International Armed Forces or International Civilian Employee

This route is for members of International Armed Forces and for International Civilian Employees of either a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) force or the Australian Department of Defence.

The International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees route is not a route to settlement.

AFI 4.1. A member of an International Armed Force must show they: (a) are a serving member of an International armed force; and (b) have been invited by HM Armed Forces to undergo training in the UK provided by HM Armed Forces; or by the Ministry of Defence to study or become familiar with military equipment being supplied by a firm in the UK; and (c) will leave the UK at the end of their period of training or familiarisation. AFI 4.2. An International Civilian Employee must: show they (a) are a civilian who is being employed to work in the UK by: (i) a NATO force (which includes an employee of the American Red Cross working with US Forces in the UK); or (ii) a company under contract to a NATO force; or (iii) the Australian Department of Defence; and

This route is also for a partner or child of a member of an International Armed Force when that member of an International Armed Force is exempt from immigration control: • under the 1971 Immigration Act; or • under the Visiting Forces Act 1952, where the partner or child is applying for entry clearance or permission to stay and is listed as a dependant on the sponsor’s military movement orders or equivalent civilian posting letter.

Those serving in International Reserve Forces or in a civilian capacity with a reserve force, cannot apply on this route.

(b) have been invited by HM Armed Forces to undergo training in the UK provided by HM Armed Forces; or by the Ministry of Defence to study or become familiar with military equipment being supplied by a firm in the UK; and

AFI 4.2. An International Civilian Employee must: show they (a) are a civilian who is being employed to work in the UK by: (i) a NATO force (which includes an employee of the American Red Cross working with US Forces in the UK); or (ii) a company under contract to a NATO force; or (iii) the Australian Department of Defence; and

AFI 15.1. The applicant must: (a) be the partner of a member of an International Armed Force, or an International Civilian Employee who meets the service requirements of AFI 4.1. or AFI 4.2, who has permission or is at the same time applying for (and is being granted) permission under this Appendix; or (b) be the partner of a member of an International Armed Force exempt from control where the applicant is listed as a partner on the International Armed Forces member’s military movement orders or equivalent civilian posting letter.

AFI 1.1. A person applying for entry clearance or permission to stay as a member of International Armed Forces or an International Civilian Employee must apply on the gov.uk website on the specified forms as follows: (a) for applicants outside the UK, form “Armed Forces” on the “Find and apply for other visas from outside the UK” form; or (b) for applicants in the UK, form “Further leave to remain – Immigration Rules - Armed Forces AFI 1.2. An application must meet all the following requirements: (a) any fee and the Immigration Health Charge must have been paid; and (b) the applicant must have provided biometrics when required; and (c) the applicant must have provided a passport or other travel document which satisfactorily establishes their identity and nationality; and (d) the applicant must be aged 18 or over on the date of application.

AFI 3.1. A person seeking to come to the UK must apply for and obtain entry clearance as a member of International Armed Forces or an International Civilian Employee before they arrive in the UK. AFI 3.2. A person applying for entry clearance as a member of International Armed Forces or an International Civilian Employee must, if Appendix Tuberculosis applies, provide a valid medical certificate confirming that they have undergone screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis and that this tuberculosis is not present in them.

AFI 3.3. A person arriving in the UK who is seeking entry as an International Civilian Employee and does not have a valid entry clearance on this route may be granted permission to enter if the following requirements are met: (a) the applicant is not a visa national; and

AFI 4.3. For the purposes of AFI 3.3, an International Civilian Employee must: show they are (a) a federal employee, contracted or sub-contracted personnel of the US Department of Energy’s Nuclear Security Administration deployed to work with US Forces in the UK; and

AFI 5.1. The applicant must be able to adequately maintain themselves and any dependants in the UK without access to public funds.

AFI 6.1. The applicant’s accommodation in the UK must not be overcrowded or contravene public health regulations.

The International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees route is not a route to settlement.

AFI 8.1. Period of grant for a member of International Armed Forces is the shorter period of: (a) 4 years; or (b) the duration of the training, study or familiarisation.

AFI 9.1. The grant for a member of International Armed Forces will be subject to the following conditions: (a) no access to public funds; and (b) no work, other than as a member of the International Armed Force; and (c) study permitted, subject to the ATAS condition in Appendix ATAS.

(c) will leave the UK at the end of their period of training or familiarisation.

(b) will leave the UK at the end of their period of employment.

AFI 10.1. Period of grant for an International Civilian Employee of a NATO force or the Australian Department of Defence is either: (a) 6 months, where the duration of their period of employment in the UK does not exceed 6 months; or (b) five years, where the duration of their period of employment in the UK exceeds 6 months. AFI 10.2. Period of grant for an International Civilian Employee of a company under contract to a NATO force, is the shorter period of: (a) 4 years; or (b) the duration of the period of employment of the civilian employee. AFI 10.3. Period of grant for an International Civilian Employee who is a federal employee, contracted or sub-contracted personnel of the US Department of Energy’s Nuclear Security Administration deployed to work with US Forces in the UK, is 60 days.

AFI 11.1. The grant for a member of the International Civilian Employee will be subject to the following conditions: (a) no access to public funds; and (b) no work other than as an International Civilian Employee; and

AFI 20.1. Period of grant for a partner of a member of International Armed Forces is the shorter period of: (a) 4 years; or (b) the duration of the member of International Armed Forces period of posting. AFI 20.2 A child will be granted entry clearance or permission to stay which ends on the same date as whichever of their parents’ permission ends first.

AFI 21.2. The grant for a partner or child of a member of International Armed Forces will be subject to all the following conditions: (a) no access to public funds; and (b) no work if permission is being granted for less than 6 months; and (c) work permitted if period of grant is for 6 months or more: and