Northern Ireland will need to apply to the UK’s Frontier Workers Permit Scheme. Irish citizens, who are not also British citizens, can also apply to the scheme but they do not need to.
• EU citizens, living Northern Ireland and working in Ireland - as an EU citizen you have an automatic right to work in Ireland, an EU member state.
• British citizens, living Northern Ireland and working in Ireland can continue to work in Ireland, they do not require any documentation to do so but may request them under the Withdrawal Agreement if they wish.   If you have any queries please email the following address: burghquayregoffice@justice.ie and state Frontier Worker in the subject line.

Irish & British citizens

If you are a British or Irish citizen, you can work in either jurisdiction, including on a self-employed basis, without needing any permission from the authorities.

In support of this, the UK government is committed to ensuring that provisions continue to be in place for the recognition of professional qualifications obtained in Ireland.  The Irish government has also committed to working to ensure the provision of arrangements with the UK to recognise professional qualifications. (Source: Gov.uk)

See also: Border People: Frontier workers – Irish and British citizens (CTA)

EU citizens after 31st December 2020

EU citizens, living in Ireland and working in Northern Ireland who wish to work across the border in Northern Ireland after 31 December 2020 will need to apply to the UK’s points-based immigration system - www.GOV.uk. Your residence will not be affected as you will remain living in an EU member state.

EU citizens, living Northern Ireland and working in Ireland will be employed in an EU member state so your right to work there is protected by EU rules.