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Below, you’ll find information and guidance on nationality requirements and visa sponsorship for the Civil Service Fast Stream. Please note the Fast Stream Candidate Support team is not able to assist with visa or sponsorship queries. All queries relating to visas, their qualifying criteria, and sponsorship must be directed to the Home Office.
Nationality Requirements (Civil Service Nationality Rules)
Broadly, the Fast Stream is open to:
- UK nationals
- Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- Nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Certain schemes are restricted to British Citizens only. We strongly advise checking the specific requirements on the individual scheme pages.
Please be aware that these nationality rules apply across the Civil Service and are not exclusive to the Fast Stream.
Prior to making an application, you should check your eligibility here Civil Service Nationality Rules.
Right to Work (RTW)
Ensuring your immigration status remains valid is a vital requirement. Regardless of the scheme you enter, it is essential that you retain the Right to Work (RTW) in the UK for the entirety of the programme. This must be supported by a suitable visa or legal arrangement.
If your current RTW is due to expire before you complete the scheme, you must provide a clear explanation of how you intend to remain eligible for the duration of the Fast Stream.
Please be aware that your contract of employment will be terminated if you fail to maintain a valid RTW.
As the Fast Stream is designed to cultivate future leadership within the Civil Service, candidates should seek to maintain their RTW beyond the conclusion of the programme.
Further information on immigration and visas can be found on www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration
Right to Work via Skilled Sponsorship/Visa
Applications for skilled worker sponsorship are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Sponsorship can only be considered where all qualifying criteria are met. If you require sponsorship for your RTW, you are strongly advised to review the following points and the linked guidance to understand eligibility before you apply.
- The current starting salary for the Fast Stream does not meet the minimum threshold for new skilled worker visa sponsorship.
- Consequently, sponsorship is only applicable in very limited circumstances, such as for applicants already on this route who qualify under transitional rules.
- A formal job offer is a prerequisite for sponsorship eligibility; we cannot review sponsorship requests until a place on the scheme has been offered.
- Where eligibility is met, a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) may be issued. However, a CoS does not guarantee a successful visa application, as all final decisions rest with the Home Office.
Detailed information regarding skilled worker visas is available at https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa.
You should read this guidance carefully and seek independent advice if necessary before proceeding with an application.