Nationality Requirements

Broadly, the Fast Stream is open to the following:

• 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

You must be a British Citizen to apply for some schemes. Please check the individual scheme pages. 

Nationality rules apply across the Civil Service, not just the Fast Stream. 

Prior to making an application, you must check your eligibility under Civil Service Nationality. 

Nationality requirements are explained in more detail in the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

Securing your immigration status is crucial. Whichever Fast Stream scheme you join, you must maintain your Right to Work (RTW) in the UK for its duration. This must be through an appropriate arrangement or visa. 

If your RTW expires before the scheme ends, you’ll need to clearly show how you plan to maintain it throughout the Fast Stream.

Failing to maintain your RTW will result in the termination of your employment contract. 

Since the Fast Stream develops future leaders and managers for careers in the UK Civil Service, you should aim to maintain a RTW beyond your scheme’s finish date. 

The Fast Stream Candidate Support team cannot provide advice on visas.Details on Visas and immigration can be found on www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration

The Fast Stream will consider applications for skilled worker sponsorship on a case-by-case basis, taking account of individual circumstances, and can only offer sponsorship where all eligibility criteria are met. If you are considering applying for skilled worker sponsorship to provide a RTW, you are strongly encouraged to take note of the following and, crucially, to read and consider the linked guidance which gives details about eligibility before applying for a place on the Fast Stream.

• The Fast Stream starting salary does not currently meet the appropriate thresholds for new skilled worker visa sponsorships
• In view of the above point, sponsorship will only be appropriate in certain very specific circumstances (such as, potentially, where the applicant is already on the skilled worker route and is eligible under transitional arrangements. There may also be other circumstances) 

• Part of the eligibility criteria for sponsorship is to have a job offer. We cannot consider  any application for sponsorship unless you have been offered a place on the Fast Stream.
• In specific circumstances where the eligibility criteria appears to be met. The Fast Stream will issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). A CoS does not guarantee that a skilled worker visa application will be granted since all cases are assessed by the Home Office, who are the issuing authority for visas.

Details and eligibility information about skilled worker visas can be found on https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa. You should read this guidance thoroughly and, if necessary, take advice as appropriate before making any application for sponsorship.

The Fast Stream Candidate Support team cannot provide advice or decisions on skilled worker visa eligibility at the application stage.