The United Kingdom, as of now, offers six visas under the Temporary Worker route (formerly Tier 5 visas), allowing foreign migrant workers to work in the UK for a limited period.
These are specialized visas and each one of them caters to different sectors and professions, such as seasonal workers, creative workers to religious workers, and charity workers. These six visas under the Temporary Worker route are designed for specific purposes and have specific eligibility criteria in place, which overseas applicants need to know and understand before applying.
Importantly, all visas are sponsored visas, which means temporary worker visa applicants are required to have a job sponsorship from UK employers who are licenced sponsors. On the other hand, employers looking to recruit foreign nationals on temporary worker routes must have a temporary worker sponsor licence in place.
These popular visa options, frequently used for short-term work experience, training, internships, research, exchange programs, voluntary work for a charity, or research, offer permission for different durations, with a maximum stay of 2 years in the UK.
A Temporary Work Visa holder while in the UK is permitted to work, study, and, in some cases, bring their dependents (partner and children) to the UK with them. Temporary workers may also apply for an extension of their existing visa and even apply in-country to switch to a different category, such as the Skilled Worker route.
Typically, UK Temporary Work visas do not have a pathway to indefinite leave to remain (also known as 'settlement') in the UK. However, temporary workers holding a valid permission in the UK may switch to other UK immigration routes, such as the family or skilled worker visa, which does lead to settlement.
The UK, as of date, offers the following Temporary Worker Visas:
A Seasonal Worker visa (Temporary Work), which replaced the Temporary Worker Seasonal Worker visa (T5) visa, allows an overseas national to come to the UK and work in:
Horticulture sector for up to 6 months - for example, picking flowers or fruits and vegetables
Poultry production beginning no earlier than 2 October and ending no later than 31 December, in the same year
Those looking to work in poultry production need to apply for Poultry Seasonal Worker visas by 15 November each year.
On the other hand, horticulture Seasonal Worker visa applications can be made at any time of year.
The applicants will need to have a sponsor and fulfil other eligibility criteria.
An applicant, if their application for entry clearance is successful, can normally stay in the UK:
For not more than 6 months for horticulture sector work
For the period starting from 2 October and ending on 31 December (inclusive) each year for poultry production work
Applicants on this route cannot bring their family members to the UK with them.
A Creative Worker Visa (Temporary Work), which replaced the Creative and Sporting visa (T5), allows a foreign national to come to or stay in the UK to work if they have been offered work here as a creative worker and fulfil other eligibility criteria.
Please note that a creative worker is a person who works in the creative sector, for example, a dancer, actor, musician, or film crew member.
A creative worker can come to the UK normally for a period of up to 12 months, or the time given in their CoS plus 14 days before and after, whichever is shorter.
They may be able to extend their visa.
Also, their family members (partner and children) can apply as ‘dependants’ to join or stay with them in the UK.
A Religious Worker Visa (Temporary Work), which replaced the Temporary Worker Religious Worker Visa (T5), allows a foreign national to come to or stay in the UK if they want to undertake religious work for religious institutions in the UK in a religious order or non-pastoral role and fulfil other eligibility criteria.
If an applicant's application for an entry clearance is approved, they will be permitted to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months, or the time on their CoS plus 14 days before and after the period on CoS, whichever is shorter.
If the application for permission to stay is successful, the applicant will normally be granted leave for the period of the job on the CoS plus 14 days.
A religious worker in the UK can apply to extend their Religious Worker visa before their current leave on this visa expires.
A family member (partner and children), if eligible, can apply for entry clearance to the UK or permission to stay in the UK as 'dependents' of a Religious Worker.
A Charity Worker Visa (Temporary Work), which replaced the former Temporary Worker - Charity Worker visa (T5), allows a foreign national to come to or stay in the UK if they want to work in an unpaid voluntary role for a charity and fulfil other eligibility criteria.
If the application for entry clearance is successful, the applicant will be granted leave for 12 months or the period of the job on the CoS, plus 14 days before and after, whichever is shorter.
If the application for permission to stay is successful, the applicant will normally be granted leave for the period of the job on the CoS plus 14 days.
A charity worker in the UK can apply to extend their Charity Worker visa before their current leave on this visa expires.
A family member (partner and children), if eligible, can apply for entry clearance to the UK or permission to stay in the UK as 'dependents' of a Charity Worker.
Please note that this is not a route to settlement.
The International Agreement route (Temporary Work), which replaced the former Temporary Worker International Agreement Worker visa (T5) visa, allows a foreign national to come to or stay in the UK to provide a service that is covered under international law, such as employees of overseas governments and international organisations or private servants in diplomatic households.
A person on the International Agreement Visa can stay for a period of up to 2 years, and they can apply to extend their International Agreement Visa before their current leave on this route expires.
A partner and children can apply for entry clearance to the UK or permission to stay in the UK as dependants on this route.
Please note that this is not a route to settlement.
The Government Authorised Exchange visa, which replaced the Temporary Worker Government Authorised Exchange visa (T5), allows a foreign national to come to or stay in the UK for work experience or to do training, research or a fellowship, or an Overseas Government Language Programme through an approved scheme. Depending on the scheme, the visa will normally be valid for a period of 12 or 24 months.
A partner and children can apply for entry clearance to the UK or permission to stay in the UK as dependants on this route.
Please note that this is not a route to settlement.
A UK temporary work visa typically allows foreign nationals to come to or stay in the UK to work for a limited period. The period of leave one may be granted varies depending on the type of employment undertaken by the migrant workers. These visas can be extended, but do not generally lead to indefinite leave to remain.
Generally, you must have a prior job offer from a UK-based organisation that has a valid sponsor licence. You will also need to get a CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) from your employer, have sufficient funds, knowledge of the English language (unless exempt), or a TB test certificate (if applicable).
Yes. Most visas under this route (except seasonal worker visa) allow you to make an in-country application to switch to another visa, such as the Skilled Worker visa, provided you meet the eligibility requirements.
Most visas (except seasonal worker visa) under the Temporary Worker route permit applicants to apply for an extension of the current visa.
Yes, except on a seasonal worker visa, your family members (partner and children) can apply as dependants on other visas of this route to join or stay with you in the UK.
Common documents required for this route generally include your passport or other valid document as proof of your identity and nationality, a CoS reference number, proof of sufficient funds, and your TB test result (if applicable).
You should usually get a decision in about 3 weeks (if you’re outside the UK) and 8 weeks (if you’re inside the UK. You may also get a faster decision through a priority or super priority service.
Yes. For some courses, however, you will be required to have an ATAS (Academic Technology Approval Scheme) certificate.
No. Temporary Worker Visa holders, typically, cannot access public funds in the UK.
Yes. You can travel outside and return to the UK while your visa is valid.
No. The application fee for all six visas under the UK temporary worker route is £319 per applicant, regardless of whether you’re applying from inside or outside the UK.
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