Information for current and future 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.

If you are an Irish or British citizen living and working anywhere on the island of Ireland or between Ireland and Great Britain, including as a frontier worker, you do not need to take any action. The Common Travel Area (CTA) provides Irish and British citizens with the continued right to work and/or reside in either jurisdiction.

From 1 January 2021, the UK will introduce some changes for frontier workers who are not Irish or British. You should consider how these might affect you and take action if necessary.

Further information is outlined below. Please note that these examples also apply to frontier workers living in Ireland and working in Great Britain, or vice versa.

EU citizens living in Ireland and working in Northern Ireland by 31 December 2020

If you are an EU citizen living in Ireland and working in Northern Ireland by 31 December 2020, your rights are protected by the Withdrawal Agreement. You will need to apply for a frontier worker’s permit from the UK Government in order to continue working in the UK. For more information, see here. As an EU citizen, there is no change to your right to live in Ireland.

EU citizens, living in Ireland, who begin working in Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021

If you are an EU citizen, living in Ireland, and you begin working in Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021, you may need to apply through the UK’s new points-based immigration system. For more information, see here. As an EU citizen, there is no change to your right to live in Ireland.

Non-EU citizens, living in Ireland, who begin working in Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021

If you are a non-EU citizen, living in Ireland, and you begin working in Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021, you may need to apply through the UK’s new points-based immigration system. For more information, see here. You may also need to apply under Irish immigration law to live in Ireland, the same as before. For more information, see here.

EU citizens living in Northern Ireland and working in Ireland by 31 December 2020

If you are a non-Irish EU citizen living in Northern Ireland and working in Ireland by 31 December 2020, you will need to apply under the UK’s Settled Status Scheme to continue living in Northern Ireland. For more information, see here. As an EU citizen, there is no change to your right to work in Ireland.

EU citizens, working in Ireland, who begin living in Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021

If you are an EU citizen, working in Ireland, and you begin living in Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021, you may need to apply under the UK’s new points-based immigration system. For more information, see here. As an EU citizen, there is no change to your right to work in Ireland.

Non-EU citizens, working in Ireland, who begin living in Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021

If you are a non-EU citizen, working in Ireland, and you begin living in Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021, you may need to apply under the immigration rules in both jurisdictions. For more information on UK immigration rules, see here. For more information on Irish immigration rules, see here.

Please note:

• References to ‘EU citizens’ in these examples are not intended to be read as references to Irish citizens, who are covered under the Common Travel Area and do not need to take any action.
• The Department of Justice has made provision for British citizens living in the UK and working in Ireland to apply to register post-transition and obtain a Frontier Withdrawal Agreement Beneficiary Card, if they so wish. However, British citizens do not need to do this to continue working in Ireland as they are covered by the Common Travel Area.