The United Kingdom government has published an official list of 39 international organisations whose employees qualify for exemption from immigration control. This policy applies to workers employed by these organisations that have offices or headquarters in the UK, meaning they are not subject to the standard immigration requirements that apply to most foreign nationals entering or residing in the country.
Full List of Exempt Organisations
The list, released by the UK government, includes major global bodies such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank Group, UNICEF, UNHCR, and the European Space Agency. The exemptions cover a broad range of institutions spanning finance, health, development, environment, and security.
The 39 organisations are as follows: The International Monetary Fund (IMF), The World Health Organization (WHO), The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), The International Development Agency (IDA), The International Finance Corporation (IFC), Bank for International Settlements (BIS), CAB International (CABI) (Previously Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux), Commonwealth Foundation, Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO), Delegation of the European Union to the United Kingdom (EU Del), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), European Bioinformatics Institute (also known as European Molecular Biology Laboratory) (EMBL-EBI), European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (ECMWF), European Forest Institute (EFI), European Southern Observatory (ESO), European Space Agency (ESA), European Union Officials (working under the Windsor Agreement), Global Combat Air Programme - GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO), Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO), International Coffee Organization (ICO), International Grains Council (IGC), International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Mobile Satellite Organization (IMSO), International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPCF), International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund 1992 (IOPCF 1992), International Organization for Migration (IOM), International Sugar Organization (ISO), International Whaling Commission (IWC), North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization (NASCO), North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (NATO DIANA), North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), OSPAR Commission (OSPAR), Square Kilometre Array Observatory (SKAO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and United Nations World Food Programme (UNWFP).
Impact on Employees
Employees of these organisations are entitled to exempt entry clearances, meaning they do not need to meet the standard visa requirements. This exemption is significant for international staff working in the UK, as it streamlines their entry and residence process, facilitating their work for these global institutions.
The policy reflects the UK's commitment to supporting international cooperation by easing immigration procedures for those employed by key global bodies. This move is expected to benefit both the organisations and their employees, ensuring smooth operations.
In a related development, the US government has also confirmed that foreigners applying for citizenship through Form N-400 can request a reduced fee or a full fee waiver. According to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), applicants seeking a fee waiver cannot submit their application online and must follow a specific process.
