A and G visas: diplomats, foreign officials and international organization staff

Who are A visas for?

Diplomats and other foreign government officials traveling to engage solely in official duties for their national government must get an A visa; they cannot use a visitor visa or the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Someone entitled to an A classification must receive it even if they would qualify for another.

• A-1: a head of state or head of government, and their immediate family, whatever the purpose of travel; accredited officers of a diplomatic mission or consular post, such as ambassadors, counselors, attachés, consuls general and vice consuls; and officials on official business who hold a cabinet-level post, preside over a national legislature or sit on the highest court.
• A-2: other foreign government officials and employees, such as administrative, technical and service staff at embassies and consulates. Most short official trips are A-2. An official coming for 90 days or more generally gets A-2 only to work at an embassy, consulate or other registered foreign government office, with limited exceptions.
• A-3: attendants, servants and personal employees of A-1 and A-2 principals.

Sources: 9 FAM 402.3-2(A) and 402.3-5, Foreign Government Officials – A Visas; 9 FAM 402.3-4, General Information

Who are G visas for?

• G-1: members of a recognized government's permanent mission to a designated international organization, assigned for 90 days or more, of any rank, and their immediate family.
• G-2: representatives of a recognized government traveling for less than 90 days for an international organization's activities, such as delegates to the UN General Assembly, and their immediate family.
• G-3: representatives of a government that is not recognized, or not a member of the organization, and their immediate family.
• G-4: officers and employees of designated international organizations, such as the United Nations, of any rank, and their immediate family.
• G-5: attendants and personal employees of G-1 to G-4 principals.

Sources: 9 FAM 402.3-7(B), G Visa Classifications

What are they not for?

A principal who takes work outside their official position may be violating their status. The State Department does not issue A visas to US lawful permanent residents, who cannot serve as diplomatic agents or consular officers, apart from a narrow exception for urgent short official trips. A G-1, G-3 or G-4 principal assigned to the US is expected to work essentially full time, at least 35 hours a week, and live in the metropolitan area of the organization. Domestic employees of mission members or organization staff are not G-1 or G-4; they are G-5.

Sources: 9 FAM 402.3-2(A) and 402.3-5, Foreign Government Officials – A Visas; 9 FAM 402.3-7(B), G Visa Classifications; 8 CFR 214.2(a)(2)–(10)

Who decides the classification?

There is no petition to USCIS. A consular officer determines the classification before admission, and after admission the Secretary of State's recognition is evidence of it. The consular officer may issue an A or G visa only on receipt of a note from the foreign ministry, mission or international organization. The note gives the principal's name and date of birth, position and title, place of assignment, purpose of travel, duties, travel date, expected length of stay, and the family members coming. For a non-temporary assignment of 90 days or more, the note must come from the sending government's foreign ministry, or for a career official posted abroad, from their embassy or consulate certifying the foreign ministry's request.

Consular officers may waive the interview for A-1, A-2 and G-1 to G-4 applicants, and normally do for bona fide applicants applying where they are citizens or assigned. Of the INA 212(a) grounds of ineligibility, only three security-related grounds apply to A-1, A-2 and G-1 to G-4 applicants, so an applicant who shows they qualify for the classification cannot be refused as an intending immigrant. Other restrictions, such as a Presidential Proclamation, can still apply. A-3 and G-5 applicants face all the usual grounds.

Sources: 8 CFR 214.2(a)(1); 9 FAM 402.3-4, General Information

How long can they stay?

A-1, A-2 and G-1 to G-4 holders are admitted for as long as the Secretary of State continues to recognize them as entitled to that status, not for a fixed period. A-3 and G-5 employees are admitted for an initial period of up to three years, with extensions of up to two years at a time; an extension request needs a signed statement from the employing official that they will keep employing the person and describing the work.

A visa is a travel document, not the status itself. A family member's visa should not be valid longer than the principal's. A-3 and G-5 visas are usually issued for the maximum the country's reciprocity schedule allows, usually 24 months, but not beyond the employer's visa.

Sources: 8 CFR 214.2(a)(1); 8 CFR 214.2(g)(1); 9 FAM 402.3-4, General Information; 9 FAM 402.3-9, Personal or Domestic Employees of Officials

Which family members are covered?

Immediate family receive the same classification as the principal. The State Department counts these as immediate family, provided they live regularly in the principal's household and are not members of another household:

• A spouse.
• Unmarried sons and daughters under 21, or under 23 if in full-time post-secondary study.
• Other relatives by blood, marriage or adoption whom the sending government or organization recognizes as immediate family, shown by benefits such as a diplomatic passport or allowances. Being listed in a diplomatic note is not enough.

Sources: 9 FAM 402.3-4(J), Immediate Family

Can family members work?

Dependents of A-1 and A-2, and of G-1, G-3 and G-4 principals, may be allowed to work. For A-1, A-2, G-1 and G-3 dependents this depends on a formal bilateral employment agreement or an informal reciprocal arrangement with the government employing the principal; G-4 dependents may be authorized without one. Dependents of A-3, G-2 and G-5 principals may not work under these rules. For work purposes, a dependent includes a spouse, unmarried children under 21, unmarried sons and daughters under 23 in full-time post-secondary study, and certain disabled sons and daughters.

• Step 1: the dependent submits Form I-566 to the State Department through the principal's mission or organization, with an offer letter where required.
• Step 2: the State Department reviews and endorses the form.
• Step 3: with a favorable endorsement, the dependent applies to USCIS for employment authorization.
• Under informal arrangements and for G-4 dependents, conditions include that both people are maintaining status, the principal's assignment is expected to last more than six months, and the job is not in an occupation with an oversupply of US workers.
• Work permission is granted in increments of up to three years, with no appeal from a denial. Working dependents pay income and Social Security taxes and have no immunity for matters arising from the job.

Sources: 8 CFR 214.2(a)(2)–(10); 8 CFR 214.2(g)(2)–(10)

What applies to A-3 and G-5 personal employees?

These rules protect domestic workers. The employer must already hold A, G or similar status or be traveling to take up the assignment, and must not be a US permanent resident. The employee needs:

• Pre-notification to the State Department's Office of the Chief of Protocol or the US Mission to the UN, unless an exception applies.
• A written contract in a language they understand, signed by both, including the employer's agreement to obey all federal, state and local laws; the frequency and form of pay, duties, weekly hours, holidays, sick days and vacation; and a promise not to withhold the employee's passport, contract or other property.
• At least the minimum wage, with working conditions under US labor law.
• A visa interview without the employer present, where the officer confirms they have read a pamphlet on their legal rights.

Sources: 9 FAM 402.3-9, Personal or Domestic Employees of Officials

Changing to A or G status inside the US

A person in another status who takes a job with a foreign mission or international organization must change to the correct A or G status before starting work. The request goes through Form I-566 and the State Department, which coordinates with USCIS. Someone who entered under the VWP cannot change status and must apply for the visa abroad.

Sources: 9 FAM 402.3-4, General Information

Government fees, as of 26 October 2026

22 CFR 22.1 (eCFR issue of 21 October 2026) lists no visa application fee for A, G, C-3, NATO and diplomatic visa applicants, and the State Department extends this to A-3 and G-5 applicants. On the separate issuance (reciprocity) fee, the sources read differently: 22 CFR 22.1 lists no issuance fee for official representatives of foreign governments or of international organizations the US belongs to, and their families, while the Foreign Affairs Manual says reciprocity fees are charged, with limited exceptions, for A and G visas other than for UN travel. Check with the consulate. This guide does not list USCIS fees for dependent work permits; check the USCIS fee schedule. Fees change.

Sources: 22 CFR 22.1, Schedule of fees, items 22 and 24; 9 FAM 402.3-4, General Information

Common problems

• Traveling on a visitor visa or the VWP for official business. Official travel needs the A or G visa.
• Starting a mission or organization job before the change of status to A or G.
• A relative from another household. Moving in only to study in the US does not usually make someone immediate family.
• A dependent working before the State Department endorsement and USCIS work authorization.
• An A-3 or G-5 contract missing required terms.

Sources: 9 FAM 402.3-4, General Information; 9 FAM 402.3-4(J), Immediate Family; 8 CFR 214.2(a)(2)–(10); 9 FAM 402.3-9, Personal or Domestic Employees of Officials

How Visa Trouble can help

We can point you to official information, but we don’t assess or prepare A or G visa applications. Free route discovery at Visa Trouble can show routes worth comparing if your plans go beyond this one. Visa Trouble is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.