UK International Agreement Visa Checklist

Updated September 2026 · The International Agreement visa is for people who come to the UK to work under international law or a treaty – staff of a foreign government or a recognised international organisation, and private servants in a diplomatic household. It replaces the former Temporary Worker – International Agreement Worker route. This page covers United Kingdom rules. Verified against the official GOV.UK pages, 2026-09-29.

The short answer

There are two groups of people on this route. First, staff of a foreign government or a recognised international organisation coming to the UK under international law or a treaty. Second, private servants in the household of a diplomat, or of staff of a recognised international organisation. In both cases, the work must be related to the work of the sponsoring body. You need a Certificate of Sponsorship, you must be 18 or over, and you must meet the maintenance requirement.

Checklist: documents to prepare

• Your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number, issued by a recognised employer. The CoS is valid for 3 months from the date it is assigned to you.
• A valid passport or other document showing your identity and nationality.
• Proof of personal savings, such as bank statements, unless the CoS states that your employer will cover your maintenance.
• Proof of knowledge of English, but only if you are a private servant applying from outside the UK.
• If your partner or children are coming with you, proof of your relationship to them.
• A tuberculosis (TB) test result, if you are from a country where the test is required.
• A valid ATAS certificate, if your employer tells you the job involves research in a sensitive subject at PhD level or above.
• A certified translation of any document that is not in English or Welsh.
• For private servants renewing: payslips and bank statements showing payments into your account for the 3 months before you apply – both are required.

The maintenance rule: £1,270 and the 28-day window

You must show at least £1,270 in maintenance funds. The money has to be held for at least 28 consecutive days, and the 28th day must fall within 31 days before you apply. There are two exceptions: you may be exempt if you have held a valid visa in the UK for at least 12 months, or if your employer agrees to cover your maintenance up to £1,270 during your first month, confirmed in the “sponsor certifies maintenance” section of the CoS. Getting the dates wrong is a common reason for refusal, so check the holding period carefully.

Fees, processing and how long you can stay

What you can and cannot do

You can study, provided it does not interfere with your sponsored job (some courses need an ATAS certificate); work for your sponsor in the job described in the CoS; take a second job of up to 20 hours a week on the skilled worker salary list or in the same sector, unless you are a private servant; travel in and out of the UK; and bring your partner and children if they qualify. You cannot access public funds, and you cannot start work before you get your visa. If your employment ends early, you may be asked to leave within 60 days.

Common mistakes

• Using the old, wrong web address; the correct official page is the international agreement worker visa page.
• Mis-calculating the 28-day maintenance holding period.
• Missing the certified translation for non-English or non-Welsh documents.
• Private servants overlooking the English requirement when applying from abroad.
• Taking a second job of more than 20 hours a week, or taking one at all as a private servant.

For related temporary-work routes, see the visa checklists hub and the UK visa documents checklist. For how to prepare the documents themselves, the translation and copies and scan and upload guides are relevant.

Source: GOV.UK, “International Agreement visa”, eligibility and documents-you-must-provide pages, retrieved 2026-09-29. Requirements and fees change, so confirm the current position on the official page before you apply.

How the two groups differ

Although both groups use the same visa, the two situations are different and the stay rules reflect that. Staff of a foreign government or a recognised international organisation are here under international law or a treaty, and their permission is tied to the length on the Certificate of Sponsorship, up to a maximum of 2 years. Private servants in the household of a diplomat, or of staff of a recognised international organisation, may stay for up to 5 years, applying for up to 2 years at a time, because their employment is tied to the posting of the household they serve. In both cases the work must relate to the work of the sponsoring body, and in both cases the maintenance and fee rules are the same.

Renewing, and ending employment

If you extend or apply again, you need a fresh Certificate of Sponsorship and you must meet the maintenance rule again, including the 28-day holding period measured against the new application date. Private servants who renew must additionally provide payslips and bank statements showing payments into their account for the 3 months before applying. If your employment ends early, you may be asked to leave the UK within 60 days; if you have less than 60 days of permission left, you are usually not required to leave on that basis. Because these rules depend on your exact dates, it is worth keeping your payslips, bank statements and CoS documents in one place from the start.

Getting the details right

The most avoidable problems on this route are administrative. Use the correct official page (the international agreement worker visa), check the 28-day maintenance window against your application date, obtain a certified translation for anything not in English or Welsh, and remember the TB test and ATAS certificate where they apply. If your partner or children are joining you, provide proof of the relationship. A tidy, complete file is what a decision is actually made on, since there is no interview and the documents carry the whole case.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the UK International Agreement visa for?
It is for people working in the UK under international law or a treaty: staff of a foreign government or a recognised international organisation, and private servants in the household of a diplomat or of staff of a recognised international organisation. Their work must be related to the work of the sponsoring organisation.

What document proves my job offer?
A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number, issued by a recognised employer. The certificate is valid for 3 months from the date it is assigned to you.

How much money must I show?
You must have at least £1,270 in maintenance funds. The money must be held for at least 28 consecutive days, and the 28th day must be within 31 days before you apply.

What does it cost?
The application fee is £340 per person, and the health surcharge is usually £1,035 per year. You, your partner and your children each pay.

How long can I stay?
Staff of a foreign government or international organisation can stay for up to 2 years, or the length on the CoS plus up to 14 days, whichever is shorter. Private servants in a diplomatic household can stay for up to 5 years, applying for up to 2 years at a time.

Can I take a second job?
Yes, up to 20 hours a week in a job on the skilled worker salary list or in the same sector, provided it does not interfere with your sponsored job. Private servants cannot take a second job.

Do I need an English test?
Only private servants applying from outside the UK must show knowledge of English. Other applicants do not.

What happens if my job ends early?
If your employment ends early you may be asked to leave the UK within 60 days; if you have less than 60 days left on your permission, you usually do not have to leave.