If you are an EEA/Swiss national and have been accepted on a course of study, you are entitled to enter the UK freely and have the right of residence. You:
- do not need entry clearance
- do not need to register with the police and
- do not need to get prior clearance to travel to the UK for your EEA/Swiss national spouse and dependent children.
A residence permit is not compulsory, but it is advisable, and will be particularly useful:
- if you stay in the UK to work after your studies
- if you are married to a non-EU/EEA national or have non-EU/EEA national children who wish to live with you in the UK. If you hold a residence permit, this may make it easier for them to apply for a family permit or residence document.
Residence permits are issued free of charge. Even if you do not intend to marry or work in the UK, or for dependants to join you, the permit may prove useful if your plans change, and can be useful as evidence that you have the right to reside in the UK. The permit is normally issued for the duration of the course. To obtain a residence permit, you can download application form EEA1 from the Home Office's Immigrations & Nationality Directorate.
For further information please refer to the UKCOSA guidance note EEA Students.
For rules on permission to work, visit 'Am I entitled to carry out paid work in the UK or EU while I am studying?'.
Bulgaria and Romania
From 1 January 2007 you are not subject to any immigration conditions and are free to enter the UK as an EEA national and have an automatic right of residence for three months. After three months you are expected to show that you are exercising your rights of free movement, for example as a student, self-employed person or as a self-sufficient person.
For the most up to date information on the immigration rules that apply to you please vist the Home Offices's Immigration and Nationality Directorate (this link will take you directly to the pages that effect you) or UKCOSA.