Nationals of Bulgaria and Romania have the right of free travel in the UK for up to three months. However, there are still restrictions on the right to work in the UK, which will continue until the end of 2013.
For general advice on UK employment, please visit our ‘Finding Work’ page.
If you wish to work in the UK while studying, you must obtain a registration certificate called a Yellow Card. Employers will ask to see this berfore they will offer you a job. To apply for the Yellow Card:
- Download and complete the UKBA Application Form BR1.
- Include: 2 passport photos.
- Add:
- Your passport.
- A student status letter – available from the College Reception.
- Support funds available – to prove you will not be working for more than the allowed time.
- CSI – Comprehensive Sickness Insurance.
- Send the application, pictures, passport and student status letter to the address on the form.
Your Rights as a Student:
- You are entitled to work part time for a maximum of 20 hours per week during term time and full time during the holidays.
- When you have been working part time for at least 12 continuous months, you will no longer be restricted and will be able to apply for a Blue Card for residence and full rights to work (no restriction on the number of hours or employer).
- Your spouse or other family member is allowed to work without any restrictions for as long as you are a student – he/she will need to apply for a Blue Card using a BR1 application form. After working for 12 months with this status, the family member can apply for exemption from work authorisation in his/her own right (unrelated to your status). For this however, he/she will need to have worked for the 12 months as an employee not as a self-employed person.
Notes:
- if your student status changes (i.e. you stop attending the course), your legal work status changes as well and your right to work is withdrawn, even if you have already obtained a Yellow Card and a National Insurance Number.
- The UKBA only considers applications for a yellow card for student registration certificates if you are already in the UK.
Once you have obtained the Yellow Card, you can start working.
Further advice for Romanian and Bulgarian students is available in this UKBA pdf.