The member states of the EU include the old EU countries, Cyprus and Malta, the A8 countries, and the A2 countries.
Old EU countries
These countries, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, form the EEA states.
EEA states and Switzerland
Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are not EU states, but EEA states. Their nationals and their family members have the same rights to enter, live and work in the UK as those of EU nationals within the old EU, under the EEA Agreement.
Switzerland is not an EU state nor an EEA state. Its nationals and their family members have similar rights to enter, live, and work in the UK to nationals of old EU states under separate agreements with the EU.
Cyprus and Malta
Following the Treaty of Accession, these countries joined, or acceded to, the EU on 1 May 2004. Nationals of Cyprus and Malta have the same free-movement rights as nationals of the old EU states.
A8 countries
Following the Treaty of Accession, these countries also acceded to the EU on 1 May 2004. Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hungary, Lithuania and Slovakia are referred to as the Accession 8, or A8 for short. The rights of nationals of the A8 countries to reside in the UK have been limited by UK laws until the end of a transition period in 2011.
A2 countries
Romania and Bulgaria joined the EU in 2007. The rights of the Accession 2, or A2 countries to reside in the UK have been limited by UK laws for a transitional period.
Turkey and Croatia
Full membership talks with Turkey and Croatia are underway.
