The International Agreement Visa allows overseas nationals to work in the UK under international law. Learn about eligibility criteria, documents required, application process etc. for International Agreement Visa. Contact Visa and Migration for step by step guidance.
The International Agreement route, which has replaced the previous T5 International Agreement Worker (Temporary Worker) visa, is for a foreign national (including most EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals who came to the UK after 31 December) wishing to come to the UK to provide a service that is covered under international law or international treaty, such as a private servant (such as, housekeeper, nanny/childcare provider, or cook/chef) in a diplomatic household, or an employee of a foreign government or a recognised International Organisation.
The applicant cannot be a ‘settled worker’ or cannot otherwise have immigration permission to work for a sponsor in the UK.
A person on this route can stay for up to 2 years.
A partner and/or children of the International Agreement visa holder can apply as dependants on this route.
The International Agreement route is not a route to ILR or settlement in the UK.
There are two categories of workers who can be sponsored on the International Agreement route:
Private servants in diplomatic households and
Employees of foreign governments and recognised international organisations
The sponsor must be:
a diplomatic mission such as an Embassy or consular post of a country/territory recognised by the UK; or
a recognised international organisation. This is an organisation established by an international treaty signed by the UK, which must be included on the list of exempt organisations on GOV.UK. This is a list of international organisations that are recognised by the UK, some of whose officials or employees (usually senior officials or employees) may be exempt from immigration control.
The applicant applying to obtain entry clearance to the UK or permission to stay here on the International Agreement route must apply online on gov.uk using the specified application form.
EEA (European Economic Area) nationals with a chipped passport (also called an e-passport or biometric passport) will have to apply as a temporary worker using the "UK Immigration: ID Check” app or the “Temporary Worker visa” form, if they apply from outside the UK, or “Temporary Worker’ form, if they apply from inside the UK.
Other applicants applying from outside the UK will have to apply using the “Temporary Worker visa” form, and applicants applying from inside the UK will have to apply using the form “Temporary Worker”.
An application for obtaining entry clearance to the UK or permission to stay here on the International Agreement route must fulfil all the following requirements:
(a) The applicant must be 18 or over at the time of their application.
Any visa application fee and IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) must have been paid;
(b) The applicant must have enrolled their biometric information when required.
(c) The applicant must have given a valid passport/other travel document to establish their nationality and identity;
(d) The applicant must have a CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) issued to them no more than 3 months before the date of their application;
Those applying for permission to stay must fulfil the above conditions plus the following:
(a) They must be in the UK at the time of application.
(b) They must have, or have last had, permission on the UK International Agreement visa.
An application that fails to fulfil all the validity requirements (mentioned above) may be rejected as invalid and not considered.
The applicant must not fall for refusal under the Immigration Rules - Part Suitability.
Those applying for permission to stay must not be:
(a) in breach of UK immigration laws, except that where the section called “Exceptions for overstayers” under the Immigration Rules - Part Suitability applies; or
(b) on immigration bail.
The applicant will need to have the following in order to be eligible for the International Agreement route:
a CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) reference number
unless exempt, they must have sufficient money (at least £1,270) available to support themselves in the UK
For an entry clearance or permission to stay application, the UKVI must be satisfied that the applicant:
genuinely intends to undertake the role described on the CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) and is capable of undertaking this role described on the CoS
has no intention to undertake employment other than in the role their sponsor is sponsoring them for, or as otherwise permitted within the conditions of the grant
The applicant must have got CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) from their employer, who must be a licensed and A-rated sponsor, unless they were last given permission on the UK International Agreement route and they are applying to continue working for the same sponsor as in their last permission.
A CoS stays valid for 3 months starting from the date it is assigned to the applicant.
Compliance with the NMW (National Minimum Wage) and the Working Time Regulations
The job role for which the worker is being sponsored must comply with the National Minimum Wage Regulations 2015 as well as the Working Time Regulations 1998 to the extent either of these regulations applies.
Any application seeking entry clearance or permission to stay on the International Agreement route will be refused where the decision maker has reasonable grounds to believe the role does not comply with the National Minimum Wage Regulations 2015 and/or the Working Time Regulations 1998.
They will also consider revoking the employer’s sponsor licence if they find the employer is breaching these regulations.
The applicant must have £1,270 or more (held for a 28-day period) on the date of application, or their sponsor must confirm on the CoS that they will, if it is necessary, maintain and accommodate the applicant for the first month of their employment for the amount of £1,270 or more.
Those who, on the day they apply, have been residing in the UK with a valid UK visa for at least 12 months are not required to show proof of this fund.
The applicant must be hired as a private servant by, and in the household:
(a) of a named member of staff, such as an ambassador or a Deputy Head of Mission of a diplomatic mission or consular mission with diplomatic privileges and immunity as defined by the VCDR (Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations) 1961; or
(b) a named official hired by an international organisation that is recognised by the UK government with diplomatic privileges or immunities under UK or international law.
The applicant for this visa must
not intend to take any role other than that of a private servant in the specified diplomatic household.
intend to work full-time in the role for which they are being sponsored.
not be related to either the employer or their spouse, either by blood or by marriage.
be paid at least the NMW (National Minimum Wage) level throughout their stay.
Provide the evidence of the terms and conditions of their employment
Provide a signed statement from their sponsor which confirms that the role will not constitute work done in relation to the employer’s family household
Where the applicant is applying for extension (permission to stay), they must submit evidence of payment of salary for no less than 3 months before the date of their application.
Where the applicant is applying to obtain entry clearance as a private servant in a diplomatic household, they must show their English language proficiency on the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) for Languages in all 4 components (speaking, reading, writing, and listening) of at least B1 level (intermediate).
The applicant applying on the International Agreement worker route as an employee of a foreign government or other recognised international organisation must be under an employment contract with the foreign government or an international organisation.
Where the applicant is, or will be, engaged on a contractual basis, the decision-maker (UKVI) must be fully satisfied that the role is not, and will not become, a permanent position, including where the engagement is temporary in nature.
The applicant must also not:
intend to undertake any role or duties for the employer/sponsor other than those for which the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) has been assigned; or
work as a private servant in a diplomatic household or as a domestic worker in a private household.
The applicant will be required to provide:
Their CoS reference number – this will be given by their sponsor
Their valid passport (with a blank page in it) or other travel document showing their identity and nationality
Proof of their knowledge of English if they are a private servant applying for entry clearance from outside the UK
A valid ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) certificate if their employer tells them that they need one because their job involves researching a sensitive subject at PhD level or higher
Evidence such as bank statements that shows the applicant has sufficient savings to support themselves in the UK (unless their CoS shows their employer/sponsor can support them)
Proof of their TB (Tuberculosis) test results if they are from a country where they have to take this test
If the applicant is extending their UK International Agreement visa as a private servant
The applicant must show that they have received their salary in the 3 months prior to the date of their application. They must provide 3 months of payslips, counting back from the day they apply for the extension, and proof that they received their salary in their bank account
The applicant may be asked to give additional documents by the UKVI.
Any documents that are not in English or Welsh must be submitted with a certified translation.
The applicant must apply online, and no more than 3 months before the day they are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on their CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship).
They will have to prove their identity as part of their International Agreement visa application. Depending on where they are from and what type of passport they hold, they will have their biometric information (fingerprints and facial photograph) taken at a VAC (Visa Application Centre) or they can use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan their identity document – they will also create their UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) account or sign into their existing UKVI account.
On the appointment date, the applicant will need to carry their passport to the VAC. They will be able to collect it the same day.
The applicant will need to pay the visa application fee of £319 and an immigration health charge, which is usually £1,035 per year.
The applicant can upload their documents along with their online application or have them scanned at the VAC (if attending an appointment to enrol their biometrics).
The applicant must apply online from within the UK before their current UK International Agreement visa expires.
The applicant must apply again if they wish to change their job either within the same organisation or move to a new organisation.
They will have to prove their identity as part of their visa application. Depending on where they are from and what type of passport they hold they will have their biometric information (fingerprints and facial photograph) taken at a UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service) service point or they can use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan their identity document – they will also create their UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) account or sign into their existing UKVI account.
The applicant will need to pay the visa application fee of £319 and an immigration health charge, which is usually £1,035 per year.
The applicant can upload their documents along with their online application or have them scanned at the UKVCAS (if attending an appointment to enrol their biometrics).
After having applied online, proving identity, and providing the documents, the applicant will normally get a decision on their application for entry clearance within 3 weeks, and those who have applied for their International Agreement visa extension will normally get a decision within 8 weeks.
If the application is complex and will take longer, UKVI will contact the applicant, for example, because:
UKVI needs to verify the documents of the applicant
The applicant is required to attend an interview
Of the applicant’s personal circumstances (for example, if they have a criminal conviction)
If the decision maker is completely satisfied that the applicant has fulfilled all the suitability and eligibility criteria for the International Agreement route, the application will be approved; otherwise, the application will be refused.
Successful applicants will get an eVisa (a digital record of their identity and immigration status).
The applicant can come to the UK for up to 24 months, or the time stated in their CoS plus up to 28 days (14 days before plus 14 days after), whichever is shorter.
If the applicant is applying for an extension of their International Agreement visa as an employee of an overseas government or other recognised international organisation and they are granted the permission, they can stay in the UK for a period of the job stated on their CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) plus 14 days, or the difference between 24 months and the period they have already spent in the UK since their last grant of permission on the International Agreement route, whichever is shorter.
If the applicant is applying for an extension of their International Agreement visa as a private servant in a diplomatic household and they are granted the permission, they can stay in the UK for a period of the job stated on their CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) plus 14 days, or 24 months, or difference between 5 years and the period they have already been granted permission on this route, whichever is shorter.
If eligible, the International Agreement visa applicant’s or holder’s partner (husband/wife or civil partner) and children (aged under 18 - including if they were born in the UK during the worker’s stay in the UK or children aged over 18 if they currently have permission (‘leave to enter’ or ‘remain’) to be in the UK as the lead applicant’s dependant), can apply to join them (entry clearance) or stay (permission to stay) in the UK as their ‘dependants’.
The lead applicant must give documentary evidence of their relationship with their dependent partner and dependent children. For example, a marriage/civil partnership certificate for the partner and a birth certificate for a child.
Upon approval of the visa application as a dependent partner and dependent child, their visa will usually end on the same date as the primary applicant. A child’s visa will end on the earlier date if their parents' visa expiry dates are different.
The partner and children applying as dependents must also have a required amount of money to support themselves in the UK.
The applicant - or their partner or child - will need:
£285 for their partner
£315 for one child
£200 for each additional child
Our business immigration lawyers have expertise and experience in assisting eligible organisations looking to sponsor migrant workers on the UK International Agreement route and applicants applying for the UK International Agreement route.
If you are an employer/sponsor, we can help you with checking if you are an eligible organisation for this route, applying for and obtaining a Temporary Worker sponsor licence for employing/sponsoring a overseas person on this route, and if you are already an approved sponsor, we make sure that you offer and eligible job, pay the required salary, conduct the right-to-work check before starting the employment, and fulfil your other sponsor duties before, during, and after sponsoring a private servant in diplomatic households or an employee of foreign government and recognised international organisation to maintain your A-rating and ability to assign further CoSs.
On the other hand, if you are a foreign national looking to apply on the International Agreement route either as a private servant in diplomatic household or as an employee of a foreign government and recognised international organisation, we can help in assessing and ensuring you fulfill the eligibility and suitability requirements for this visa, make a valid application, meet your job’s start date, provide the necessary documents, and ensure that any visa refusal is handled appropriately.
For expert advice and queries, you can call us at +44 (0)20 3411 1261 or write at info@visaandmigration.com
This visa allows foreign workers to come to the UK to provide a service covered under international law/treaty.
Private servants in diplomatic households and Employees of foreign governments and recognised international organisations.
You can come to the UK for up to 24 months, or the time mentioned in your CoS plus up to 28 days, whichever is shorter.
Where the applicant is applying to obtain entry clearance as a private servant in a diplomatic household.
No, switching to this route from within the UK is not allowed.
Yes, you can, if you continue to meet the eligibility criteria and additional requirements for extension.
Yes, if the job is on the Skilled Worker ISL (Immigration Salary List) or it is in the same sector as your main job.
Yes, you can bring your partner and/or children on this route.
Usually, it takes about 3 weeks after the application submission from outside the UK and 8 weeks after the submission from within the UK.
Yes, you may get a faster decision by using ‘priority’ or ‘super priority’ service.
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