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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.

Increased funds required for Tier 5 applications from 14 June 2012

On 15 March 2012, a written ministerial statement was laid in Parliament outlining a number of changes to the Immigration Rules.

From 14 June 2012 (6 April 2012 for the Youth mobility scheme), the personal savings you must have to support your application will increase. If you plan to make a Tier 5 application on or after 14 June 2012, you must ensure the correct funds are held in your account as soon as possible.

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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 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 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. These people can apply to extend their stay for a maximum of 12 months at a time, up to a total of 6 years.

If 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.

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 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).

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 12 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 12 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 12 months at a time, up to a total of 6 years.

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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, you will not be able to come back - your permission to stay ends when you leave the UK. You must apply again if you want to come back.

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