Tier 5 (International Agreement)

The following information is given in order to provide you with a generalised overview of the criteria required under the Tier 5 (international agreement) sub category. However if you wish for us to assess whether you qualify under the Tier 5 (international agreement) sub category, or you wish to engage our services and/or require further information regarding this particular sub category, please complete the 'Contact Box' on this page to enable a member of our team to contact you and advise you further.

This category is for foreign nationals who are entering the United Kingdom under contract to provide a service that is covered under international law, including:

• The General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS);
• Similar agreements between the United  Kingdom and another country;
• Employees of overseas governments and international organisations; and
• Private servants in diplomatic households.

Anyone Applying Under The Tier 5 (International Agreement) Category Must Obtain:

• 30 points for certificate of sponsorship; and,
• 10 points for the maintenance requirement.

Assigning Certificate Of Sponsorship

In assigning a certificate of sponsorship for foreign nationals under GATS or other international agreements, the sponsor will have guaranteed that the foreign national will:

• Be under a contract of employment with the overseas government or international organisation;
• Not to take a job for the sponsor other than that for which the certificate of sponsorship was assigned; and,
• Not to try to avoid immigration controls by changing to a different category of worker within the international agreements category after entering the UK.

In assigning a certificate of sponsorship to private servants in diplomatic households, the sponsor must guarantee that the foreign national:

• Is aged 18 years old or over;
• Will be employed as a private servant in the  household of:

a)  a member of staff of a diplomatic or consular mission who has diplomatic privileges and immunity; or

b)  an official employed by an international organisation with certain privileges and immunities under United Kingdom or international law;


a.  intends to work full-time in domestic  employment;

b.  will not take up any other form of job for the sponsor other than as a private servant in the specified household; and

c.  will leave the United Kingdom when his/her permission to stay has expired.

Maintenance

In order to meet the maintenance requirement the foreign national must show £800 (or equivalent) of personal savings which must have been held for at least a consecutive 90 day period ending no earlier than one calendar month before the date of application. It should be noted in some cases however the sponsor may be able to certify the foreign nationals’ maintenance, but the sponsor is not able to sponsor the foreign nationals’ dependants’ maintenance requirement.

Length Of Time An Individual Is Able to Remain In The UK Under Tier 5 (International Agreement) Sub Category

A maximum period of 24 months, or the time given in the certificate of sponsorship plus 28 days, whichever is shorter.