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Summary: Significant movement of migrant workers from the EU and elsewhere in Europe into the UK rose considerably from the mid 1980s, though the net impact was low. In 2002 migration from the EU to the UK was 89,000, while 129,000 migrated from the UK to the EU. The surge occurred when the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Slovenia joined the EU in 2004. These countries are known as the A8. There was a further slight rise in 2007 when Bulgaria and Romania, known as the A2, joined.
Croatia, Turkey and Macedonia (FYR) have applications for membership in the pipeline. Registering for work
Nationals from the A8 countries must register under the Workers Registration Scheme (WRS) if they intend to work for more than one month.
Once a person has been working under the WRS for 12 months without a break they have full rights and no longer need to register.
The self-employed need not register but must contact HM Revenue and Customs for tax purposes
There are quotas for low-skilled workers, who need an Accession Worker Card under two schemes for agricultural and food processing workers
Everyone needs a NI number in order to work. This is obtained by applying to the Department of Works and Pensions.
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