Sponsors of International Agreement workers must only sponsor for 'eligible roles', as defined in the sponsor guidance glossary, under paragraph IAW1.10 of guidance valid from 8 April 2026.
Key facts
- Who: Sponsors licensed for, or applying to sponsor on, the International Agreement route
- From: 8 April 2026
- Source: Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors: sponsor an International Agreement worker
Replaces version 03/26 of the guidance, published 6 March 2026.
UK Visas and Immigration has published version 04/26 of its guidance for sponsors on the International Agreement route. The version is valid from 8 April 2026.
The change is in paragraph IAW1.10, which lists what a sponsor must do to sponsor an International Agreement worker. A new bullet point says sponsors must "otherwise only sponsor workers for eligible roles, as defined in the separate glossary". IAW1.10 does not define "eligible roles" itself. It refers sponsors to the separate glossary that applies across the sponsor guidance.
The guidance's list of changes records this new bullet point and "other minor housekeeping changes". It does not describe the housekeeping changes.
Paragraph IAW1.10 also lists these requirements for sponsoring an International Agreement worker:
- hold a valid sponsor licence for the route;
- understand what the route is and who can be sponsored on it;
- understand the general requirements for sponsoring workers;
- satisfy themselves that the worker can meet the immigration requirements for the route;
- assign a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) and pay the CoS fee;
- keep records for each worker, including information on how they were recruited;
- have eligible Key Personnel in place to manage the licence and assign a CoS;
- understand and comply with all sponsor duties.
Section IAW3 sets out the two categories of eligible employment on the route: private servants in diplomatic households, and employees of overseas governments and recognised international organisations.
What this means for sponsors
Sponsors on the International Agreement route must only sponsor workers for roles that meet the glossary definition of an "eligible role". This applies under guidance valid from 8 April 2026.
The guidance says that if a sponsor does not comply with its sponsor duties, the Home Office may take action. This can include downgrading, suspending or revoking the licence, or reporting the sponsor to the police or other relevant authorities (IAW2.10). Further detail is in Part 3: Sponsor duties and compliance.
Related guide
T5 International Agreement visa
Sources
- Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors: sponsor an International Agreement worker, UK Visas and Immigration, version 04/26