Working in the UK

Workers Registration Scheme (WRS)

If you are an A8 national who was not already working legally before May 2004 and you want to work in the UK you will need to register on the Workers Registration Scheme (WRS). You can't register until you have actually found a job.

You must register even if you are working on a short term or temporary basis, or if you are a student who is working part-time. You must register even if you are married to a British citizen.

You register by filling in form WRS which you can download using the link at the right of the page or get from the Workers Registration Team at the Home Office on 0114 207 6022.

You also need to send:

• two passport photographs;
• your passport or ID card;
• payment of £90 (postal order, cheque or card payment) ; and
• a letter from your employer stating when you started working for them. ( a job offer letter or contract of employment is not enough – it must be a letter that says when you started the job).

You must apply within one month of starting work. Your employer should photocopy the WRS form before you send it so they have a record that you applied to register.

The application will be processed in 2-4 weeks. You will then be issued with a Workers Registration Card and a Certificate allowing you to work for your employer. If you change jobs within the first twelve months you have to fill in another WRS form and apply for a Certificate allowing you to work for your new employer. You must do this within one month of starting work with this new employer. You won't have to pay another fee. You can work for as many new employers as you like in the 12 months but have to apply on the WRS each time you start work for a new employer.

Once you have been working legally for twelve months you won't need to be on the WRS any more. You can then apply for a Registration Certificate - see Living in the UK - giving you the same rights and benefits as British workers.

Cash in hand

When your income reaches a certain level you have to pay tax and National Insurance. The government uses this to pay for public services like the NHS and benefits. It is normally taken from your wages by your employer. If your employer pays you without making the deductions this is known as being paid 'cash in hand' and is illegal. If HM Revenue and Customs find out both you and your employer could be prosecuted and made to pay back the contributions you should have made.

Sometimes employers are reluctant to give you a letter proving that they employ you. This might be because they think they don't have to give you rights to things like holiday or sick pay if you are working 'cash in hand'. They keep putting off writing the letter, and before you know it a month has gone by and you are working illegally. Like Piotr and Rada you are missing out on employment rights and not building up time towards the year of residence you need to get off the Workers Registration Scheme.

But you don't have to put up with this because your boss is also acting illegally in employing you. You could go and get a job where you are legally employed. Or if you want to stay where you are you can contact the Worker Registration Team anyway, and they will do their best to process your application without the letter from your boss. They may pass your employer's details to their fraud team, and they could be fined up to £5,000.

For more information on the Worker Registration Scheme read the guidance that comes with the form WRS. This is available in English and your own language. It is available from the Home Office, or you can use the link on the right. You can find contact details for the Workers Registration Team in the Useful organisations section of this guide.

July 2009