Overview
International Agreement visa allows individuals to apply if they have a contract to work in the UK that is covered by international law or treaty. This includes working for an overseas government or a recognized international organization, or serving as a private servant in a diplomatic household. To determine eligibility, it is important to review the specific requirements.
This visa has replaced the previous Temporary Worker – International Agreement Worker visa (T5). If you are contracted to provide services to a UK company, it is recommended to apply for a Service Supplier visa (Global Business Mobility) instead.
For individuals from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, there is the option to apply for the free EU Settlement Scheme if they or their family members started living in the UK by December 31, 2020. The application deadline for most people was June 30, 2021, but exceptions can be made for those with later deadlines or “reasonable grounds” for being unable to apply by the specified date. It is important to check if you are still eligible to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. Otherwise, a visa is required to work in the UK. Irish citizens are exempt from applying for a visa or the EU Settlement Scheme.
To apply for the Temporary Work – International Agreement visa, sponsorship is necessary. This involves obtaining a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed employer who can confirm the relevance of the work you will be performing in the UK to the activities of the sponsoring organisation.
Process time and cost
When applying for a visa to work in the UK, it is possible to submit your application up to 3 months before your intended start date, which is indicated on your certificate of sponsorship. As part of the application process, you will be required to provide proof of your identity and submit the necessary documents.
Depending on your circumstances, you may need to allocate additional time if an appointment is required to complete the identity verification process. This information will be provided to you when you initiate your application.
Regarding the decision-making timeline, once you have applied online, proven your identity, and submitted the required documents, you can typically expect to receive a decision on your visa within 3 weeks if you are outside the UK or within 8 weeks if you are already inside the UK.
In some cases, if you have an appointment scheduled, you may have the option to pay for expedited processing to receive a faster decision. The availability and process for this depend on whether you are outside or inside the UK.
In terms of costs, each applicant, including their partner and children, must pay the application fee. Additionally, a healthcare surcharge is usually required, amounting to £624 per year. It is important to check the specific amount you will need to pay based on the eligibility requirements. The application fee is £259 per person, regardless of whether you are applying from inside or outside the UK.
How long you can stay
The duration of your stay in the UK depends on the nature of your work. If you are an overseas government worker or an international organisation worker, you are permitted to stay for a maximum of 2 years or the duration specified on your certificate of sponsorship plus an additional 14 days, whichever is shorter.
On the other hand, if you serve as a private servant in a diplomatic household, you have the opportunity to stay for up to 5 years. You can apply for extensions in increments of up to 2 years at a time or for the duration indicated on your certificate of sponsorship, again with an additional 14-day grace period, whichever is shorter.
Regarding entry and exit, you are allowed to enter the UK on the designated start date of your visa. However, if your employment concludes earlier than expected, you may be required to depart the UK within 60 days. It is improbable that you will be asked to leave if your visa has less than 60 days remaining.