International Agreement Worker Visa

Who can apply for this temporary visa? 

As well as meeting the above conditions for the nature of your work, you must also meet additional eligibility criteria.

The conditions you must meet include:

• You have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship reference number
• You have sufficient funds to support yourself in the UK (at least £1,270)
• You are aged at least 18 years old

The Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

The nature of the work you intend to carry out must be one of the following:

• Covered under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)
• Covered according to a similar agreement between the UK and other countries
• Working on behalf of an overseas government or international organisation
• Working as a private servant in a diplomatic household

If you are working in a role with a relevant occupation code for a UK sponsor which is also a licensed student sponsor, you may also be required to apply for an Academic Approval Technology Scheme (ATAS) certificate.

As well as this, your employer must be a valid sponsor with the power to issue Certificates of Sponsorship.

Proof of financial maintenance

It is a requirement of the International Agreement Worker Visa that you must have at least £1,270 in your bank account for at least 28 consecutive days in advance of your the International Agreement Worker Visa application date.

Two reasons why you may not need to show proof of financial maintenance may occur if:

• You have been living in the UK for the last 12 months
• Your employer has agreed to cover your costs up to £1,270 during your first 30 days in the UK

In the latter instance, the Certificate of Sponsorship must indicate the employer’s intention to do so.

This can be found under the section titled ‘sponsor certifies maintenance.’

Dependents

It may be possible to bring dependents with you on this visa route. Your dependent partner or child includes one of the following:

• Your husband, wife, civil or unmarried partner
• Your child aged under 18 years old
• Your child aged over 18 (if they are currently your dependent in the UK)

To be able to list your partner as a dependent, you must provide proof of your relationship (e.g., marriage certificate) or proof of cohabitation as part of your relationship for at least two years.

As well as this, your child aged over 16 years must meet the following requirements:

• They live with you (unless they are staying at an educational institute)
• They are not married and they do not have children
• They depend on you for financial support

In order to be eligible for this visa, your partner and child must also meet a financial requirement. These include:

• £285 for your partner
• £315 for the first child
• £200 for each additional child

For example, for the visa applicant (£1,270), their spouse (£285), and child (£315), the total funds needed would total £1,870.

What documents do you need?

There are a number of required supporting documents that you must submit with your application. These include:

• Valid passport or travel document (your passport must have at least one blank page)
• Your unique reference number on your Certificate of Sponsorship
• Proof of personal savings to meet the maintenance requirement
• Proof of relationship with your dependent partner/ child (where relevant)
• Clean tuberculosis certificate (where relevant)
• Valid ATAS certificate (where relevant)

Please note that you will be required to submit a certified translation of any documents not in English or Welsh.

You will be notified whether you need to submit your biometric information at the time of your application.

How to apply

To apply for the International Agreement Worker Visa, you must follow the below steps to apply:

1. Receive an eligible job offer from an approver sponsor
2. Have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre for your biometric residence permit OR
3. Use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to submit your biometric information
4. If your intended stay is over six months, you may be required to pay the immigration healthcare surcharge for you and any dependents
5. Have your Certificate of Sponsorship number available while completing your application
6. Gather your supporting documents
7. Submit your application online on the uk visa application page
8. Pay the visa application fee
9. Wait for a decision to be issued on your application

There is no way to ensure a successful application, but you can maximise your chances by working with a qualified and experienced immigration lawyer.

An immigration specialist will give you the knowledge required to submit the strongest possible application.

Can you extend the International Agreement Worker Visa?

The International Agreement Worker Visa can be extended for a maximum period of 24 months at one time, or the time period stated on your Certificate of Sponsorship plus 28 days (whichever is shorter).

This may be extended for 24 months at a time for a total of five years if you are a private servant in a diplomatic household.

A contractual service supplier or independent professional may stay for up to six months in a 12-month period unless the following instances apply:

• You are providing services under the Temporary Agreement between the Swiss Confederation and the UK on Services Mobility (where the visa can be granted up to 12 months in a 24-month period)
• You intend to provide services under the UK-EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement (where they may be granted a visa for a maximum of 12 months)

If you have any questions about your extension, contact IAS for further information about your personal circumstances.

Can you switch to this visa?

If you are currently in the UK on another visa or immigration permission, you will typically not be permitted to switch to the International Agreement Worker Visa.

You may be eligible to switch to this category if one of the following situations applies to your case:

• You have a valid work permit
• You work for an overseas government or international organisation

Note that you must apply in advance of the expiration of your current visa.

However, it may be possible to leave the UK, apply for the visa while abroad and return if it is granted.

Otherwise, it is not possible to switch to this visa from another.