Seasonal Work Visa (temporary work)

A work visa allows foreign citizens to live and work in the UK for a certain period of time. However, in order to apply for a British work visa, you must meet the requirements and provide the necessary documents. Find out more about the types and main requirements for obtaining work visas in the UK. In order to obtain permission to work in the UK, you need to meet a number of requirements for obtaining a work visa: Get a valid job offer. First of all, to obtain a visa, you need to find a British company willing to employ you and get a valid job offer from them. Your employer must also have a Sponsorship License to hire foreign personnel. Obtain a valid Sponsorship Certificate. You need to obtain a valid CoS from your employer. This virtual certificate specifies the position you plan to take, how long you intend to work, and so on. Be sufficiently qualified and have enough money. To be considered a skilled worker, you must have skills that at least meet level 3 RQF. You will also need to prove that you have enough money, at least at the initial stage. Have a good knowledge of the English language.

You can apply for a Seasonal Worker visa to come to the UK and work in:

• • horticulture for up to 6 months – for example, picking fruit and vegetables or flowers

• • poultry from 2 October to 31 December, in the same year

• • You need to apply for poultry Seasonal Worker visas by 15 November each year.

• • You can apply for horticulture Seasonal Worker visas at any time of year.
    You’ll need to:

• • have a sponsor

• • meet the other eligibility requirements
    This visa has replaced the Temporary Worker – Seasonal Worker visa (T5).
    You can stay in the UK:

• • up to 6 months for horticulture work

• • from 18 October to 31 December each year for poultry work

• • You can enter the UK as soon as your visa is valid (up to 14 days before the start date of your job).
    You can:

• • work in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship

• • study (for some courses you’ll need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate)
    You cannot:

• • take a permanent job

• • work in a second job or a job that isn’t described in your certificate of sponsorship

• • get public funds

• • bring family members with you

Government Authorized Exchange visa (Temporary Work):

You can apply for a Temporary Work – Government Authorized Exchange visa if you:

• • want to come to the UK for a short time for work experience or to do training, an Overseas Government Language Programme, research or a fellowship through an approved government authorized exchange scheme

• • have a sponsor

• • meet the other eligibility requirements

• • You need to have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor before you can apply to come to the UK to work.
    A certificate of sponsorship is not a paper document. It’s a reference number your sponsor gives you which confirms your job and
    personal details. Your work, training or research in the UK must relate to the work of your sponsor organization.
    Your sponsor can be any of the following:

• • an organization running an approved exchange scheme

• • a higher education institution (if you are a sponsored researcher, visiting academic or examiner)

• • a government department or agency

How long you can stay in the UK:

The amount of time you can stay depends on the length of your visa and the start and end dates of your job. Depending on the scheme you apply for, you’ll get a visa for a maximum of 12 months or 24 months. You can enter the UK up to 14 days before the date your job starts, as long as you do not arrive before the start date on your visa. You can stay in the UK for up to 14 days after the date your job ends, as long as you do not stay past the end date on your visa. You cannot enter the UK before the date your visa starts. You must leave the UK by the end date on your visa.

You can:
study (for some courses you’ll need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate)
work in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship
do a second job for up to 20 hours per week
do a job on the Skilled Worker immigration salary list for up to 20 hours per week as well as your main job
bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependents’, if they’re eligible
You cannot:
take a permanent job
get public funds

Creative Worker visa (Temporary Work)

You must apply for a Temporary Work – Creative Worker visa if:
1. you’ve been offered work in the UK as a creative worker
2. you meet the other eligibility requirements
A creative worker is someone who works in the creative industries, for example an actor, dancer, musician or film crew member. This visa has replaced the Temporary Worker – Creative and Sporting visa (T5). If you’re a sportsperson, you can work in the UK with the International Sportsperson visa. You need to have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor before you can apply to come to the UK to work. The work you do in the UK must relate to the work of your sponsor organization.

How long you can stay:

You can come to the UK for a maximum of up to 12 months, or the time given in your certificate of sponsorship plus up to 28 days, whichever is shorter. You may be able to extend your visa. Your stay must start no more than 14 days before the start date on your certificate of sponsorship. If you intend to work in the UK for 3 months or less, you may be able to use the Creative Worker visa concession instead of applying for the visa.

You can:
study (for some courses you’ll need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate)
work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship
do a second job in the same sector and at the same level as your main job for up to 20 hours per week
do a job on the Skilled Worker immigration salary list for up to 20 hours per week
bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependents’, if they’re eligible
You cannot:
get public funds
start your own business

Religious Worker visa (Temporary Work)

You can apply for a Temporary Work – Religious Worker visa if:

• • you want to do religious work in a non-pastoral role or religious order

• • you meet the other eligibility requirements
    This visa has replaced the T5 (Temporary Worker) Religious Worker visa.
    You must have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor before you can apply to come to the UK to work.
    The work you do in the UK must relate to your sponsor organization’s work.
    How long you can stay

• • You’ll be given a visa to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months, or up to 28 days more than the time on your certificate of sponsorship. You may be sponsored for a shorter period.

• • You can enter the UK up to 14 days before the start date of your job.
    You cannot get public funds.

Charity Worker visa (Temporary Work):

You can apply for a Temporary Work – Charity Worker visa if:
1. you want to do unpaid voluntary work for a charity
2. you meet the other eligibility requirements
This visa has replaced the Temporary Worker – Charity Worker visa (T5).
You must have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed employer before you can apply to come to the UK to work.
The work you do in the UK must relate to the work of your sponsor organization.
You can:
study – for some courses you’ll need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate
work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship
do a second job in the same sector at the same level as your main job for up to 20 hours per week
bring your partner and children with you, if they’re eligible
You cannot:
receive any payment for work
take a permanent job
get public funds

International Agreement visa (Temporary Work):

You can apply for a Temporary Work – International Agreement visa if you’ll be contracted to do work covered by international law or

• • treaty while in the UK. This includes working:

• • for an overseas government or ‘recognized international organization’

• • as a private servant in a diplomatic household

• • You need to be sponsored (have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed employer) before you can apply to come to the UK.

• • The work you do in the UK must relate to the work of your sponsor organization.
    How long you can stay

• • If you’re an overseas government worker or international organization worker, you can stay for up to 2 years or the time given on your

• • certificate of sponsorship plus up to 14 days, whichever is shorter. If you’re a private servant in a diplomatic household, you can stay for up

• • to 5 years. You can apply for up to 2 years at a time or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus up to 14 days, whichever is

• • shorter. You can enter the UK on the date your visa starts. You may be asked to leave the UK within 60 days if your job finishes early. It’s

• • unlikely you’ll have to leave if your visa has less than 60 days remaining.
    You can:

• • study – for some courses you’ll need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate

• • work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship

• • do a second job on the Skilled Worker immigration salary list or one in the same sector as your main job for up to 20 hours per week

• • (unless you are a private servant)

• • study, as long as it does not interfere with the job you’re sponsored for

• • travel abroad and return to the UK

• • bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependents’, if they’re eligible
    You cannot:

• • get public funds

• • start working before you get your visa