My passport says 'The holder is not entitled to benefit from EU provisions relating to employment or establishment'.  What does this mean?

This phrase is there to show that you have Islander status. This means that you do not have the automatic right to live or work in Europe. When the UK joined the European Community in 1973, the Islands chose not to become full members.

The phrase will only be printed in your passport if you were:

• born, adopted, registered or naturalised in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man and you do not have a link with the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and  Northern Ireland) 

 or

• born abroad and acquired your British nationality through a parent born, adopted, registered or naturalised in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man and you do not have a link with the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern  Ireland)

I am Jersey born, but don't have that phrase printed in my passport. Why not?

If this phrase is not printed in your passport, but you are Jersey born, then you may have links with the UK that make you exempt from Islander status. Examples of links with the UK include:

• a mother who was born, adopted, registered or naturalised in the UK
• a father who was born, adopted, registered or naturalised in the UK (your parents must have been married unless you were born on or after 1 July 2006)
• a grandparent who was born, adopted, registered or naturalised in the UK. If  your paternal grandfather was born in the UK, your parents must have been married (unless you were born on or after 1 July 2006) and your father’s parents must have been married
• residency in the UK for a continuous period of five years or more

How can I apply to live or work in a European country?

If you have links with the UK (as above), then you need to let us know by completing section 4 of your application form when applying for your passport. You will be entitled to the same benefits as a British citizen in respect of working and living in Europe.

If you do not have links to the UK and wish to live or work in a European country, you should first get permission from the relevant embassy in the UK.

Alternatively, if you have a link with another European Union country, then you may be able to apply for a passport issued by that country. You could then live and work in Europe on that passport. You will need to contact the embassy of that country for advice.