Immigration Rules Appendix International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees
Source: gov.uk (2025-11-11)

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.

A partner or child of a member of an International Armed Force or International Civilian Employees of either a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) or the Australian Department of Defence can also apply on this route.
- • 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.
An application can be made inside the UK or overseas.

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

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

Members of International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees

Validity requirements for members of International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees
- (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
- (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 1.3. An application which does not meet all the validity requirements for the International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees route may be rejected as invalid and not considered unless AFI 3.3. applies .

Suitability requirements for members of International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees

AFI 2.1. The decision maker must be satisfied that the applicant should not be refused under Part Suitability.
- (a) in breach of immigration laws, except that where the Exceptions for overstayers section of Part Suitability applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded; or
- (b) on immigration bail.
Eligibility requirements for members of International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees

Entry requirements for members of International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees

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.
- (a) the applicant is not a visa national; and
- (b) the applicant has a valid passport which satisfactorily establishes their identity and nationality; and
- (c) the applicant shows they meet the service requirements of AFI 4.3; and
- (d) the applicant must be aged 18 or over on the date of application; and
- (e) the person otherwise meets the suitability requirements for members of International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees set out AFI 2.1 and AFI 2.2.
Service requirements for members of International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees
- (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.
- (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
- (b) will leave the UK at the end of their period of employment.
- (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
- (b) will leave the UK at the end of their deployment.
Financial requirements for members of International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees

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

AFI 5.2. The applicant must show they meet the financial requirement as specified in Appendix FM-SE.

Accommodation requirements for members of International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees

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

Decision on an application as a member of International Armed Forces or an International Civilian Employee

AFI 7.1. If the decision maker is satisfied that the validity, suitability and relevant eligibility requirements for a member of International Armed Forces or International Civilian Employees are met, the application will be granted, otherwise, the application will be refused.

AFI 7.1A. 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, if the Immigration Officer is satisfied the requirements of AFI 3.3. and AFI 4.3. are met, they will be granted permission to enter.

AFI 7.2. If the application is refused the person can apply for an Administrative Review under Appendix Administrative Review.

Period of grant for a member of International Armed Forces
- (a) 4 years; or
- (b) the duration of the training, study or familiarisation.
- (a) permission to stay is required to enable the applicant to meet third country transit regulations which require passengers to have 3 months’ extant leave in the UK; and
- (b) travel to the third country forms part of the training, study or familiarisation.
Conditions of grant for a member of International Armed Forces
- (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.
Period of grant for an International Civilian Employee
- (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.
- (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.

Conditions of grant for an International Civilian Employee
- (a) no access to public funds; and
- (b) no work other than as an International Civilian Employee; and
- (c) study permitted, subject to the ATAS condition in Appendix ATAS
Partner or child of a member of International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees

Validity requirements for a partner or child of a member of International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees
- (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.
- (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.
AFI 12.3. An applicant applying for permission to stay must be in the UK on the date of application.

AFI 12.4. An application which does not meet all the validity requirements as a partner or child of a member of a member of the International Armed Forces or an International Civilian Employee may be rejected as invalid and not considered.

Suitability requirements for a partner or child of a member of International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees

AFI 13.1. The decision maker must be satisfied that the applicant should not be refused under Part Suitability.
- (a) in breach of immigration laws, except that where the Exceptions for overstayers section of Part Suitability applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded; or
- (b) on immigration bail.
Eligibility requirements for a partner or child of member of an International Armed Force and International Civilian Employees

Entry requirements for a partner or child of a member of International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees

AFI 14.1. A person seeking to come to the UK must apply for and obtain entry clearance as a partner or child of a member of International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employee before they arrive in the UK.

AFI 14.2. A person applying for entry clearance as a partner or child of 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.

Relationship requirements for a partner of a member of an International Armed Force, International Civilian Employees or members of an International Armed Force exempt from control.
- (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 15.2. The requirements of Appendix Relationship with Partner must be met.

Relationship requirements for a child of a member of International Armed Forces, International Civilian Employees or members of an International Armed Force exempt from control.
- (a) age requirement; and
- (b) independent life requirement; and
- (c) care requirement; and
- (d) relationship requirement: entry clearance and permission to stay.
Financial requirements for a partner or child of members of International Armed Forces, International Civilian Employees or members of an International Armed Force exempt from immigration control.

AFI 17.1 The applicant must show that the member of International Armed Forces or International Civilian Employee is able to adequately maintain themselves and their partner and any child in the UK without access to public funds.

AFI 17.2. The applicant’ must show they meet the financial requirement as specified in Appendix FM-SE.

Accommodation requirements for partner or child of members of International Armed Forces and International Civilian Employees

AFI 18.1. The applicant’s accommodation in the UK must not be overcrowded or contravene public health regulations.

Decision on an application as a partner or child of a member of International Armed Forces or an International Civilian Employee

AFI 19.1. If the decision maker is satisfied that the validity, suitability and relevant eligibility requirements for a partner or child of International Armed Forces or International Civilian Employees are met, the application will be granted, otherwise the application will be refused.

AFI 19.2. If the application is refused the person can apply for an Administrative Review under Appendix Administrative Review.

Period of a grant for a partner or child of a member of International Armed Forces
- (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.

Conditions of grant for a partner or child of a member of International Armed Forces
- (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
- (d) study is permitted, subject to the ATAS conditions in Appendix ATAS.
Period of grant for a partner or child of an International Civilian Employee
- (a) 6 months, where the duration of the civilian employee of a NATO force or the Australian Department of Defence’s period of employment in the UK is less than 6 months; or
- (b) 5 years, where the duration of the civilian employee of a NATO force or the Australian Department of Defence’s period of employment in the UK is for 6 months or more; or
- (c) where the grant is as a partner of a Civilian Employee under contract to a NATO force, the shorter period of 4 years or the duration of the period of the civilian employee’s employment.
AFI 22.2. 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.

Conditions of grant for a partner or child of an International Civilian Employee
- (a) no access to public funds; and
- (b) no work if granted is for less than 6 months; and
- (c) work permitted if grant is for 6 months or more; and
- (d) study is permitted; subject to the ATAS conditions in Appendix ATAS.