Jump to content

Tier 5 (Temporary worker - international agreement)

Image of employees of an overseas government in the United Kingdom.

This section explains how you can come to the UK or remain here in the international agreement category (Tier 5 Temporary Worker) under our points-based system to work in the UK.

What is the international agreement category?

The international agreement category is for people coming to the UK under contract to do work that is covered under international law, including:

  • the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS);
  • similar agreements between the UK or the European Union and another country or countries;
  • employees of overseas governments and international organisations; and
  • private servants in diplomatic households.

back to top

Who can apply under the international agreement category?

Before you apply under the international agreement category, you must have:

  • a sponsor; and
  • a valid certificate of sponsorship.

When you apply, you are awarded points based on your sponsorship and available maintenance (funds).

If you are outside the UK and you want to apply for permission to enter the country (known as 'entry clearance') under the international agreement category, see Applying from outside the UK page for further information.

If you are already in the UK under the international agreement category, you can apply to extend your permission to stay here (also known as 'leave to remain').

The maximum total time that you can stay is 24 months, unless:

  • You are an employee of an overseas government or international organisation, or a private servant in a diplomatic household who applied for a visa in that capacity on or before 5 April 2012. You can apply to extend their stay for a maximum of 12 months at a time, up to a total of 6 years. or
  • You are a private servant in a diplomatic household and applied for your visa in that capacity on or after 6 April 2012, you can apply to extend your stay here for a maximum of 12 months at a time, up to a total of 5 years or the length of your employer's posting, whichever is shorter. You cannot change your employer during your stay. or
  • You are providing a service under contract as set out in the GATS or other similar trade agreements such as the European Union (EU) - CARIFORUM economic partnership agreement, the EU - Andean multiparty trade agreement and EU - Chile free trade agreement. You can only apply for a maximum stay of 6 months in any 12 month period.

You can switch into the International Agreement category while you are in the UK if:
. you are a qualifying work permit holder and are applying as an employee of an overseas government or international organisation and are continuing to work for that employer:
. you have leave as an overseas government employee and are continuing to work for your employer an employee of an overseas government or international organisation.

You cannot switch from any other category  into the International Agreement category while you are in the UK.

back to top

How long can you stay for?

If you are given permission to stay under the international agreement category, you can live and work in the UK for a maximum of 24 months, or the time given in your certificate of sponsorship plus 28 days, whichever is shorter (beginning no more than 14 days before the start date given on your certificate of sponsorship). The exception to this is if you are providing a service under contract as set out in the GATS or other similar trade agreements such as the European Union - Chile free trade agreement; you can only apply for a maximum stay of 6 months in any 12 month period.

You may be able to stay for longer if you are applying as:

  • an employee of an overseas government or international organisation - you can apply to extend your stay for a maximum of 24 months at a time, up to a total of 6 years; or
  • a private servant in a diplomatic household - you can apply to extend your stay here for a maximum of 24 months at a time, up to a total of 5 years or the length of your employer's posting, whichever is shorter.

If you are already in the UK as a private servant in a diplomatic household and applied for your visa to come here in that capacity on or before 5 April 2012, you can apply to extend your stay for a maximum of 24 months at a time, up to a total of 6 years.

back to top

If you need to be able to leave and come back to the UK with your job

If you will need to leave and come back to the UK quite often as part of your job, you can get a 'multiple entry certificate of sponsorship'. Your sponsor will give you this certificate, which allows you to come and go a number of different times during the length of your certificate.

If you have permission to come to the UK (entry clearance) for any length of time, you will be able to leave and come back during the time you have permission

If you leave the UK and you were given permission to stay for 6 months or less and did not have a visa (known as 'entry clearance'), your permission to stay ends when you leave the UK.

back to top