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Guidance

Appendix International Forces: caseworker guidance

Immigration staff guidance on International Forces and International Civilian Employees.

Updates to this page

From:
UK Visas and Immigration
Published:
12 April 2024
Last updated:
17 August 2026
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  1. Updated to change the name Nauru to Naoero.

  2. Updated to clarify that dependants of exempt international armed forces personnel are not automatically eligible to accompany them and must apply for entry clearance.

  3. Updated to clarify that civilian employees of the UK Ministry of Defence and the UK Armed Forces are out of scope for the International Civilian Employee route.

  4. Updated postal address for submitting requests for recognition of civilian component status.

  5. Updated to cover the introduction of exempt digital status to replace physical exempt vignettes, and in country requests for proof of exempt status.

  6. Guidance updated to reflect Part Suitability replacing Part 9 in the Immigration Rules. References to suitability have been updated throughout the guidance to reflect updated suitability rules and guidance.

  7. This guidance has been amended to reflect the changes in HC 836 laid in Parliament on 24 June 2025, including an update on the eligibility criteria for international civilian employees.

  8. Updated the purpose of visit section in the guidance.

  9. Updated to provide more detail on processes associated with Appendix International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees. It also reflects minor administrative updates made as part of Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 217, 10 September 2024 and contains an updated list of countries whose visiting Armed Forces members are exempt under the Visiting Forces Act 1952.

  10. First published.

Documents

Appendix International Forces: caseworker guidance (accessible)

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Appendix International Forces: caseworker guidance

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Details

UKVI staff guidance on how to consider applications made under Appendix International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees.

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