Accession state nationals: restrictions on access to the labour market

ARCHIVED: this Overview is no longer maintained as it covers the implementation of EU free movement law in the UK prior to IP completion day, on which date domestic legislation implementing EU free movement law was revoked, subject to certain savings and modifications. For further details, including of the relevant savings and the position of CJEU case law, see Practice Note: What does IP completion day mean for Immigration?. The Practice Note has been retained in archived form for historical interest, because EU law as previously implemented in the UK remains relevant in certain limited situations. For historical versions of the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016, SI 2016/1052, including immediately prior to revocation, see Legislation.gov.uk. For the ongoing development of EU free movement law in EU Member States, see: Immigration, employment & share incentives (EU Law)—overview.

On 1 January 2007 Bulgaria and Romania became members of the EU. Croatia joined the EU on 1 July 2013. On accession each state became, by extension, a member of the European Economic Area (EEA). Like other EEA nationals,

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