Immigration Rules Appendix Temporary Work - International Agreement

The International Agreement route is for a person who wants to come to the UK to provide a service covered under international law, such as private servants in diplomatic households, or employees of overseas governments and international organisations.

A person on the International Agreement route can stay for a maximum period of 2 years.

A partner and children can apply as dependants on this route.

The International Agreement route is not a route to settlement.

Validity Requirements for the International Agreement route

IA 1.1. A person applying for entry clearance or permission to stay on the International Agreement route must apply online on gov.uk on the specified form as follows:

Applicant Specified form
EEA national with a chipped passport Either:
•Temporary Worker using the UK Immigration: ID Check app; or
• the forms listed below for applicants outside or inside the UK (as relevant)
Applicants outside the UK Temporary Worker visa
Applicants inside the UK Temporary Worker
  1. IA 1.2. An application for entry clearance or permission to stay on the International Agreement route must meet all the following requirements:
    1. (a) any fee and Immigration Health Charge must have been paid; and
    2. (b) the applicant must have provided biometrics when required; and
    3. (c) the applicant must have provided a passport or other travel document which satisfactorily establishes their identity and nationality; and
    4. (d) the applicant must have a Certificate of Sponsorship that was issued to them no more than 3 months before the date of application.

IA 1.3. The applicant must be aged 18 or over on the date of application.

IA 1.4. If applying for permission to stay, the applicant must be in the UK on the date of application.

IA 1.4A. If applying for permission to stay, the applicant must have, or have last had, permission on the International Agreement route.

IA 1.5. An application which does not meet all the validity requirements for the International Agreement route may be rejected as invalid and not considered.

Suitability Requirements for the International Agreement route

IA 2.1. The applicant must not fall for refusal under Part 9: grounds for refusal.

  1. IA 2.2. If applying for permission to stay the applicant must not be:
    1. (a) in breach of immigration laws, except that where paragraph 39E applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded; or
    2. (b) on immigration bail.

Eligibility Requirements for the International Agreement route

Entry requirement for the International Agreement route

IA 3.1. A person seeking to come to the UK on the International Agreement route must apply for and obtain entry clearance on the International Agreement route before they arrive in the UK.

IA 3.2. A person applying for entry clearance on the International Agreement route must, if Appendix Tuberculosis applies, provide a valid medical certificate confirming that they have undergone screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis and that this tuberculosis is not present in them.

Sponsorship requirement for the International Agreement route

  1. IA 4.1. The applicant must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the job they are planning to do; which to be valid must:
    1. (a) confirm the applicant’s name, that they are being sponsored on the International Agreement route, details of the job and salary the sponsor is offering them, and that these arrangements comply with the National Minimum Wage; and
    2. (b)include a start date, stated by the sponsor, which is no more than three months after the date of application; and
    3. (c) not have been used in a previous application which was either granted or refused (but can have been used in a previous application which was rejected as invalid, made void or withdrawn); and
    4. (d) not have been withdrawn by the sponsor or cancelled by the Home Office; and
    5. (e) include confirmation that the role meets the relevant requirements at IA 6.1, depending on the role; and
    6. (f) confirm whether the Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) requirement in Appendix ATAS applies.

IA 4.2. The sponsor must be authorised by the Home Office to sponsor the job in question under the International Agreement route.

IA 4.3. The sponsor must be listed as A-rated on the Home Office’s register of licensed sponsors, unless the applicant was last granted permission on the International Agreement route and is applying to continue working for the same sponsor as in their last permission.

IA 4.4. The decision maker must not have reasonable grounds to believe the job the applicant is being sponsored to do does not comply with the National Minimum Wage Regulations or the Working Time Regulations.

Genuineness requirement for the International Agreement route

  1. IA 5.1. The applicant must:
    1. (a) genuinely intend to, and be able to, undertake the role for which they are sponsored; and
    2. (b) not intend to undertake employment other than in the role for which they are being sponsored, or as otherwise permitted by paragraph IA14.7.

ATAS requirement for the International Agreement route

IA 5.1A. If the ATAS requirement in Appendix ATAS applies, the applicant must provide a valid ATAS certificate.

International Agreement requirement

  1. IA 6.1. The role the applicant is applying to do must be as one of the following (and the applicant must also meet the specific requirements for that work):
    1. (a) a private servant in a diplomatic household; or
    2. (b) an employee of an overseas government or other international organisation established under an international treaty signed by UK.
    3. (c) DELETED.

Private servant in diplomatic household requirements

  1. IA 7.1. The applicant must be employed as a private servant by, and in the household of, either:
    1. (a) a named member of staff of a diplomatic or consular mission who has diplomatic privileges and immunity as defined by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations; or
    2. (b) a named official employed by an international organisation recognised by the UK government with diplomatic privileges or immunities under UK or international law.
  2. IA 7.2. DELETED.

IA 7.3. The applicant must not intend to undertake any other role for the sponsor other than as a private servant in the specified household.

IA 7.4. The applicant must intend to work full time in the role they are being sponsored for.

IA 7.5. The applicant must not be a relative of the employer, or employer’s spouse, either by blood or by marriage (including but not limited to, the spouse or unmarried partner, child, parent, grandparent or sibling of either the employer or the employer’s spouse).

IA 7.6. DELETED

IA 7.7. The applicant must be paid at least the level of the National Minimum Wage throughout their stay.

IA 7.8. The applicant must provide the evidence of employment terms and conditions as set out in Appendix Domestic Worker Statement.

IA 7.9. The applicant must provide a signed statement from the sponsor confirming that the role will not constitute work done in relation to the employer’s family household within the meaning of regulation 57 of the National Minimum Wage Regulations 2015.

IA 7.10. Where the application is for permission to stay, they must provide evidence of payment of salary for no less than 3 months prior to the date of application. Evidence must be submitted in accordance with Appendix Finance.

English language requirement for a private servant in a diplomatic household

IA 7.11. Where the application is for entry clearance, the applicant must show English language ability on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in all 4 components (reading, writing, speaking and listening) of at least B1 (intermediate).

IA 7.12. The applicant must show they meet the English language requirement as specified in Appendix English Language.

Employee of an overseas government or other international organisation requirement

IA 8.1. The applicant must be under a contract of employment with the overseas government or international organisation.

IA 8.1A. Where the applicant is, or will be, working on a contract basis (being supplied as labour from one organisation to another), the decision maker must be satisfied that the applicant will not be filling a permanent position, including on a temporary basis.

IA 8.2. The applicant must not intend to take any other form of role for the sponsor other than that for which the Certificate of Sponsorship was assigned.

IA 8.3. The applicant must not be working as a private servant in a diplomatic household or as a domestic worker in a private household.

Contractual Service Supplier requirement

IA 9.1. DELETED.

IA 9.2. DELETED.

IA 9.3. DELETED.

IA 9.4. DELETED.

IA 9.5. DELETED.

IA 9.6. DELETED.

IA 9.7. DELETED.

IA 9.8. DELETED.

IA 9.9. DELETED

IA 9.10. DELETED.

Independent Professional requirement

IA 10.1. DELETED.

IA 10.2. DELETED.

IA 10.3. DELETED.

IA 10.4. DELETED.

IA 10.5. DELETED.

IA 10.6. DELETED.

IA 10.7. DELETED.

IA 10.8 DELETED.

Financial Requirement for the International Agreement route

IA 11.1. If the applicant is applying for permission to stay and has been in the UK with permission for 12 months or longer on the date of application, they will meet the financial requirement and do not need to show funds.

  1. IA 11.2. If the applicant is applying for entry clearance, or is applying for permission to stay and has been in the UK for less than 12 months on the date of application, either:
    1. (a) the applicant must have funds of at least £1,270; or
    2. (b) the applicant’s A rated sponsor must confirm on the Certificate of Sponsorship that they will, if it is necessary, maintain and accommodate the applicant up to the end of the first month of their employment for an amount of at least £1,270.

IA 11.3. If IA 11.2. applies, the applicant must show that they have held the required level of funds for a 28-day period and as specified in Appendix Finance.

Decision on an application on the International Agreement route

IA 13.1. If the decision maker is satisfied that all the suitability and eligibility requirements for the International Agreement route are met, the application will be granted, otherwise the application will be refused.

IA 13.2. If the application is refused, the person can apply for an Administrative Review under Appendix AR: Administrative Review.

Period of grant for the International Agreement route

IA 14.1. DELETED.

IA 14.2. DELETED.

  1. IA 14.3. If the application is for entry clearance, the applicant will be granted whichever is the shorter of:
    1. (a) the period of the role on the Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days before and 14 days after that period; or
    2. (b) 24 months.
  1. IA 14.4. If the applicant is an employee of an overseas government or other international organisation and their application is for permission to stay, the applicant will be granted whichever is the shorter of:
    1. (a) the period of the role on the Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days after that period; or
    2. (b) the difference between 24 months and the period they have already been granted permission on the International Agreement route.
  1. IA 14.5. If the applicant is a private servant in a diplomatic household and their application is for permission to stay, the applicant will be granted whichever is the shorter of:
    1. (a) the period of the role on the Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days after that period; or
    2. (b) 24 months; or
    3. (c) the difference between five years and the period they have already been granted permission on the International Agreement route.

IA 14.6. DELETED.

Conditions of grant on the International Agreement route

  1. IA 14.7. The grant will be subject to all the following conditions:
    1. (a) no access to public funds; and
    2. (b) the only work permitted is
      1. (i) the job the applicant is being sponsored for; and
      2. (ii) supplementary employment only for a person being sponsored for a job as an employee of overseas governments or international organisations (but not as a private servant in a diplomatic household) and only provided the job in (i) is also being done.
    3. (c) study is permitted, subject to the ATAS condition in Appendix ATAS.
    4. (d) DELETED.

IA 14.8. If the applicant is being sponsored as a private servant in a diplomatic household, IA 14.7.(b) does not prevent them from taking employment as a domestic worker in a different household from the one specified in the Certificate of Sponsorship.

Settlement by a Private Servant in a diplomatic household

Validity requirements for settlement by a Private Servant in a diplomatic household

IA 15.1. DELETED.

IA 15.2. DELETED.

IA 15.3. DELETED.

IA 15.4. DELETED.

Suitability Requirements for settlement as a Private Servant in a diplomatic household

IA 16.1. DELETED.

IA 16.2. DELETED.

Eligibility requirements for settlement as a Private Servant in a diplomatic household

Qualifying period requirement for settlement as a Private Servant in a diplomatic household

IA 17.1. DELETED.

IA 17.2. DELETED.

Continuous residence requirement for settlement as a Private Servant in a diplomatic household

IA 18.1. DELETED.

English language requirement for settlement as a Private Servant in a diplomatic household

IA 19.1. DELETED.

IA 19.2. DELETED.

Knowledge of Life in the UK requirement for settlement as a Private Servant in a diplomatic household

IA 20.1. DELETED.

Decision on an application for settlement by Private Servant in a diplomatic household

IA 21.1. DELETED.

IA 21.2. DELETED.

Dependants on the International Agreement route

Validity requirements for a dependent partner or dependent child on the International Agreement route

IA 22.1. A person applying for entry clearance or permission to stay as a dependent partner or dependent child on the International Agreement route must apply online on the gov.uk website on the specified form as follows:

Applicant Specified form
EEA national with a chipped passport Either (as applicable):
• Dependant partner or dependant child using the UK Immigration: ID Check app; or
• the forms listed below for dependant applicants outside or inside the UK as relevant.
Applicants outside the UK Dependant partner visa
Dependant child visa
Applicants inside the UK If the dependant is applying at the same time as the person on the International Agreement route, they can be included in the form Temporary Worker where the form allows dependants to be added. Otherwise:
- Dependant partner
- Dependant child
  1. IA 22.2. An application for entry clearance or permission to stay as a partner or child on the International Agreement route must meet all the following requirements:
    1. (a) any fee and Immigration Health Charge must have been paid; and
    2. (b) the applicant must have provided biometrics when required; and
    3. (c) the applicant must have provided a passport or other travel document which satisfactorily establishes their identity and nationality; and
    4. (d) the applicant must be applying as a partner or child of a person who:
      1. (i) has made a valid application for entry clearance or permission to stay as a person on the International Agreement route that has not been decided; or
      2. (ii) has entry clearance or permission to stay as a person on the International Agreement route.

IA 22.3. An applicant applying as a dependent partner must be aged 18 or over on the date of application.

IA 22.4. If applying for permission to stay, the applicant must be in the UK on the date of application.

  1. IA 22.4ZA. If applying for permission to stay, the applicant must not have, or have last been granted, permission:
    1. (a) as a Visitor; or
    2. (b) as a Short-term Student; or
    3. (c) as a Parent of a Child Student; or
    4. (d) as a Seasonal Worker; or
    5. (e) as a Domestic Worker in a Private Household; or
    6. (f) outside the Immigration Rules.
  1. IA 22.4A. An applicant who is applying for permission to stay and has, or last had, permission as a Student, must fulfil one of the Conditions A or B below on the date of application:
    1. (a) Condition A: the applicant must have completed the course of study for which the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned (or a course to which ST 27.3 of Appendix Student applies); or
    2. (b) Condition B: the applicant must:
      1. (i) be studying a full-time course of study leading to the award of a PhD with a higher education provider which has a track record of compliance; and
      2. (ii) have completed at least 24 months of study on that course.

IA 22.5. An application which does not meet all the validity requirements for a partner or child on the International Agreement route may be rejected as invalid and not considered.

Suitability requirements for a dependent partner or dependent child on the International Agreement route

IA 23.1. The applicant must not fall for refusal under Part 9: grounds for refusal.

  1. IA 23.2. If applying for permission to stay the applicant must not be:
    1. (a) in breach of immigration laws, except that where paragraph 39E applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded; or
    2. (b) on immigration bail.

Eligibility requirements for a dependent partner or dependent child on the International Agreement route

Entry requirement for a dependent partner or dependent child on the International Agreement route

IA 24.1. A person seeking to come to the UK as a dependent partner or dependent child on the International Agreement route must apply for and obtain entry clearance as a dependent partner or dependent child on the International Agreement route before they arrive in the UK.

IA 24.2. A person applying for entry clearance as the partner or child on the International Agreement route must, if Appendix Tuberculosis applies, provide a valid medical certificate confirming that they have undergone screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis and that this tuberculosis is not present in them.

Relationship requirement for a dependent partner on the International Agreement route

  1. IA 25.1. The applicant must be the partner of a person (P) where one of the following applies:
    1. (a) P has permission on the International Agreement route; or
    2. (b) P is, at the same time, applying for (and is granted) entry clearance or permission on the International Agreement route.
  2. IA 25.2. The requirements of Appendix Relationship with Partner must be met.

IA 25.3. DELETED.

IA 25.4. DELETED.

Relationship requirement for a dependent child on the International Agreement route

  1. IA 26.1. DELETED.
  2. IA 26.2. DELETED.

IA 26.3. DELETED.

Care requirement for a dependent child on the International Agreement route

IA 27.1. DELETED.

Age requirement for a dependent child on the International Agreement route

IA 28.1. DELETED.

IA 28.2. DELETED.

Requirements for a dependent child on the International Agreement route

  1. IA 28A.1. The applicant must meet the following requirements for a dependent child in Appendix Children:
    1. (a) relationship requirement: entry clearance and permission to stay; and
    2. (b) care requirement; and
    3. (c) age and independent life requirement.

Financial requirement for a dependent partner or dependent child on the International Agreement route

IA 29.1. If the applicant is applying for permission to stay and has been living in the UK with permission for 12 months or longer on the date of application, they will meet the financial requirement and do not need to show funds.

  1. IA 29.2. If the applicant is applying for entry clearance, or has been in the UK for less than 12 months on the date of application, either:
    1. (a) funds of at least the amount required in IA 29.3. must be held collectively by one or more of the following:
      1. i) the applicant; and
      2. ii) the person on the International Agreement route (P); and
      3. iii) if the applicant is applying as a dependent child, their parent who is lawfully present in the UK or being granted entry clearance, or permission to stay, at the same time; or
    2. (b) the A-rated sponsor of the person on the International Agreement route must certify that they will, if necessary, maintain and accommodate the dependent partner and/or any dependent child as well as the person on the International Agreement route, up to the end of the first month of each of their grants of permission, to at least the amounts required in 29.3.
  2. IA 29.3. The funds required are:
    1. (a) £285 for a dependent partner in the UK, or applying for entry clearance; and
    2. (b) £315 for the first dependent child in the UK, or applying for entry clearance; and
    3. (c) £200 for any other dependent child in the UK, or applying for entry clearance.

IA 29.4, If IA 29.2(a) applies, the funds held for the applicant must be held in addition to any funds required for the person on the International Agreement route to meet the financial requirement and any other dependants in the UK or applying at the same time.

IA 29.5. If IA 29.2(a) applies, the funds must have been held for a 28-day period and as specified in Appendix Finance.

Decision on an application as a dependent partner or dependent child on the International Agreement route

IA 30.1. If the decision maker is satisfied that all the suitability and eligibility requirements for a dependent partner or dependent child on the International Agreement route are met, the application will be granted, otherwise the application will be refused.

IA 30.2. If the application is refused, the person can apply for an Administrative Review under Appendix AR: Administrative Review.

Period of grant for a dependent partner or dependent child on the International Agreement route

IA 31.1. A partner will be granted permission which ends on the same date as their partner’s permission on the International Agreement route.

IA 31.2 A child will be granted permission which ends on the same date as whichever of their parents’ permission ends first.

Conditions of grant for a dependent partner or dependent child on the International Agreement route

  1. IA 31.3. The grant will be subject to all the following conditions:
    1. (a) no access to public funds; and
    2. (b) work (including self-employment and voluntary work) is permitted, except as a professional sportsperson (including as a sports coach); and
    3. (c) study is permitted, subject to the ATAS condition in Appendix ATAS if the applicant is over the age of 18.
    4. (d) DELETED.

Settlement as a dependent partner or dependent child on the International Agreement route

Validity requirements for settlement as a dependent partner or dependent child of a Private Servant in a diplomatic household

IA 32.1. DELETED.

IA 32.2. DELETED.

IA 32.3. DELETED.

IA 32.4. DELETED.

Suitability requirements for settlement as a dependent partner or dependent child of a Private Servant in a diplomatic household

IA 33.1. DELETED.

IA 33.2. DELETED.

Eligibility requirements for settlement as a dependent partner or dependent child of a Private Servant in a diplomatic household on the International Agreement route

Relationship requirement for settlement as a dependent partner of a Private Servant in a diplomatic household

IA 34.1. DELETED.

IA 34.2. DELETED.

Qualifying period requirement for settlement as a dependent partner of a Private Servant in a diplomatic household

IA 35.1. DELETED.

Continuous residence requirement for settlement as a dependent partner of a Private Servant in a diplomatic household

IA 36.1. DELETED.

English language requirement for settlement as a dependent partner of a Private Servant in a diplomatic household

IA 37.1. DELETED.

IA 37.2. DELETED.

Knowledge of Life in the UK requirement for settlement as a dependent partner of a Private Servant in a diplomatic household

IA 38.1. DELETED.

Eligibility requirements for settlement as a dependent child of a Private Servant in a diplomatic household

Relationship requirement for settlement as a dependent child of a Private Servant in a diplomatic household

IA 39.1. DELETED.

IA 39.2. DELETED.

IA 39.3. DELETED.

IA 39.4. DELETED.

English language requirement for settlement as a dependent child of a Private Servant in a diplomatic household

IA 40.1. DELETED.

IA 40.2. DELETED.

Knowledge of Life in the UK requirement for settlement as a dependent child of a Private Servant in a diplomatic household

IA 41.1. DELETED.

Decision on an application for settlement as a dependent partner or dependent child of a Private Servant in a diplomatic household

IA 42.1. DELETED.

IA 42.2. DELETED.