You can take temporary religious work in the UK by applying UK religious worker visa. Learn about the eligibility, documents required and application process. Get the best advice for UK religious worker visa from Visa and Migration.
The UK Religious Worker - Temporary Worker visa route, which replaced the previous UK Tier 5 Religious Worker (Temporary Worker) visa, is for foreign workers wanting to come to the UK to support the activities of a religious institution by conducting religious work, such as undertaking non-pastoral work or working in a religious order.
The applicant must have got a CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) from a Home Office licensed sponsor before they can apply to come to live and work in the Uk as a Religious Worker.
A Religious Worker can stay in the UK for up to 2 years.
The work they do in the UK must relate to the work of their sponsor’s organisation.
A partner and/or children of the Religious Worker can apply as dependants on this route.
The Religious Worker visa is not a route to ILR or settlement in the UK.
Please note that a Minister of Religion must apply on the T2 Minister of Religion route instead of a Religious Worker visa if their work in the UK involves leading a congregation in performing rites, rituals, and preaching the essentials of the creed as its core duties.
This route is for people coming to work for a temporary period in the UK as:
religious workers undertaking supporting activities of a religious institution by conducting religious work, without leading a congregation in performing rites, rituals, and preaching the essentials of the creed (such people should instead apply on the T2 Minister of Religion route)
Visiting religious workers who:
are employed overseas and doing the same work as they would do in the UK (although the exact details of their duties overseas and in the UK may differ)
have ongoing employment, and the time spent in the UK is consistent with their employment
members of religious orders, for example, nuns, monastic communities of monks, or similar religious communities
The applicant applying to obtain entry clearance to the UK or permission to stay here as a Religious Worker must apply online on gov.uk using the specified application form.
EEA (European Economic Area) nationals with a chipped passport (also called an e-passport or biometric passport) will have to apply as a temporary worker using the "UK Immigration: ID Check” app or the “Temporary Worker visa” form, if they apply from outside the UK, or “Temporary Worker’ form, if they apply from inside the UK.
Other applicants applying from outside the UK will have to apply using the “Temporary Worker visa” form, and applicants applying from inside the UK will have to apply using the form “Temporary Worker”.
An application for obtaining entry clearance or permission to stay as a Religious Worker must meet all the following requirements:
(a) The applicant must be 18 or over at the time of their application.
Any visa application fee and IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) must have been paid;
(b) The applicant must have enrolled their biometric information when required.
(c) The applicant must have given a valid passport/other travel document to establish their nationality and identity;
(d) The applicant must have a CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) issued to them no more than 3 months before the date of their application;
Those applying for permission to stay must fulfil the above conditions plus the following:
(a) They must be in the UK at the time of application.
(b) They must have, or have last had, permission as a Religious Worker.
An application that fails to fulfil all the validity requirements for the Religious Worker route (mentioned above) may be rejected as invalid and not considered.
The applicant must not fall for refusal under the Immigration Rules - Part Suitability.
Those applying for permission to stay must not be:
(a) in breach of UK immigration laws, except that where the section called “Exceptions for overstayers” under the Immigration Rules - Part Suitability applies; or
(b) on immigration bail.
The applicant will need to have all of the following in order to be eligible for the Religious Worker category:
have a CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) reference number
unless exempt, they must have sufficient money (at least £1,270) available to support themselves in the UK
Those given a Religious Worker or Charity Worker visa in the last year cannot get a Religious Worker visa, unless they can show they were outside the UK for the whole of that time.
For an entry clearance or permission to stay application, the UKVI must be satisfied that the applicant:
genuinely intends to undertake the role described on the CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) and is capable of undertaking this role described on the CoS
has no intention to undertake employment other than in the role their sponsor is sponsoring them for, or as otherwise permitted within the conditions of the grant
The applicant must have got CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) from their employer, who must be an approved A- rated sponsor, unless they were last given permission as a Religious Worker in the UK and are applying to continue working for the same sponsor as in their last permission.
CoS is a reference number that holds information about the job offered to the applicant (for example, job start date, working hours, and the salary) and their personal details.
CoS must also confirm:
that the religious duties the applicant would undertake do not include work which falls under the role of a minister of religion
whether the applicant applying as a Religious Worker is a member of the sponsor’s order, if the sponsor is a religious order
that the applicant will get pay and conditions at least equal to the pay and conditions given to settled workers in the same role
The applicant will need their CoS reference number from their employer. This reference number needs to be added to the Religious Worker visa application form. The applicant can only use it once.
A CoS stays valid for 3 months from the date it is assigned to the applicant.
The applicant must have £1,270 or more (held for a 28-day period) on the date of application, or their sponsor must confirm on the CoS that they will, if it is necessary, maintain and accommodate the applicant for the first month of their employment for the amount of £1,270 or more.
Those who, on the day they apply, have been residing in the UK with a valid UK visa for at least 12 months are not required to show proof of this fund.
The applicant’s sponsor must ensure they are sponsoring the applicant to do a job that, unless exempt, complies with the National Minimum Wage Regulations and follows the UK rules for how many hours a week the applicant works (as per the Working Time Regulations). If the applicant’s employer is unable to satisfy the decision maker on this, the applicant will have their application refused.
The applicant will be required to provide:
Their CoS reference number – this will be given by their sponsor
Their valid passport (with a blank page in it) or other travel document showing their identity and nationality
Evidence such as bank statements that shows the applicant has sufficient savings to support themselves in the UK (unless their CoS shows their employer/sponsor can support them)
Proof of their TB (Tuberculosis) test results if they are from a country where they have to take this test
The applicant may be asked to give additional documents by the UKVI.
Any documents provided by the applicant that are not in English or Welsh must be submitted with a certified translation.
The applicant must apply online, and no more than 3 months before the day they are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on their CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship).
They will have to prove their identity as part of their Religious Worker visa application. Depending on where they are from and what type of passport they hold they will have their biometric information (fingerprints and facial photograph) taken at a VAC (Visa Application Centre) or they can use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan their identity document – they will also create their UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) account or sign into their existing UKVI account.
On the appointment date, the applicant will need to carry their passport to the VAC. They will be able to collect it the same day.
The applicant will need to pay the visa application fee of £319 and an immigration health charge, which is usually £1,035 per year.
The applicant can upload their documents along with their online application or have them scanned at the VAC (if attending an appointment to enrol their biometrics).
The applicant must apply online from within the UK before their current Religious Worker visa expires.
The applicant must apply again if they wish to change their job either within the same organisation or move to a new organisation.
They will have to prove their identity as part of their Religious Worker visa application. Depending on where they are from and what type of passport they hold they will have their biometric information (fingerprints and facial photograph) taken at a UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service) service point or they can use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan their identity document – they will also create their UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) account or sign into their existing UKVI account.
The applicant will need to pay the visa application fee of £319 and an immigration health charge, which is usually £1,035 per year.
The applicant can upload their documents along with their online application or have them scanned at the UKVCAS (if attending an appointment to enrol their biometrics).
If the application is complex and will take longer, UKVI will contact the applicant, for example, because:
UKVI needs to verify the documents of the applicant
The applicant is required to attend an interview
Of the applicant’s personal circumstances (for example, if they have a criminal conviction)
After having applied online, proving identity, and providing the documents, the applicant will normally get a decision on their application for entry clearance within 3 weeks, and those who have applied for their Religious Worker visa extension will normally get a decision within 8 weeks.
If the decision maker is completely satisfied that the applicant has fulfilled all the suitability and eligibility criteria for a Religious Worker route, the application will be approved; otherwise, the application will be refused.
Successful applicants will be given an e-Visa (a digital record of their identity and immigration status).
The applicant can come to the UK for up to 24 months, or the time stated in their CoS plus up to 28 days (14 days before plus 14 days after), whichever is shorter.
The applicant may be sponsored for a shorter period.
If the applicant is applying for an extension, they can stay in the Uk for a period of the job stated on their CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) plus 14 days, or the difference between the period they have already spent in the UK since their last grant of permission as a Religious Worker and 24 months, whichever is shorter.
A Religious Worker's partner (spouse or civil partner) and children, if they are eligible, can also apply to join them (entry clearance) or stay (permission to stay) in the UK as their ‘dependants’.
The Religious Worker must give documentary evidence of their relationship with their dependent partner and dependent children. For example, a marriage/civil partnership certificate for the partner and a birth certificate for a child.
Upon approval of the visa application as a dependent partner and child of a Religious, their visa will usually end on the same date as the primary applicant (the Religious Worker). A child’s visa will end on the earlier date if their parents' visa expiry dates are different.
The partner and children applying as dependents must also have a required amount of money to support themselves in the UK.
The applicant - or their partner or child - will need:
£285 for their partner
£315 for one child
£200 for each additional child
Business immigration lawyers at Visa and Migration have expertise and experience in assisting UK-based religious organisations and migrant religious workers.
If you are an employer/sponsor, we can help you with applying for and obtaining a Temporary Worker sponsor licence for employing/sponsoring a Religious Worker, and if you are already an approved sponsor, we make sure that you fulfil your sponsor duties before, during, and after sponsoring a Religious Worker to maintain your A-rating and ability to assign further CoS
On the other hand, if you are a Religious Worker, we help in assessing and ensuring you fulfil the eligibility requirements for this visa, fill in the correct application, meet your job’s start date, provide the necessary documents, and ensure that any visa refusal is handled appropriately.
For expert advice and queries, you can call us at +44 (0)20 3411 1261 or write at info@visaandmigration.com
This is a temporary UK visa allowing overseas workers to live and work in the UK to support the activities of a religious institution by conducting religious work, such as undertaking non-pastoral work or working in a religious order.
A person must apply for the T2 Minister of Religion route instead of a Religious Worker visa if their work in the UK involves leading a congregation in performing rites, rituals, and preaching the essentials of the creed as its core duties.
You can come to the UK for up to 24 months, or the time mentioned in your CoS plus up to 28 days, whichever is shorter.
No, switching to this route from within the UK is not allowed.
Yes, you can, if you are eligible.
Yes, but you must have a new CoS from the same organisation or a new approved sponsor.
Yes, you can bring your partner and/or children on this route.
Usually, it takes about 3 weeks after the application submission from outside the UK and 8 weeks after the submission from within the UK.
No, you must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands before you get a decision. Doing so will result in your application being refused.
Yes, you can undertake a second job in the same sector and at the same level as your main job for up to 20 hours a week outside the hours of your main job.
You can apply for an administrative review.
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