Temporary Worker Visa

What is the Temporary Worker Visa?

UK Temporary Worker visas are a category of work visa that permit you to work in the UK temporarily. The time you can stay in the UK for a Temporary Worker Visa varies depending on the specific visa you apply for and ranges from 6 months to 2 years.

You can apply for this visa if you want to come to the UK for temporary work, including seasonal, sporting, religious, or charity work, as well as for work experience, training, an Overseas Government Language Programme, research, or a fellowship through an approved government-authorised exchange scheme.

What is permitted on a UK Temporary Worker Visa?

• Work in the UK labour market for a licensed sponsor.
• Participate in an approved exchange scheme.
• Undertake voluntary work with a recognised international organisation.
• Attend meetings, conferences, seminars, interviews, and training.
• Study
• A second job up to 20 hours a week
• Bringing certain family members with you as dependents

What is not permitted?

• Access to public funds 
• Work in roles not listed on the eligible occupation list for the visa category.
• Undertake self-employment or start a business.
• Engage in permanent employment or seek permanent residency through this visa.
• Undertake work as a doctor or dentist in training (unless on a recognised foundation programme).

Types of Temporary Worker Visas

There are different categories of Temporary Work Visas, and the category most appropriate for you will vary depending on the type of role you intend to fill in the UK.

There are 7 types of temporary worker visas available as part of the Temporary Worker visa category, including the following:

• Creative Worker Visa – for creative workers
• Government Authorised Exchange visa – for overseas nationals coming to the UK through approved exchange schemes
• International Agreement Worker visa – An International Agreement Visa permits overseas nationals to work in the UK covered by international law
• Religious Worker visa – for individuals undertaking religious work, including as a preacher, pastor or non-pastoral religious work
• Charity Worker visa – for those undertaking voluntary work for registered charities in the UK
• Seasonal Worker visa – for overseas nationals undertaking farm work in the UK
• Youth Mobility Visa – for young people from certain nations who wish to experience life in the UK

Creative Worker Visa

The Creative Worker visa is for individuals who have been offered a job by a licenced sponsor to work in the creative industries.

Workers must be able to make a unique contribution to the UK labour market and be paid a minimum salary as set out by Equity, PACT or BECTU.

Creative workers can stay up to 12 months in the UK or the time given in the certificate of sponsorship plus up to 28 days, whichever is shorter.

Government Authorised Exchange Visa

The Government Authorised Exchange category is for people coming to the UK through approved schemes. People in this category must aim to share knowledge, experience, and best practices and experience the UK’s social and cultural life.

To be eligible for the Government Authorised Exchange Visa, you must be coming to the UK for one of the following:

• Work experience or training
• An Overseas Government Language Programme
• Research or a fellowship through an approved government-authorised exchange programme

For this visa, you must be sponsored by a licenced UK sponsor, and your work, training, or research in the UK must relate to the activities of your sponsor organisation.

The Government Authorised Exchange Visa will allow you to stay in the UK for 12 or 24 months, depending on the scheme you are applying for.

International Agreement Worker Visa

The International Agreement Category covers people coming to the UK under contract to do work governed by international law; this can include roles such as working for a foreign government or providing a service under contract as a contractual service supplier.

You could be eligible for the International Agreement Worker Visa if any of the following apply:

• Your work is covered by either the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) or similar agreements between the UK and other countries
• The work is for an overseas government or international organisation
• You will be working as a private servant in a diplomatic household or the household of an international organisation’s employee.

The length of stay on an International Agreement Worker Visa varies depending on what you will do in the UK. If you work for a foreign government or as a private servant in a diplomatic household, you can stay for up to 2 years on an international agreement visa.

If you are providing a service under contract, you can stay for 6 months in any 12 months. You can stay for 12 months if your work is covered by the UK-EU Trade Cooperation Agreement or 12 months within 24 months if the work is covered by the Temporary agreement between the Swiss Confederation (Switzerland) and the UK on services mobility.

Charity Worker Visa

The Charity Worker Visa is a temporary work visa for overseas nationals who plan to undertake voluntary work for a charity in the UK. All activities on the Charity Worker Visa must be unpaid and temporary.

The Charity Worker Visa grants temporary work visas for your entry to the UK for up to 12 months.

Religious Worker Visa

The ‘Religious Workers’ category is for people coming to the UK for preaching, pastoral or non-pastoral work, or work in a religious order such as a monastery or convent.

Unlike temporary workers on the Charity Worker Visa, Religious Worker Visa holders can be paid for their work. The Religious Visa is valid for up to 24 months.

Seasonal Worker Visa

The seasonal worker visa allows foreign nationals to come to the UK for up to 6 months to do agricultural work. This includes jobs such as seasonal workers packaging fruit and vegetables and other farm work.

When in the UK on a Seasonal Worker Visa, you can work in the same sector or job that your Certificate of Sponsorship was assigned for and study; however, you cannot work a permanent job or take on a second job. Seasonal workers are not required to pay the UK immigration healthcare surcharge.

Youth Mobility Scheme

The Youth Mobility Visa is for young people from participating countries and territories who want to experience life in the UK. These countries include Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan.

Youth Mobility Visa holders can stay in the UK for up to 2 years. However, the visa cannot be extended, and you cannot bring any relatives to the UK on this visa.

Unlike other Temporary Worker Visas, the Youth Mobility Visa does not require applicants to have a job offer in the UK. Instead, your national government will be your sponsor during your stay. You must score 50 points based on nationality, age and maintenance funds. You must also be outside the UK to apply, and successful applicants are entitled to a discount on the annual immigration healthcare surcharge.

Eligibility requirements for UK Temporary Worker Visas

The requirements for a Temporary Worker Visa vary depending on the category you are applying for. Generally, you must be endorsed by a UK Sponsor, who can grant you a Certificate of Sponsorship.

To be eligible, you must provide evidence that you can financially support yourself in the UK. You’ll usually need to have £1,270 available in your bank account. The money must have been available for at least 28 days in a row, and those 28 days must be within 31 days of your Temporary Worker Visa application.

Whilst having a job offer and a Certificate of Sponsorship is one of the main requirements for a Temporary Worker Visa, a select number of countries whose nationals apply through the Youth Mobility Scheme can gain UK entry clearance without a job offer.

How to apply for a Temporary Worker Visa

You must apply online by submitting an online application form for a Temporary Worker Visa and can do so by filling in the form for your category on the gov.uk website

When applying, you will need the following:

• Your Certificate of Sponsorship reference number
• A valid passport or another form of ID
• Evidence that you can meet the maintenance requirement, such as bank statements
• Your Tuberculosis test results if you are from a country where you have to take the test
• Pay the required fees for your visa application and UK health surcharges if required.

Depending on the Temporary Worker Visa category you are applying for, you may also be expected to provide other documents. If you plan to bring family members to the UK, you must provide evidence of your relationship.

Your biometric information—your photo and fingerprints—must be taken at a visa application centre as part of your Temporary Worker Visa application.

How can IAS help you apply for a Temporary Worker Visa?

Understanding which visa category is best for you can be a difficult process. Whatever your circumstance or profession, the expert lawyers at IAS can help you. We will find the right Workers Visa for you and ensure that you meet all the specific requirements to make an application.

Our services include a full document check and completion of all the relevant application forms. A Letter of Representation will also be provided along with your application. This letter will present the details and merits of your case, as well as referencing any relevant UK immigration laws which back up your case.

Get in touch on 0333 305 3750 or make an enquiry online to begin the process of applying for your Temporary Worker Visa. You can contact us at our offices in London, Manchester, or Birmingham, or use our office finder to find your closest branch.