Seasonal Worker visa (Temporary Work)
Overview
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).
How long it takes
You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.
As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide your documents.
You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.
Getting a decision
Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.
How much it costs
You will need to:
-
pay the application fee
-
prove you have enough personal savings - check how much in the eligibility requirements
Application fee
The application fee is £298.
How long you can stay
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).
What you can and cannot do
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