Immigration Rules
Appendix International Forces: caseworker guidance
gov.uk change note: Updated to clarify that civilian employees of the UK Ministry of Defence and the UK Armed Forces are out of scope for the International Civilian Employee route.
Headline
Version 8.0 clarifies that UK Ministry of Defence and UK Armed Forces civilian employees are excluded from the International Civilian Employee route, ending potential confusion about their eligibility.
Changes in detail
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Version number and publication date — Version 7.0 published 19 March 2026 → Version 8.0 published 27 April 2026.
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Change note description — "The changes to this guidance reflect the update to the postal address for submitting requests for recognition of civilian component status" → "The change to this guidance reflects clarification that civilian employees of the UK Ministry of Defence and the UK Armed Forces are out of scope for the International Civilian Employee route."
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Section 8(4) Immigration Act 1971 reference correction — "(a), (c) and (c)" → "(a), (b) and (c)" - correcting an apparent typo.
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New section: "International Civilian Employee: scope of eligible employment" — Added comprehensive clarification that: "Civilian employees of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) or the UK Armed Forces are not within the scope of this route and cannot meet the requirements of paragraph AFI 14.2." Also clarifies that UK's NATO membership alone does not make UK-employed civilians eligible, and that eligibility requires current (not previous) employment by an international armed force.
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Partnership for Peace countries list correction — "Kyrgzstan" → "Kyrgyzstan" - spelling correction.
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Reference to NATO guidance — Added: "For further information, see: NATO and NATO Status of Forces Agreement - identification of status."
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Digital exemption application link update — Full URL "https://www.gov.uk/exempt-immigration-control" → descriptive text "Get a digital record of your exemption from immigration control."
Practical implications
Immigration practitioners should immediately review any pending International Civilian Employee applications for UK MOD or UK Armed Forces civilian employees, as these are now explicitly excluded from the route. This affects UK nationals and foreign nationals employed by UK defence organisations who may have been considering or pursuing this route.
The clarification confirms that only civilians employed by foreign/international armed forces are eligible, not UK defence civilians regardless of NATO connections. Practitioners should redirect affected clients to appropriate alternative routes.
The addition of the new section provides useful guidance for assessing eligibility based on current employment status rather than historical service.
Administrative changes
- Formatting improvements to postal addresses (line breaks added)
- Minor formatting changes to bullet points throughout country lists
- Correction of "case-working" to "case - working"
- Updates to "Official sensitive" section formatting and wording
- Minor punctuation and spacing corrections throughout
Diff
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@ -Version 7.0 +Version 8.0 @@ -15,35 +15,15 @@ -- - - -members of International Armed Forces who are exempt from immigration control under the 1971 Immigration Act and the Visiting Forces Act 1952, and their family members - - -- - - -members of International Armed Forces who are not exempt from immigration control, including course F - - -- - - -international civilian employees who are employed to work in the UK by a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO force) (including the American Red Cross working with US forces in the UK) or a company under contract to a NATO force - - -- - - -an international civilian employee who is employed in the UK by the Australian Department of Defence, and their family members - - -- - - -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 - +- members of International Armed Forces who are exempt from immigration control under the 1971 Immigration Act and the Visiting Forces Act 1952, and their family members + +- members of International Armed Forces who are not exempt from immigration control, including course F + +- international civilian employees who are employed to work in the UK by a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO force) (including the American Red Cross working with US forces in the UK) or a company under contract to a NATO force + +- an international civilian employee who is employed in the UK by the Australian Department of Defence, and their family members + +- 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 @@ -64,7 +44,7 @@ -For further information on exemptions from the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), you must refer to: Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application: Who needs to pay. +For further information on exemptions from the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), you must refer to: pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application: Who needs to pay. @@ -76,7 +56,7 @@ -If you notice any formatting errors in this guidance (broken links, spelling mistakes and so on) or have any comments about the layout or navigability of the guidance then you can email the Guidance Review, Atlas and Forms team. +If you notice any formatting errors in this guidance (broken links, spelling mistakes and so on) or have any comments about the layout or navigability of the guidance then you can email the Guidance, Rules and Forms team. @@ -88,17 +68,9 @@ -- - - -version 7.0 - - -- - - -published for Home Office staff on 19 March 2026 - +- version 8.0 + +- published for Home Office staff on 27 April 2026 @@ -107,7 +79,7 @@ -The changes to this guidance reflect the update to the postal address for submitting requests for recognition of civilian component status. +The change to this guidance reflects clarification that civilian employees of the UK Ministry of Defence and the UK Armed Forces are out of scope for the International Civilian Employee route. @@ -160,7 +132,7 @@ -This section tells you about members of international armed forces who are exempt from immigration control under section 8(4)(a), (c) and (c) of the Immigration Act 1971 (the 1971 Act) as amended. +This section tells you about members of international armed forces who are exempt from immigration control under section 8(4)(a), (b) and (c) of the Immigration Act 1971 (the 1971 Act) as amended. @@ -176,7 +148,7 @@ -- a member of a Commonwealth force or a force raised under the law of a colony, a protectorate or a protected state, who is: +- a member of a Commonwealth force or a force raised under the law of a colony - a protectorate or a protected state, who is: - undergoing or about to undergo training in the UK @@ -185,17 +157,10 @@ -- - - -serving or posted for service in the UK as a member of a visiting force as listed in the Visiting Forces Act 1952 (VFA) - - -- - - -added to the VFA through an Order of Council statutory instrument - +- serving or posted for service in the UK as a member of a visiting force as listed in the Visiting Forces Act 1952 (VFA) + + +- added to the VFA through an Order of Council statutory instrument - serving or posted as a member of an international headquarters @@ -206,7 +171,7 @@ -It is strongly advised that those who are exempt from immigration control obtain an exempt vignette or a digital record of exemption before travelling to the UK. If exempt individuals elect to travel without an exempt vignette or a digital record of exemption, there is a higher risk that they will experience delays to their journey to the UK. +It is strongly advised that those who are exempt from immigration control obtain an exempt vignette or a digital record of exemption before travelling to the UK. If exempt individuals elect to travel without an exempt vignette or a digital record of exemption, there is a higher risk that they will experience delays to their journey to the UK. @@ -234,359 +199,123 @@ -- - - -Antigua and Barbuda - - -- - - -Australia - - -- - - -Bangladesh - - -- - - -Barbados - - -- - - -Belize - - -- - - -Bermuda - - -- - - -Botswana - - -- - - -Brunei - - -- - - -Cameroon - - -- - - -Canada - - -- - - -Ceylon - - -- - - -Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Tanganyika) - - -- - - -Dominica - - -- - - -Fiji - - -- - - -Ghana - - -- - - -Grenada - - -- - - -Guyana - - -- - - -India - - -- - - -Jamaica - - -- - - -Kenya - - -- - - -Kiribati - - -- - - -Lesotho - - -- - - -Malawi - - -- - - -Malaysia - - -- - - -Maldives - - -- - - -Malta - - -- - - -Mauritius - - -- - - -Mozambique - - -- - - -Namibia - - -- - - -Nauru - - -- - - -New Zealand - - -- - - -Nigeria - - -- - - -Norway - - -- - - -Pakistan - - -- - - -Papua New Guinea - - -- - - -Saint Christopher and Nevis - - -- - - -Saint Lucia - - -- - - -Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - - -- - - -Seychelles - - -- - - -Sierra Leone - - -- - - -Singapore - - -- - - -Solomon Islands - - -- - - -South Africa - - -- - - -Swaziland - - -- - - -Tanganyika - - -- - - -Tanzania - - -- - - -The Bahamas - - -- - - -The Gambia - - -- - - -The New Hebrides - - -- - - -The Republic of Cyprus - - -- - - -Tonga - - -- - - -Trinidad and Tobago - - -- - - -Tuvalu - - -- - - -Uganda - - -- - - -Vanuatu - - -- - - -Western Samoa - - -- - - -Zambia - - -- - - -Zanzibar - - -- - - -Zimbabwe - +- Antigua and Barbuda + +- Australia + +- Bangladesh + +- Barbados + +- Belize + +- Bermuda + +- Botswana + +- Brunei + +- Cameroon + +- Canada + +- Ceylon + +- Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Tanganyika) + +- Dominica + +- Fiji + +- Ghana + +- Grenada + +- Guyana + +- India + +- Jamaica + +- Kenya + +- Kiribati + +- Lesotho + +- Malawi + +- Malaysia + +- Maldives + +- Malta + +- Mauritius + +- Mozambique + +- Namibia + +- Nauru + +- New Zealand + +- Nigeria + +- Norway + +- Pakistan + +- Papua New Guinea + +- Saint Christopher and Nevis + +- Saint Lucia + +- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines + +- Seychelles + +- Sierra Leone + +- Singapore + +- Solomon Islands + +- South Africa + +- Swaziland + +- Tanganyika + +- Tanzania + +- The Bahamas + +- The Gambia + +- The New Hebrides + +- The Republic of Cyprus + +- Tonga + +- Trinidad and Tobago + +- Tuvalu + +- Uganda + +- Vanuatu + +- Western Samoa + +- Zambia + +- Zanzibar + +- Zimbabwe @@ -599,336 +328,120 @@ -- - - -Albania - - -- - - -Algeria - - -- - - -Armenia - - -- - - -Austria - - -- - - -Azerbaijan - - -- - - -Belarus - - -- - - -Belgium - - -- - - -Bosnia-Herzegovina - - -- - - -Bulgaria - - -- - - -Croatia - - -- - - -Czech Republic - - -- - - -Denmark - - -- - - -Estonia - - -- - - -Finland - - -- - - -France - - -- - - -Georgia - - -- - - -Germany - - -- - - -Greece - - -- - - -Hungary - - -- - - -Ireland - - -- - - -Italy - - -- - - -Japan - - -- - - -Jordan - - -- - - -Kazakhstan - - -- - - -Kosovo - - -- - - -Kyrgyzstan - - -- - - -Latvia - - -- - - -Lithuania - - -- - - -Luxembourg - - -- - - -Malta - - -- - - -Moldova - - -- - - -Montenegro - - -- - - -Morocco - - -- - - -Netherlands - - -- - - -Norway - - -- - - -Oman - - -- - - -Poland - - -- - - -Portugal - - -- - - -Romania - - -- - - -Russia - - -- - - -Saudi Arabia - - -- - - -Senegal - - -- - - -Serbia - - -- - - -Slovak Republic - - -- - - -Slovenia - - -- - - -Spain - - -- - - -Sweden - - -- - - -Switzerland - - -- - - -Tajikistan - - -- - - -The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - - -- - - -The United States of America - - -- - - -Turkey - - -- - - -Turkmenistan - - -- - - -Ukraine - - -- - - -Uzbekistan - - +- Albania + +- Algeria + +- Armenia + +- Austria + +- Azerbaijan + +- Belarus + +- Belgium + +- Bosnia-Herzegovina + +- Bulgaria + +- Croatia + +- Czech Republic + +- Denmark + +- Estonia + +- Finland + +- France + +- Georgia + +- Germany + +- Greece + +- Hungary + +- Ireland + +- Italy + +- Japan + +- Jordan + +- Kazakhstan + +- Kosovo + +- Kyrgyzstan + +- Latvia + +- Lithuania + +- Luxembourg + +- Malta + +- Moldova + +- Montenegro + +- Morocco + +- Netherlands + +- Norway + +- Oman + +- Poland + +- Portugal + +- Romania + +- Russia + +- Saudi Arabia + +- Senegal + +- Serbia + +- Slovak Republic + +- Slovenia + +- Spain + +- Sweden + +- Switzerland + +- Tajikistan + +- The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia + +- The United States of America + +- Turkey + +- Turkmenistan + +- Ukraine + +- Uzbekistan + + + + +For further information, see: NATO and NATO Status of Forces Agreement - identification of status @@ -940,101 +453,37 @@ -- - - -Armenia - - -- - - -Austria - - -- - - -Azerbaijan - - -- - - -Belarus (suspended since November 2021) - - -- - - -Bosnia-Herzegovina - - -- - - -Estonia - - -- - - -Georgia - - -- - - -Ireland - - -- - - -Kazakhstan - - -- - - -Kyrgzstan - - -- - - -Malta - - -- - - -Moldova - - -- - - -Russia (suspended since November 2021) - - -- - - -Serbia - - -- - - -Tajikistan - - -- - - -Ukraine - +- Armenia + +- Austria + +- Azerbaijan + +- Belarus (suspended since November 2021) + +- Bosnia-Herzegovina + +- Estonia + +- Georgia + +- Ireland + +- Kazakhstan + +- Kyrgyzstan + +- Malta + +- Moldova + +- Russia (suspended since November 2021) + +- Serbia + +- Tajikistan + +- Ukraine @@ -1071,11 +520,7 @@ -Applicants opting to make an application online will follow the same process as they do now. Further information can be found at: - - - -https://www.gov.uk/exempt-immigration-control +Applicants opting to make an application online will follow the same process as they do now. Further information can be found at Get a digital record of your exemption from immigration control. @@ -1084,7 +529,13 @@ -Visits UK (SHU)Armed Forces/FCDO TeamVisa, Status and Information Services- UKVIL4, 2 Ruskin SquareDingwall RoadCroydonCR0 2WF +Visits UK (SHU) +Armed Forces/FCDO Team +Visa, Status and Information Services- UKVI +L4, 2 Ruskin Square +Dingwall Road +Croydon +CR0 2WF @@ -1477,7 +928,7 @@ - An individual must be a civilian employed to work in the UK by: +An individual must be a civilian employed to work in the UK by: @@ -1564,6 +1015,7 @@ ## Period of grant + The period of grant for an International Civilian Employee of a NATO force or the Australian Department of Defence is either: @@ -1675,7 +1127,13 @@ -Visits UK (SHU)Armed Forces/FCDO TeamVisa, Status and Information Services - UKVIL4, 2 Ruskin SquareDingwall RoadCroydonCR0 2WF +Visits UK (SHU) +Armed Forces/FCDO Team +Visa, Status and Information Services- UKVI +L4, 2 Ruskin Square +Dingwall Road +Croydon +CR0 2WF @@ -1684,22 +1142,22 @@ -There is no case-working associated with this process and no Atlas record is needed. - - - - -Official sensitive: start of section - - - - -The information in this section has been removed as it is restricted for internal Home Office use. - - - - -Official sensitive: end of section +There is no case - working associated with this process and no Atlas record is needed. + + + + +Official – sensitive: start of section + + + + +The information on this page has been removed as it is restricted for internal Home Office use. + + + + +Official - sensitive: end of section @@ -1744,7 +1202,23 @@ -This set out in paragraph AFI 14.1. to AFI 14.2. of Appendix International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees, where a person is seeking to come to the UK they must apply for and obtain entry clearance before they arrive in the UK +This set out in paragraph AFI 14.1. to AFI 14.2. of Appendix International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees, where a person is seeking to come to the UK they must apply for and obtain entry clearance before they arrive in the UK. + + + +## International Civilian Employee: scope of eligible employment + + + +The International Civilian Employee route is intended for civilians currently employed by a foreign (non-UK) armed forces who are in the UK in support of that force’s activities, including those of NATO allies. + + + +Civilian employees of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) or the UK Armed Forces are not within the scope of this route and cannot meet the requirements of paragraph AFI 14.2. + + + +The UK’s membership of NATO does not, itself, make UK employed civilians eligible. Applicants must be employed by an international armed force at the point of application. Previous or historic employment by a foreign armed force does not meet the requirement. Eligibility under AF1 14.2 is based on current qualifying employment, not prior service.