Important Travel Document Information – Please Read
Temporary Work Visas allow for workers to come to the UK on a temporary basis to work. The visa is designed to enable work that is only needed on a short basis such as seasonal farming work, allowing workers to come and complete the work for the required time frame. Anyone can apply for a Temporary Work Visa if they meet the requirements for their specific type of Temporary Work Visa. There are 6 different types of Temporary Work Visa for the UK.
You are able to apply for a Temporary Work Visa 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK. We advise applying as soon as you are able to avoid any delays and to have the best chance of ensuring your Temporary Work Visa is supplied in time.
Temporary Work Visa Requirements
To be eligible for a UK Temporary Work Visa, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must have a job offer from a licensed sponsor in the UK.
- You must meet the skills and qualifications requirements for the job.
- You must meet the English language requirement.
- You must meet the financial requirement.
- You must be in good health and have no criminal record.
The specific requirements for your visa will vary depending on the type of visa you are applying for. For example, the requirements for a Seasonal Worker Visa are different from the requirements for a Government Authorised Exchange Visa.
What are Temporary Work Visas?
Temporary Work Visas, formally known as Tier 5 visas, allow workers to come to the UK on a short term basis to do seasonal or other types of work on a fixed term basis. They are designed to allow workers to come for a fixed period of time, Temporary Work Visas typically as 24 months but can be for shorter periods, how long your Temporary Work Visa lasts is depended on what type of work you are doing and what type of Temporary Work Visa you have.
Who is eligible for a Temporary Work Visa?
While Eligibility differs between the 6 different Temporary Work Visas there are 3 main points of eligibility:
- Have relevant skills for the work you are applying for
- Have a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
- You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.
What types of Temporary Work Visas are there?
In total there are 6 different types of Temporary Work Visas. They are:
Seasonal Worker Visa
Government Authorised Exchange Visa
Creative Worker Visa
Religious Worker Visa
Charity Worker Visa
International Agreement Visa
Temporary Work Visa Options
Seasonal Worker Visa
Seasonal Worker Visas are for those in Horticulture and Poultry work. They cover a short period of the year when the work is needed for example when fruit is in season and needs to be harvested.
Government Authorised Exchange Visa
Government Authorised Exchange Visa is the Standard Temporary Visa for non-specific jobs. They typically are valid for a maximum of 12 months or 24 months.
Charity / Creative / Religious Worker Visas
A creative worker is someone who works in the creative industries, for example an actor, dancer, musician or film crew member. Religious Worker Visas are a Temporary Work Visas for those in religious work. Charity Worker Visas are for those who wish to come to the UK to do unpaid voluntary work for a charity.
International Agreement Visa
International Agreement Visas are for those contracted to do work covered by international law or treaty while in the UK, such as working: for an overseas government or ‘recognised international organisation’, or as a private servant in a diplomatic household.
Processing time for a Temporary Work Visa
The processing time for a UK Temporary Work Visa will vary depending on the type of visa you are applying for and the country you are applying from. However, the UK government website states that the average processing time for a UK Temporary Work Visa is 3 weeks.
Some factors that can affect the processing time of your visa application include:
- The complexity of your application.
- The availability of staff at the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
- The current demand for visas.
If you need your visa processed more quickly, you may be able to apply for a priority service. However, there is an additional fee for this service.
Temporary Work Visa Length
The duration of a Temporary Work Visa will vary depending on the type of visa you are granted. However, most temp Work Visas are valid for up to 2 years. Some types of work visas, such as the Seasonal Worker Visa, may be valid for a shorter period of time, such as 6 months.
You can find more information about the duration of different types of UK Work Visas on the UK government website.
Documents Required for Temporary Work Visa
The documents you need to submit for a UK Temporary Work Visa may vary depending on what Temporary Work Visa you are applying for. Some of the common documents you will need to submit include:
- A valid passport
- A job offer from a licensed sponsor in the UK
- Proof of your skills and qualifications
- Proof of your English language proficiency
- Proof of financial support
- A medical certificate
- A police clearance certificate
For detailed information on specific parts of the Temporary Work Visa Process, you can refer to the links in the table here to find the answer to your query. If you are unable to find any particular information, please contact us.
Other UK Visa Types
A Visa is required for any foreign national wishing to enter the United Kingdom to work on a non-permanent basis. If you do not need a Temporary Work Visa, you can choose from the following options instead:
Can you be rejected for a Temporary Work Visa?
Yes, you can be rejected for a UK Temporary Work Visa. The UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) may refuse your visa application if you do not meet the eligibility requirements, or if you have provided false or misleading information on your application.
Some common reasons for refusal include:
- You do not have a job offer from a licensed sponsor in the UK.
- You do not meet the skills and qualifications requirements for the job.
- You do not meet the English language requirement.
- You do not meet the financial requirement.
- You are not in good health or have a criminal record.
- You have provided false or misleading information on your application.
If your visa application is refused, you will receive a letter from the UKVI explaining the reason for the refusal. You will also have the right to appeal the decision.
People Also Asked
To perform any type of paid work in the UK as a non-UK national will require some type of work visa. Some business work can be done on a UK Standard Visitor Visa so long as the parties involved will not be paid by any UK businesses for their time.
All UK Temporary Work Visas require approval from a UK sponsor, meaning all types of Temporary Work Visas require a Certificate of Sponsorship.
As long as you fulfill the duties detailed by your Certificate of Sponsorship, you are permitted to study in the UK during your time in the UK.
The Temporary Work Visas replaced the Tier 5 Visa on 1st of December 2020. The Temporary Work Visa is functionally the same as the Tier 5 visa, the Temporary Work Visas have reduced the barrier of entry but nothing else has changed in the transition.
You can do additional paid work on these visas as long as you’re still doing the job you’re being sponsored for. You can also do unpaid voluntary work.
There aren’t any legal restrictions on foreigners buying property in the UK. This means almost anyone can buy a property there, regardless of nationality. You don’t need a visa to invest in UK property either, although of course you will need one if you’re buying a home with the intention of living in it.
No if you apply to the UK seeking asylum you are not permitted to switch to a Temporary Worker Visa. Asylum Seekers are able to apply for permission to work if they have been waiting 12 months for a decision however they cannot apply for a Temporary Work Visa.
If you lose your job on a UK Temporary Work Visa, you will have 60 days to find a new job or leave the UK. This is known as the ‘grace period’. During this time, you can continue to live in the UK and look for a new job. However, you will not be able to work without a valid visa.
If you are unable to find a new job within 60 days, you will need to leave the UK. You may be able to apply for a new Temporary Work Visa if you have a job offer from a licensed sponsor. However, you will need to meet all of the eligibility requirements for the visa you are applying for.
If you overstay your visa, you may be fined, banned from entering the UK for a period of time, or even deported.
Whether or not you need to attend an appointment for your UK Temporary Work Visa will depend on the type of visa you are applying for and the country you are applying from.
For most visas, you will need to attend an appointment at a visa application center (VAC) to provide your biometrics (fingerprints and a photograph). You may also need to attend an interview with a visa officer.
However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, if you are applying for a Seasonal Worker Visa, you may not need to attend an appointment.