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Temporary workers - international agreement

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

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

What is the international agreement category?

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

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

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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 United Kingdom and you want to apply for permission to enter the country (known as 'entry clearance') under the international agreement category, you should visit our visa services website. There you can find out about the process in the country you are applying from, and download the relevant application forms.You can find a link to the website on the right side of this page.

If you are already in the United Kingdom 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 a private servant in a diplomatic household or an employee of an overseas government or international organisation - these people can apply to extend their stay for a maximum of 12 months at a time, up to a total of six years. (See also our additional guidance below for private servants in diplomatic households. This covers transitional arrangements for those working in the United Kingdom on or before 26 November 2008, and changes to settlement arrangements for those entering the United Kingdom under tier 5 on or after 27 November 2008.)

You cannot switch from a different category into the international agreement category, or from the international agreement category into a different category.

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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 United Kingdom for a maximum of 24 months, or the time given in your certificate of sponsorship plus 28 days, whichever time is shorter. 

You may be able to stay for longer if you are applying as a private servant in a diplomatic household or as an employee of an overseas government or international organisation. These people can apply to extend their stay for a maximum of 12 months at a time, up to a total of six years. 

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

If you will need to leave and come back to the United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom (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 United Kingdom and you were given permission to stay for six months or less, you will not be able to come back - your permission to stay ends when you leave the United Kingdom. You must apply again if you want to come back.

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Additional guidance - private servants in diplomatic households

Private servants who were working in the United Kingdom on or before 26 November 2008

We previously introduced transitional arrangements for private servants in diplomatic households who were working in the United Kingdom on or before 26 November 2008. If we approved their applications to extend their stay, they were given a one-off permission to stay for up to five years, which is the current threshold for them to be able to apply for settlement.

To make sure that everyone has an opportunity to apply under these transitional arrangements if they are eligible to do so, we will exceptionally continue to accept applications under these arrangements for a further 18 months, until 26 May 2010. If you are eligible and you want to apply to extend your stay, you should complete application form FLR(O). You can find the form and more information on the Completing application form FLR(O) page.

Private servants seeking entry to the United Kingdom on or after 27 November 2008

If you are a private servant and you want to enter the United Kingdom, you must now apply under tier 5 (temporary workers - international agreement) of the points-based system.

We may allow you to extend your stay for a maximum of 12 months at a time, up to a total of six years. You will be eligible to apply for settlement when you reach the required threshold.

You can find more information in an administrative instruction, which can be downloaded from the right side of this page.

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