HOW TO FIND APPLICATION FORMS FOR A ‘YELLOW’ OR ‘BLUE’ CARD REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE ON THE UK BORDER AGENCY WEBSITE
Many people email Immigration Matters to ask where or how they can locate an immigration form. For instance, Bulgarians and Romanians often ask:
‘Where can I find the correct application form to apply for a Yellow Card?’
TIP
If you are looking for a particular form or guidance note on the huge UK Border Agency (UKBA) or Home Office website, rather than work your way through the maze of pages, try using the site’s ‘search facility’ or use Google to locate it.
The form mentioned in the above example is a ‘BR1’, but it is not actually called a ‘yellow card’ application. In fact, a search on the UKBA website for ‘yellow card’ may give you a ‘No Results found for the Search term ‘yellow card’ reply. So you need to search using the correct name or enter a more defined search. It is only called a yellow card because the registration certificate is literally a yellow card!
For your information the full title of the BR1 form is:
‘APPLICATION FOR A REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE FOR A BULGARIAN OR ROMANIAN NATIONAL EXERCISING A TREATY RIGHT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM’
You can locate the Forms BR1, BR2, BR3, BR4, BR5, BR6, BR7 and ‘Guidance for Nationals of Bulgaria and Romania on Obtaining Permission to Work in the United Kingdom‘ at:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/applicationforms/bulgariaromania/formbr1.pdf
However, if you are reading this article in several months time it may not be at the same location or the Immigration Rules for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals may have changed altogether and the forms could be no longer needed.
At present, despite the fact that they are EU members, when it comes to employment Bulgarian and Romanian citizens do not have the same rights as other Europeans, for instance from Poland, Slovakia or other A8 Accession countries.
Paragraph 2 of the ‘Guidance for Nationals of Bulgaria and Romania on Obtaining Permission to Work in the United Kingdom’ states:
As a Romanian or Bulgarian national you are able to move and live freely in any Member State of the European Union (EU). You do not need permission under our immigration rules to reside legally in the United Kingdom. You will have a right of residence in any EU Member State for the first 3 months of residence on an unrestricted basis and you can remain legally resident in that state as long as you wish, providing you are exercising a Treaty right as a student, a self-employed person, or if you are self-sufficient(and not economically active). You will not have an automatic right to reside as a worker in the United Kingdom (unless you are exempt from work authorisation requirements – see paragraph 6 below).
If you need help or advice there is also a UKBA telephone number given for the ‘Accession State customer contact centre’ which is: 0114 207 4074.
You can also seek advice from an Immigration Adviser, but make sure they are registered with the OISC, which provides a list of qualified advisers all over the UK.
See article:
UK Border Agency launch new website
The newly revised UK Border Agency website has a better look and feel and navigation seems faster, but previously published links to specific pages of the site may no longer exist.
For instance, the link for European Workers is now:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/bulgaria-romania/work-permits/applying/
The link for ‘Bulgarian and Romanian nationals‘ is:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/bulgaria-romania/work-permits/
The UK Border Agency and Home Office website contains a vast amount of information which can be difficult to wade your way through the guidance and Immigration Rules.
The navigation section for European workers from Bulgaria and Romania also appears to have been simplified although finding specific information is still a challenge.
Confusion remains over the need for Bulgarians and Romanians applying for BR1 Yellow Cards as students to take out Comprehensive Sickness Insurance cover.
The BR1 Form in Section 9 states:
‘If sections 4 (Students) and 5 (Self-sufficient) have been completed: evidence of ‘Comprehensive Sickness Insurance’ cover in the UK and funds to show you are economically self-sufficient, e.g. a bank statement.’
In other words, the paragraph means you need comprehensive sickness insurance only if you are applying under both ‘student’ and ‘self sufficient’ sections.
Nevertheless, student applicants are being asked to take out private medical insurance policies and are being refused if they fail to supply the correct cover.
What is the correct insurance cover?
One insurance company manager told Immigration Matters that he has been trying to get clarification on the exact requirements from the UK Border Agency for several weeks.
The UKBA help desk, Bulgarian and Romanian section, was not specific but said that comprehensive cover means you are covered against most eventualities including in and out patient treatment.
In other words a budget policy is probably not going to be sufficient, although many applicants have no doubt managed to obtain a yellow card using such a policy.
See article:
UK Border Agency launch new website
The newly revised UK Border Agency website has a better look and feel and navigation seems faster, but previously published links to specific pages of the site may no longer exist.
For instance, the link for European Workers is now:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/bulgaria-romania/work-permits/applying/
The link for ‘Bulgarian and Romanian nationals‘ is:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/eucitizens/bulgaria-romania/work-permits/
The UK Border Agency and Home Office website contains a vast amount of information which can be difficult to wade your way through the guidance and Immigration Rules.
The navigation section for European workers from Bulgaria and Romania also appears to have been simplified although finding specific information is still a challenge.
Confusion remains over the need for Bulgarians and Romanians applying for BR1 Yellow Cards as students to take out Comprehensive Sickness Insurance cover.
The BR1 Form in Section 9 states:
‘If sections 4 (Students) and 5 (Self-sufficient) have been completed: evidence of ‘Comprehensive Sickness Insurance’ cover in the UK and funds to show you are economically self-sufficient, e.g. a bank statement.’
In other words, the paragraph means you need comprehensive sickness insurance only if you are applying under both ‘student’ and ‘self sufficient’ sections.
Nevertheless, student applicants are being asked to take out private medical insurance policies and are being refused if they fail to supply the correct cover.
What is the correct insurance cover?
One insurance company manager told Immigration Matters that he has been trying to get clarification on the exact requirements from the UK Border Agency for several weeks.
See also:
7 tips for completing a Yellow Card BR1 application to work and study in the UK
Immigration Rules for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals
Free Movement of EU nationals explained
Worker Registration Scheme to close
Employers ‘addicted’ to migrant workers says UK Immigration Minister
| STILL CONFUSED? Majestic College offer special packages for EU students. They also have a number of employers looking for staff right now and are willing to employ Bulgarians and Romanians.For more information call Joanna on 0208 207 1020 or email info@majesticcollege.org
. |
Reader Comments
Thank you for your explanatory post. I am a Romanian student taking a Master program in UK. I have already applied for the Yellow Card and waiting for its arrival. Since I am currently in the process of job seeking I have some uncertainties about all this legislation, especially given the employers’ emphasis on having unrestricted rights to work in UK. The yellow card specifies that as a student I could work full time outside terms. Does that imply that now, when my terms are finished and only have the dissertation to write until August I can be employed full-time and don’t have to apply for the Accession card? or will the yellow card solely be valid until the official finish of my studies here?
The Yellow Card is generally considered to be a temporary measure or ’stepping stone’ to a Blue Card. It does not usually have an expiry date.
i want to apply for yellow card but i don’t now what i must to do. if is somebody how make the yellow card and want to help me please send me an email at vornicu_gigi@yahoo.com. thank you
Does anybody know when “our” restrictions (romanian&bulgarian) will be lifted up?? Sorry, but as an individual I do think all this stuff with colleges,blue card,yellow card is nonsense,one country cannot hold back an Eu country for more than 5 years ’cause is not fair how are romanians treated here,we are all white people,not balck ones and if some very wealthy people in our amazing country which is called Romania were stealing,cheating,bulding castles is not our problem,is not our fault that Romania’s economy is in such a shit situation!
I would like to apply for the yellow card but I don’t know exaclly what I should do…can someone explain to me? I have the insurance number, but now I found another job and they asked me about yellow card, otherwise they’re not gonna hire me…..if someone knows let me know as well please. thank you
Fabian, are you applying for a BR1 Yellow Card as a vocational student (which allows you to work full time) or as a self employed person? The forms and requirements have recently changed.
You can find the requirements on the UKBA website or see article for information and help:
BR1 Form for ‘Yellow Card’ Registration revised
http://www.immigrationmatters.co.uk/br1-form-for-yellow-card-registration-revised.html
ai ned blue card for my en my family
Hi I would like to know if I can apply for a Blue card after I have worked for one year without a break as self employed in construction industry.I would be very grateful if anybody can give me an answer.
Hi I am a Romanian citizen and I was confused wether to apply for a blue card (exempt from work permit requirements) based on the fact that my girlfriend is Portugeese and residing in this country for 4 years and we have been living together for 2 and a half years, or should I first find a job and than apply for a purple card (accession worker card) and later apply again for the exemption certificate. Would appreciate if someone could answer.
I have yellow card for a student, my husband is self employed and has a blue card. I worked one year as an employee, but do not go to school. How can I get my blue card?
hello,
for which Card should a romanian apply to work in UK?Im not a student.
Thank u!
hello,i would like to ask you,where do have to aply for my husband blue card and what about my daughter??
i already get a NINO,i work as self employed,i went to HM REVENUE,and someone from there doesn’t know,so i got all the papers formy self but where do i have to go fpr my family,i know that as self employed,my husband get quickly the blue card.what do i have to do????pleaselet me know
You can apply on a BR1 form which can be downloaded on the UKBA website. If you want help to prepare the papers for you (for a charge) you can use an OISC qualified immigration adviser.
I heard that if I have the “yellow card”, my brother can apply for the “blue card” directly! IS IT TRUE? If it is, what are the other requirements and what paper/form must he/we fill out?
hi there.I am a Romanian citizen,working in uk for more than a year,i worked 8 months as an au-pair for a family and got the pink card (got lost 3 months ago)with them then changed the family with the one that i am currently working for since January 2011,also as an au pair, but haven’t reapplied for the pink card,as i didn’t know that.My question is:can i apply for the blue card with the second family,as i’ve already worked for more than 12 month evan though i have’t got the pink card.
Thank you in advance.
As long as you have been working legally for more than 12 months you should be ok. Even if you cannot find the actual pink card for Romanian workers your records can be traced (do you have the reference number?). You have nothing to lose by applying for the Blue Card on a BR1 form which yiou can download on the UK Border Agency website.
All migrants should keep copies of their letters and documents in case they get lost. You can store them on a PC, stick or even in the ‘cloud’!
Hello,please I need to know if my husband have a yellow card for a student, and I’m a self employed since 05.2010 can I make the application for a blue card for my self? How can I get my blue card? please lett me know it’s important to my , thank you in advance
I always pay my national insurance contributs , I already complet twice the self assesstment tax return for the year 2009-2010 and for the year 2010-2011 and this year in after 04.04.2012 I must complet the next tax return for the year 2011-2012, so please tell me what I need to do ti get a blue card please???
You should be able to apply under his yellow card.
Hello ! I lost my yellow card few days ago. I received it in 2007. I need to know what to do or how to replace it. Thank you!
Hello ! I am a Romanian national living in UK since 2007, I lost my yellow card few days ago. It was issued in 2007. Ineed to know what to do or how to replace it. Thank you !
You can write to the UK Border Agency for a replacement, but why have you not applied for a Blue Card?
I would like to apply for a Blue Card but. I dont`t need to have the Yellow card for at least 5 years ? It would be 5 years since I got it in september. And I don`t need the Yellow so I can send it along with the aplication form and an Id ?
You should see an immigration adviser before you send your documents.
Hello. I am a Bulgarian citizen, living and studying in Madrid. I want to make an Internship this summer in the UK, but as I have no work permition, I was wondering if I could apply for the Yellow card without being in the UK. It’s confusing me. Thank you!
Hi! I have been a student in the UK for 4 years and am about to graduate in June. I am from Romania and I intend to apply for a blue card by submitting the BR2 form as a UK University graduate. I would like to ask if the new regulations regarding Tier 1 (Post Study Work) which came into effect on the 6th April 2012 and which end the automatic settlement for skilled workers affect the application mentioned above or is it just for the International students? If they affect it, how? Thank you very much!
Tier 1 or PSW rules do not affect Romanians or Bulgarians exercising Treaty Rights or applying for Blue and Yellow Cards.
Hi
I will pass the exam for Cambridge Advanced English in order to have this certificate.Will be posible to apply with this certificate for Blue Card without being employed entire year? I want to apply as a Highly Skilled Migrant proving my proficiency in English language and UKBA does not specify for student who did not work during cours at all if it is posible to apply for BLUE CARD.
ThanK you
Hi, I have read in the previous posts that someone was in doubt about applying for Yellow or Blue Card. I am in the same situation: I am going to graduate in November. Should I apply for a Yellow or a Blue Card? If I apply for Yellow card, by the moment I will probably receive the answer I may not be a student anymore. Could you please advise me on this? Thank you in advance for your kind help.
You can apply now for a yellow card if you want to work legally whilst studying.
Hi,I’m roumanian citizen. I’m working self employed for more than year. I’ve applicate for yellow card since november 2011(I sent the letter 21 nov.)but still don’t have the answer. Nothing, no phone call, no letter. What to do? thank you
The UK Border Agency said this week that they are only now looking at November cases! They are almost six months behind. See:
Yellow Card applications for Bulgarians and Romanians can take up to six months to process
Hi, I am Bulgarian national and my wife is Lithuanian. I want to know which form I need to complete to get registration certificate. In guidance notes how to fill forms for Bulgarians and Romanians is mentioned that I should complete form BR7 , but there is no BR7 form, or I just cant find it. it’s only forms from BR1 to BR6. Many thanks for any help.
Which registration certificate are you applying for? Most types, e.g. yellow and blue cards, are in the guidance.
Hi,
Sorry I made a mistake,I need to apply for residence permit ,not for registration certificate, so which form I need to complete? There is no BR7 form as it’s mentioned in guidance, so I was looking at EEA1. Is it right form for me?
Hello,
does it matter if person applies for yellow card only 4 months before his 1st year will finish? As we all know can take upto 6 months to process so by the time they starts processing i will be in vacation or starting second year (for whcih H.O. doesnt have paper yet).
Charles thank you very much.