Can I Apply for A UK International Agreement Visa?

If you are coming to the UK to work for an overseas government, an international organisation or a diplomatic household, look at the International Agreement visa. It is a sponsored Temporary Work route for work covered by international law or treaty.

What Is The UK International Agreement Visa?

The International Agreement visa (formerly "Tier 5 (Temporary Worker) – International Agreement") is part of the Temporary Work routes and is governed by Appendix Temporary Work – International Agreement of the Immigration Rules. It is a sponsored route: you need a certificate of sponsorship from a UK employer that holds a sponsor licence for this route.

Who The Route Covers

The route currently covers two types of work:

• Employees of an overseas government or a recognised international organisation: for example, staff working for a foreign government or for an international organisation established by a treaty the UK has signed.
• Private servants in a diplomatic household: domestic workers employed in the household of a diplomat, or of a person working for a recognised international organisation.

What The Route Does Not Cover

Despite the name, these groups do not use this visa:

• Contractual service suppliers and independent professionals used to fall under this route but were removed from it. Workers supplying services under a UK trade agreement now use the Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier route.
• Youth Mobility Scheme participants use the separate Youth Mobility Scheme visa, which is not sponsored.
• Turkish businesspersons and workers: the ECAA (Ankara Agreement) route closed to new applicants at the end of 2020 and is not part of this visa.
• Diplomats and members of a diplomatic mission are generally exempt from immigration control and do not need this visa.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

You must:

1. be 18 or over on the date of application;
2. have a certificate of sponsorship reference number from a licensed UK sponsor (the certificate is valid for 3 months from the date it is assigned);
3. be doing a job in one of the categories above, which pays at least the National Minimum Wage and complies with UK working time rules;
4. have at least £1,270 in your bank account, held for at least 28 days in a row with day 28 falling within 31 days of your application, unless your sponsor certifies your maintenance on the certificate of sponsorship or you have been in the UK with permission for 12 months or more;
5. if you are a private servant applying from outside the UK, show English language ability at level B1 (intermediate) of the Common European Framework of Reference in reading, writing, speaking and listening.

If you are applying from a country where tuberculosis (TB) testing is required and will be in the UK for more than 6 months, you will also need a TB test certificate from an approved clinic.

How Long Can You Stay?

You can apply up to 3 months before the start date on your certificate of sponsorship. Time on the International Agreement route does not lead to settlement (indefinite leave to remain).

What You Can and Cannot Do

On this visa you can:

• work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship;
• if you are an employee of an overseas government or international organisation (not a private servant), do limited supplementary work of up to 20 hours a week;
• study, although some courses require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate;
• travel in and out of the UK;
• bring your partner and children if they are eligible.

You cannot claim public funds or start working before your visa is granted.

Bringing Your Family

Your partner and children can apply as your dependants. Their permission will end at the same time as yours. Unless your sponsor certifies maintenance or you have been in the UK for 12 months or more, you will need to show additional funds of £285 for a partner, £315 for the first child and £200 for each additional child, on top of your own £1,270.

Costs and Processing Times

Once you have applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you will usually get a decision within 3 weeks if you are outside the UK, or 8 weeks if you are applying to extend from inside the UK. Your sponsor pays the certificate of sponsorship fee.

How to Apply

1. Get your certificate of sponsorship reference number from your sponsor.
2. Apply online on GOV.UK and pay the application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.
3. Prove your identity, either with the UK Immigration: ID Check app or at a visa application centre, depending on your nationality and passport.
4. Upload your supporting documents.
5. If your application succeeds, you will get an eVisa, which you access through your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. The Home Office no longer issues biometric residence permits.

Documents You Will Usually Need

• your certificate of sponsorship reference number;
• a valid passport or other travel document;
• bank statements showing £1,270 held for 28 days, unless your sponsor certifies maintenance;
• evidence of English language ability, if you are a private servant applying from outside the UK;
• a TB test certificate, if required;
• evidence of your relationship to any dependants;
• certified translations of any documents not in English or Welsh.

Fees and rules change regularly, so check the current requirements on GOV.UK before you apply.