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Guidance

Sponsor an International Agreement worker

Guidance for sponsors on sponsoring a person on the International Agreement route.

Updates to this page

From:
UK Visas and Immigration
Published:
9 December 2020
Last updated:
8 April 2026
Show all updates

  1. Guidance updated in IAW1.10 to add a new bullet point requiring sponsors to ensure they only sponsor for ‘eligible roles’, as defined in the separate glossary.

  2. Guidance updated to reflect the replacement of exempt vignettes with the digital record of exemption.

  3. This guidance has been updated to reflect changes to the Immigration Rules coming into effect on 9 April 2025

  4. Updated guidance to reflect changes to the Immigration Rules coming into effect on 16 May 2024, as set out in Statement of Changes HC 590 (published on 14 March 2024), and to make some other minor amendments and clarifications.

  5. Updated guidance in line with changes to the Immigration Rules.

  6. Updated to reflect changes to the Immigration Rules.

  7. This guidance has been updated to reflect that the provisions for contractual service suppliers and independent professionals are now covered by the Global Business Mobility - Service Supplier route.

  8. Replaced guidance with new version.

  9. Updated guidance to reflect that, for the purposes of the Temporary Work – International Agreement route Contractual Service Supplier and Independent Professional eligibility requirements, applicants who show they have a Swiss Hohere Fachschuldiplom (Swiss Higher Technical College Diploma) meet the requirement to show they have a university degree or equivalent technical qualification.

  10. Guidance has been updated to reflect changes to the Immigration Rules coming into force on 11 October 2021, including rebranding of the T5 (Temporary Worker) International Agreement Worker route to Temporary Worker - International Agreement; and other minor changes.

  11. Updated guidance reflects changes to the Immigration Rules as set out in the Statement of Changes (HC 1248). Including the introduction of the ATAS requirement for certain roles from 21 May 2021.

  12. Guidance is updated in line with changes to the Immigration Rules implementing provisions of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the UK-Switzerland Services Mobility Agreement.

  13. First published.

Documents

Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors: sponsor an International Agreement worker (accessible)

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Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors: sponsor an International Agreement worker

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Details

This document provides information for employers on how to sponsor a worker on the Temporary Work - International Agreement route.

The International Agreement route is for a person who wants to come to the UK to provide a service covered under international law, such as private servants in diplomatic households or employees of overseas governments and international organisations.

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