A temporary work visa is a type of UK work visa that allows people to work in the UK for a limited period of time. Depending on the type of work you want to do in the UK, you have five temporary work visas to choose from.
What is the temporary work visa?
Temporary work visas (formerly Tier 5 visas) allow foreign nationals to work in the UK for a short period of up to 12 months (or longer in some cases). There are different types of temporary work visas for the UK, as explained below. With a temporary work visa for the UK, you will be able to work, study and, in some cases, bring your dependents with you. You may also be able to extend your visa and even switch to a different type once here, such as a skilled worker visa or a family visa.
Types of Temporary Work Visa
There are several types of temporary work visa (formerly Tier 5 visa) available in the UK, as follows:
- Charity worker visa
- Creative Worker Visa
- Government-authorized exchange visa
- Visa with an international agreement
- Visa for religious worker
- Seasonal worker visa
- Visa for the Youth Mobility program
- Graduate visa
Charity worker visa
The Charity Worker Visa is aimed at foreign nationals who wish to come to the UK to carry out unpaid voluntary work with a charity. Applicants require a certificate of sponsorship from a UK charity with a sponsor’s license. Successful applicants can remain in the UK for 12 months.
Does a temporary work visa require sponsorship?
Not all temporary work visa applicants require sponsorship. Those requiring sponsorship include:
- Charity worker visa
- Creative Worker Visa
- Government authorized exchange visa
- Visa with international agreement
- Visa for religious worker
- Seasonal worker visa
Temporary work visa schemes that do not require sponsorship include the Youth Mobility Visa and the Graduate Visa.
Eligibility requirements for temporary worker visa
Eligibility rules vary depending on the visa you are applying for. The general eligibility requirements that apply to all temporary work visas are as follows:
Charity worker visa
- you must have a certificate of sponsorship from a registered charity
Creative Worker Visa
- you must make a unique contribution to the UK labor market, e.g. internationally recognized or required for continuity
- receive the minimum wage set by Equity, PACT or BECTU (this does not apply to models, musicians or circuses)
Government-authorized exchange visa
you need to come to the UK to:
- work experience
- training
- an overseas government language program, or
- research or scholarship through an approved government-sanctioned exchange program
Visa with the international agreement
you must be at least 18 years old when you apply
- your job must be one of the following:
- under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)
- under a similar agreement between the UK and other countries
- for a foreign government or international organization
- as a private servant in a diplomatic house or in the family of an employee of an international organization
Visa for religious worker
- be at least 18 years old at the time of application
- carry out religious work in a non-pastoral role or in a religious order
Seasonal worker visa
- be sponsored to work in the “edible horticulture” sector for up to 6 months
- Visa for the Youth Mobility program
- have £2,530 in savings
- you must be a citizen of Australia, Canada, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, Iceland, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea or Taiwan, or a British Overseas Citizen, British Overseas Territory Citizen or British Citizen (d’ overseas).
- you must not have:
- children under the age of 18 who live with you
- children for whom you are financially responsible
- I have already been to the UK under the programme
Graduate visa
- you must be in the UK
- hold a student visa or a Tier 4 (General) student visa.
- have studied a bachelor’s degree, postgraduate diploma or other eligible course for a minimum period of time on a student visa or Tier 4 (general) student visa
- your university must have confirmed that you have successfully completed the course.
Documents required for temporary worker visa
When you apply for a temporary worker visa, the Home Office will ask you to provide a number of documents and evidence to support your case. These differ depending on the type of temporary worker visa and your specific circumstances. For most temporary worker visa applications, you will be asked to provide:
- your sponsorship certificate reference number (provided by your employer/sponsor)
- your passport or other document confirming your identity and nationality
- evidence of sufficient personal savings (typically £1,270) to keep you in the UK: recent bank statements are usually sufficient to demonstrate this requirement. Alternatively, you can ask your sponsor to confirm that they will cover your costs if necessary (this must be written on your CoS).
- proof of your relationship with your partner or children – this will be required if they apply with you. This can be a birth, marriage or civil partnership certificate.
- Negative tuberculosis (TB) test results (only required for citizens of some countries).
Other visa-specific documents you may be asked for include:
Government-authorized exchange visa
- a valid ATAS certificate: this will only apply if your employer confirms that you need it because your job will require research in a sensitive subject during your PhD. level or higher
- Visa with international agreement
- a valid ATAS certificate: this will only apply if your employer confirms that you need it because your job will require research in a sensitive subject during your PhD. level or higher
- Visa for the youth mobility program
- A recent bank statement confirming you have savings of £2,530
- Graduate visa
- your current biometric residence permit (BRP), assuming you were granted one when you applied for your student visa
- your Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) reference number (this will have been provided to you when applying for your student visa)
How to apply for a temporary work visa?
It is important to note that in most cases you can only apply for a new temporary work visa if you are outside the UK. Some temporary work visas may allow you to switch from another type of visa within the UK. With the Graduate visa, for example, as you will already be in the UK completing your studies, you will be able to apply ‘in country’. It is important to check the rules for the type of visa you are applying for.
The process of applying for a temporary worker visa will depend on the specific type of visa you are requesting. In most cases, you will need to complete the following steps:
- Complete the online application form2 (you will be asked which visa you are applying for). The graduate visa has a different application form3 than other temporary worker visas.
- Pay the required registration fee
- Pay the health surcharge (if required)
- Upload your documents (you will be given a list of documents you need to upload)
- Book your biometric appointment (you will be provided with details of the nearest visa application centre, where you will need to have your photo taken and fingerprints scanned for your biometric residence permit)
- Attend your biometric appointment
- Wait for a decision: once a decision has been made, you will receive a letter/email from the Home Office explaining the outcome of your request
- If your request is approved, your passport containing the visa will be returned to you.
- You will now be able to travel to the UK)
Temporary Work Visa Application Fees
The Temporary Worker visa application fees are as follows:
- Visa type Fee
- Charity Worker visa Application fee: £244
- Healthcare surcharge: £624 per year (not payable for seasonal workers)
- Biometric fee: £19.20
- Creative Worker visa
- Government Authorised Exchange visa
- International Agreement visa
- Religious Worker visa
- Seasonal Worker visa
- Youth Mobility Scheme visa Application fee: £244
- Healthcare surcharge: £470 per year
- Biometric fee: £19.20
- Graduate visa Application fee: £700
- Healthcare surcharge: £624 per year
- Biometric fee: £19.20
- Temporary Work Visa Conditions
The following explains what you can and cannot do on your Temporary Worker visa:
Visa type You Can You Cannot
Charity Worker visa • Study
- Work for your sponsor
- Do a second job up to 20 hours per week
- Bring your dependants with you • Claim public funds
- Start your own business
- Creative Worker visa
Work for your sponsor .Studu
- Do a second job in the same sector at the same level up to 20 hours per week
- Do a job listed on the Skilled Worker shortage occupation list for up to 20 hours per week
- Bring your dependants with you • Receive any payment for work
- ake a permanent job
Government Authorised Exchange visa • Study
- Work for your sponsor
- Do a second job for up to 20 hours per week
- Do a job listed on the Skilled Worker shortage occupation list for up to 20 hours per week
- Switch to a global talent visa
- Bring your dependants with you • Receive any payment for work
- Claim public funds
International Agreement visa • Study
- Work for your sponsor
- Do a job listed on the Skilled Worker shortage occupation list for up to 20 hours per week
- Bring your dependants with you • Claim public funds
- Start working before you receive your visa
Religious Worker visa • Study
- Work for your sponsor
- Do a second job in the same sector at the same level up to 20 hours per week
- Do a job listed on the Skilled Worker shortage occupation list for up to 20 hours per week
- Bring your dependants with you • Claim public funds
Seasonal Worker visa • Work (in the job stated on your application)
- Study • Have a permanent job
- Work in a second job that is not included on your CoS
- Claim public funds
- Bring family to the UK
Youth Mobility Scheme visa • Study
- Work in most jobs
- Be self-employed and set up a company (subject to certain conditions) • Work as a professional sportsperson
- Further, extend your stay
- claim public funds
- Bring family members to the UK on your application – they can apply separately, however
Graduate visa • Work (in most jobs) including voluntary work
- Actively look for work
- Be self-employed
- Continue living in the UK with your partner and children
- Travel abroad and return to the UK • Claim public benefits
- Work as a professional spo