You can apply for a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - International Agreement) visa if: you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland you’ll be contracted to do work covered by international law while in the UK, for example working for a foreign government or as a private servant in a diplomatic household you meet the other eligibility requirements Sponsorship You need to be sponsored (have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed employer) before you can apply to come to the UK. The work you do in the UK must relate to the work of your sponsor organisation. How long it will take The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before the date you’re due to start work. This date is on your certificate of sponsorship. You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK. Find out about paying for a faster decision . Fees How much you pay for a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - International Agreement) visa depends on where you are. Who you’re applying for Apply (outside the UK) Extend or switch in the UK You £244 £244 If you’re a citizen of Turkey or Macedonia £189 £189 All dependants £244 each £244 each Healthcare surcharge You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply. If you’re applying to extend or switch in the UK You’ll need to pay £19.20 to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken. Get a faster decision on your application If you’re applying to extend or switch in the UK you can pay an extra £500 for the priority service to get a decision within 5 working days. You can pay an extra £800 for the super priority service to get a decision: by the end of the next working day after providing your biometric information if your appointment is on a weekday 2 working days after providing your biometric information if your appointment is at the weekend Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays. Once you’ve got your decision letter, your biometric residence permit will take up to 10 working days to arrive. How long you can stay In most cases you’ll be able to stay for 2 years, or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus up to 28 days, whichever is shorter. In certain cases you can only stay for 6 months in any 12 month period, or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter. This applies if you’re providing a service: under contract as set out in the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) under similar trade agreements, such as the EU-Chile free trade agreement You can enter the UK 14 days before the start date on your certificate of sponsorship. You may be asked to leave the UK within 60 days if your job finishes early. It’s unlikely you’ll have to leave if your visa has less than 60 days remaining. What you can and cannot do You can: study - for some courses you’ll need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship do a second job on the Tier 2 shortage occupation list or one in the same sector as your main job for up to 20 hours per week (unless you are a private servant, a contractual service supplier or an independent professional) study, as long as it does not interfere with the job you’re sponsored for travel abroad and return to the UK bring family members with you You cannot: get public funds start working before you get your visa

You can apply for a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - International Agreement) visa if you have: a certificate of sponsorship reference number £945 in savings - this is to prove you can support yourself and you must have had this in your bank account for 90 days before you apply You will not need £945 in savings if your fully approved (‘A-rated’) sponsor has stated on your certificate of sponsorship that they’ll certify your maintenance and that you will not claim benefits during your stay. Work covered by international law Your work in the UK must be any of the following: covered by the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) covered by similar agreements between the UK and other countries for an overseas government or international organisation as a private servant in a diplomatic household or in the household of an employee of an international organisation Certificate of sponsorship A certificate of sponsorship is a unique reference number that holds information about you and your job. It’s not an actual certificate or paper document. Your sponsor will give you the certificate of sponsorship. Your sponsor will also give you the information they used on your certificate about your job, your working hours for example. Your sponsor must be recognised by the UK government to issue certificates of sponsorship. Your certificate of sponsorship is valid for 3 months from the date it is assigned to you. Multiple entry Your sponsor can give you a multiple entry certificate of sponsorship so you can leave and return to the UK.

Documents you must provide

When you apply you’ll need to provide: a current passport or other valid travel identification bank statements showing you’ve had at least £945 in savings continuously for 90 days before you apply - this is to prove you can support yourself and you must have had this in your bank account for 90 days before you apply your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test You need a blank page in your passport for your visa. You will not need £945 in savings if your fully approved (‘A-rated’) sponsor has stated on your certificate of sponsorship that they’ll certify your maintenance and that you will not claim benefits during your stay. You’ll need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh. Read the guide for a full list of documents you can provide. You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

Read the full guidance before you apply. Apply outside the UK You must apply online for this visa. You’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre (to get a biometric residence permit) as part of your application. You’ll have to collect your biometric residence permit within 10 days of when you said you’d arrive in the UK (even if you actually arrive at a later date). Find out how to get your visa decision faster - this depends on what country you’re in. Check if your visa application centre offers faster decisions and other services. North Korea You cannot apply online if you’re living in North Korea. To apply from North Korea you must: download the application form and guidance - read the guidance if you need help filling in the form read the instructions to find out where to take your completed form Apply in the UK You can only extend your existing visa or switch to this visa if you’re already in the UK.

You can apply to extend your Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - International Agreement) visa. You should apply before your current visa expires. Eligibility You must be in the UK to extend your visa. You must continue to meet the eligibility rules . How long you can stay You can apply to extend your visa for up to 2 years at a time up to a total maximum stay of 6 years unless: you are a private servant in a diplomatic household and applied for your visa on or after 5 April 2012 - your total maximum stay can only be 5 years or until the last date of your employer’s posting, whichever is shorter you are a contractual service supplier or independent professional - you can only stay in the UK for a maximum of 6 months in any 12 month period Fees Check the fees for your visa. How to extend your visa Read the full Tier 5 guidance before you apply. You must apply online . Dependants You can add dependants to your online application - including children who have turned 18 during your stay. Providing biometric information and supporting documents When you apply, you’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo). You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents. You can: upload them into the online service have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do. How long it takes A decision will be made within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service. If you use the super priority service a decision will be made: by the end of the next working day after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is on a weekday 2 working days after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is at the weekend Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays. Once you’ve got your decision letter, your biometric residence permit will take up to 10 working days to arrive. You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example: if your supporting documents need to be verified if you need to attend an interview because of your personal circumstances, for example you have a criminal conviction Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

You can apply to switch into a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - International Agreement) visa while you are in the UK if you want to continue working for your current employer and you: have a work permit work for an overseas government or international organisation You should apply before your current visa expires. How long you can stay You can stay for 2 years or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus up to 28 days, whichever is shorter. Fees Check the fees for your visa. How to switch your visa You must apply online . Dependants You can add dependants to your online application - including children who have turned 18 during your stay. Providing biometric information and supporting documents When you apply, you’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo). You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents. You can: upload them into the online service have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do. How long it takes A decision will be made within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service. If you use the super priority service a decision will be made: by the end of the next working day after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is on a weekday 2 working days after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is at the weekend Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays. Once you’ve got your decision letter, your biometric residence permit will take up to 10 working days to arrive. You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example: if your supporting documents need to be verified if you need to attend an interview because of your personal circumstances, for example you have a criminal conviction Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

Your family members (‘dependants’) must apply to join or remain with you in the UK if they’re from outside the European Economic Area ( EEA ) and Switzerland. A dependant is any of the following: your partner your child aged under 18 your child aged 18 or older if they’re already in the UK as dependants It’s best to submit your dependant’s application at the same time as yours. Read the guidance on dependant applications before you apply. Savings You must show that your dependants can be supported while they’re in the UK. Each dependant must have £630 available to them whether they apply with you or separately. This is in addition to the £945 you must have to support yourself. You must have proof you have the money, and that it’s been in your bank account or your dependant’s bank account for at least 90 days before you or they apply. Example You must have £2,205 if you want to bring your partner and one child with you to the UK (£945 to support yourself + £630 for your partner + £630 for your child). Fees Check the fees for your visa. Dependants applying outside the UK Your family members must apply online . They’ll need to have their fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre (to get a biometric residence permit) as part of their application. They’ll have to collect their biometric residence permit within 10 days of when they said they’d arrive in the UK (even if they actually arrive at a later date). They may be able to get their visa faster or other services depending on what country they’re in - check with the visa application centre. North Korea Your family members cannot apply online if they’re from North Korea. Each family member will need to make their own application. They must: download the application form and guidance - they can read the guidance if they need help filling in the form read the instructions to find out where they need to take their completed form Dependants applying in the UK You can include dependants in your online application to extend or switch to this visa if they want to do it at the same time as you. If they want to extend or switch their visa at a different time, they must either: apply online as a dependant partner apply online as a dependant child Family members cannot apply in the UK as your dependant if they hold a visitor visa . Providing biometric information and supporting documents When they apply, they’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services ( UKVCAS ) service point to provide their biometric information (their fingerprints and a photo). They’ll also need to submit their supporting documents. They can: upload them into the online service have them scanned at their UKVCAS appointment They must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until they get a decision. Their application will be withdrawn if they do. Children born while you’re in the UK If you have children while you’re in the UK, you can apply online to add them to your visa as your dependant . You must do this if you want to travel in and out of the UK with them. You’ll need to provide a full UK birth certificate for each child, showing the names of both parents.

Temporary Worker - International Agreement visa (Tier 5)

Overview

You can apply for a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - International Agreement) visa if:

you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
you’ll be contracted to do work covered by international law while in the UK, for example working for a foreign government or as a private servant in a diplomatic household
you meet the other eligibility requirements

Sponsorship

You need to be sponsored (have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed employer) before you can apply to come to the UK.

The work you do in the UK must relate to the work of your sponsor organisation.

How long it will take

The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before the date you’re due to start work. This date is on your certificate of sponsorship.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.

Find out about paying for a faster decision.

Fees

How much you pay for a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - International Agreement) visa depends on where you are.

Who you’re applying for	Apply (outside the UK)	Extend or switch in the UK
You	£244	£244
If you’re a citizen of Turkey or Macedonia	£189	£189
All dependants	£244 each	£244 each

Healthcare surcharge

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.

If you’re applying to extend or switch in the UK

You’ll need to pay £19.20 to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken.

Get a faster decision on your application

If you’re applying to extend or switch in the UK you can pay an extra £500 for the priority service to get a decision within 5 working days.

You can pay an extra £800 for the super priority service to get a decision:

by the end of the next working day after providing your biometric information if your appointment is on a weekday
2 working days after providing your biometric information if your appointment is at the weekend

Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays.

Once you’ve got your decision letter, your biometric residence permit will take up to 10 working days to arrive.

How long you can stay

In most cases you’ll be able to stay for 2 years, or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus up to 28 days, whichever is shorter.

In certain cases you can only stay for 6 months in any 12 month period, or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter. This applies if you’re providing a service:

under contract as set out in the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)
under similar trade agreements, such as the EU-Chile free trade agreement

You can enter the UK 14 days before the start date on your certificate of sponsorship.

You may be asked to leave the UK within 60 days if your job finishes early. It’s unlikely you’ll have to leave if your visa has less than 60 days remaining.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

study - for some courses you’ll need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate
work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship
do a second job on the Tier 2 shortage occupation list or one in the same sector as your main job for up to 20 hours per week (unless you are a private servant, a contractual service supplier or an independent professional)
study, as long as it does not interfere with the job you’re sponsored for
travel abroad and return to the UK
bring family members with you

You cannot:

get public funds
start working before you get your visa

Print entire guide

Temporary Worker - International Agreement visa (Tier 5)

Overview

Sponsorship

How long it will take

Fees

Healthcare surcharge

If you’re applying to extend or switch in the UK

Get a faster decision on your application

How long you can stay

What you can and cannot do

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Temporary Worker - International Agreement visa (Tier 5)

Overview

Sponsorship

How long it will take

Fees

Healthcare surcharge

If you’re applying to extend or switch in the UK

Get a faster decision on your application

How long you can stay

What you can and cannot do

Related content

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK