How do I sponsor a migrant worker?
Tier 5 (International Agreement)
This page explains who can sponsor migrants under the Tier 5 (International Agreement) category of the points-based system.
This category is for migrants who are coming to the UK under contract to provide a service to you that is covered under international law. This includes:
a) employees of overseas governments and international organisations;
b) private servants in diplomatic households; and
c) migrants coming to the UK to service contracts awarded under specific international trade agreements.
Sponsor licence applications from diplomatic missions and international organisations must be accompanied a signed letter from the head of the mission or head of the organisation which must includes specific information as set out in Appendix A of the guidance for sponsors.
Contractual service suppliers and independent professionals under international agreements
If you have awarded a contract to an overseas supplier to provide services to you, and delivery of that service requires employees of an overseas supplier and self-employed persons to be in the UK temporarily, they may be covered by the UK's commitments under:
- the General Agreement on Trades in Services (GATS)
- the EU-Chile Free Trade Agreement;
- the EU-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement; or
- the EU-Andean Free trade Agreement.
If so, you can apply for a licence to sponsor migrants to come to the UK to provide services to you, the UK client, under the contract.
When you apply for a sponsor licence under Tier 5 (International agreement) to sponsor a contractual service suppllier, you must send us evidence to show that a services contract was awarded for a period of 12 months or less, though an open tendering or other procedure under one of these international trade agreements:
. full details of the requirements for sponsoring contractual service suppliers are set out in the guidance for sponsors.
You must not use this category for intra-company transferees. They must be sponsored under Tier 2 (Intra company transfer).