 INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT
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.
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.
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.
You cannot switch from a different category into the international agreement category, or from the international agreement category into a different category.
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.
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.
Additional guidance - private servants in diplomatic households
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.
UKBA 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 will need to score at least 40 points to be able to apply as below:
|
Attributes
|
Points available
|
|
Certificate of sponsorship
|
30
|
|
Maintenance (funds)
|
10
|
|
