You can apply for any job in the Civil Service as long as you're a UK national or have dual nationality with one being British. As a European Economic Area national, EU national or Commonwealth citizen, you're eligible for about 75% of our jobs (defined as "non-reserved" posts), but most Fast Stream candidates must be UK nationals.
You'll be asked about your nationality at birth, whether you have ever possessed any other nationality or citizenship, whether you are subject to immigration control and whether there are any restrictions on your continued residence or employment in the UK.
In the majority of cases you must have lived in the UK for the previous five years, whatever your nationality. Non-British citizens resident overseas will not normally be eligible to be considered for Civil Service posts in the UK before they have arrived in this country.
Please see below for definitions of the terms used above. If you are unsure of your eligibility for an advertised post, you should contact the person named in the advert.
UK Nationals: UK national is as defined in the UK declaration on nationality for EC purposes made with effect from 1 January 1983. These are British citizens, British subjects under Part IV of the British Nationality Act 1981 having the right of abode in the UK, and British Dependent Territories citizens acquiring their citizenship from connection with Gibraltar. The Declaration also notes the reference in connection with the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man that "any citizen of the UK and Colonies" is to be understood as referring to any British citizen.
European Economic Area Nationals: European Economic Area National means a national of a European Union Member State or European Free Trade Area Member State. EU Member States (besides the UK) are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Cyprus, Malta, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia. EFTA Member States are, for the purposes of recruitment to the UK Civil Service, Iceland and Norway from 1 January 1994 and Liechtenstein from 1 May 1995.
Before commencing employment candidates from Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia for posts in the Civil Service will need to obtain a Work Registration Certificate from the Home Office.
Bulgarian and Romanian Nationals: There are restrictions to enter and work in the UK in this transitional period (up to 31 December 2011). Bulgarian and Romanian nationals are eligible to work in the Civil Service but, they will need to obtain authorisation to work before starting employment.
Switzerland: Although Switzerland is not part of the EEA, and Swiss nationals are not EEA nationals, the EU-Swiss Agreement (1 June 2002) confers upon Swiss nationals many of the same rights as are enjoyed by EEA nationals and their family members, including employment in the central departments of the Civil Service in non-reserved posts.
Turkish Nationals: Turkish nationals must have been lawfully employed in the UK for four years in any job, or lawfully employed for three years in a job within the same occupation as the post which they wish to take up in the Civil Service.
Relatives of Turkish Nationals: Certain family members of Turkish nationals who have freedom of movement rights are able to take up jobs in the UK themselves. Family members of Turkish nationals are only able to take up Civil Service posts if they have been lawfully resident in the UK for three years or more.
Commonwealth Citizens: Commonwealth citizen means any person who has the status of a Commonwealth citizen under the British Nationality Act 1981. This includes:
- British Citizens
- British subjects with the right of abode in the UK (this generally applies to people who were born before 1 January 1949 and who had a connection with either British India or the Republic of Ireland)
- British Dependent Territories citizens (i.e. people who obtained their citizenship from a connection with a territory which remains a British dependency e.g. Gibraltar, Bermuda)
- British Overseas Citizens (i.e. people who have a connection with a former British colony - for example, Kenya - who did not become citizens of that country when it became independent and did not become British citizens)
A further category was added in 1986: British National (Overseas), this applies to former British Dependent Territories citizens connected with Hong Kong.
Relatives of UK, Commonwealth EEA and Swiss Nationals: In addition to relatives of UK, Commonwealth and Irish nationals, relatives of other European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland may be recruited to 'Non-Reserved' posts. Certain non-EEA family members accompanying EEA nationals who have moved to the UK for an approved purpose will also be eligible for employment. The categories of family members are:
- EEA national's spouse
- a descendant who is under 21 years of age (and is the dependant) of the EEA national or their spouse
- a dependant relative in the ascending line (Son, Daughter or Grandchild) of the EEA national or their spouse
Futher information please see the link at the right of this page for the HM Home Office website "Working in the UK".