The Seasonal Worker visa allows foreign seasonal workers to come to the UK temporarily and work in specific jobs.

The types of eligible work under this visa include the following:

• Horticulture, such as picking fruits, vegetables or flowers for up to 6 months
• Poultry from 18 October to 31 December (in the same year)

If you wish to work in poultry with this visa, you must apply by 15 November each year.

You can apply anytime if you want to work in horticulture with this visa.

This visa has replaced the Temporary Worker – Seasonal Worker visa (T5).

Eligibility Requirements for the Seasonal Worker Visa

To be eligible for the Seasonal Worker visa, you must:

• Be 18 or over when you apply
• Have a certificate of sponsorship from a Home Office-approved sponsor
• Plan to work in an eligible horticulture or poultry production job in the UK
• Have enough money to support yourself in the UK, which is usually at least £1,270 available (unless your employer can cover the costs of this for you)
  • You must have had this money in your bank account for at least 28 consecutive days within the 31 day period prior to the date of application
• Pay the application fee

How Long Can I Stay in the UK on the Seasonal Worker Visa?

You will be able to stay in the UK for:

• Up to 6 months for horticulture work
• From 18 October to 31 December each year for poultry work

You will be able to enter the UK as soon as your visa is approved (up to 14 days before the start date of your job).

What Can I Do With a Seasonal Worker Visa UK?

With a Seasonal Worker visa, you will be allowed to:

• Work in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship
• Study (you may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate for some courses)

Note that you will not be allowed to:

• Take a permanent job
• Work in a second job or a job that isn’t described in your certificate of sponsorship
• Access public funds
• Bring family members with you
• Apply for permanent settlement in the UK

What Jobs Are Eligible for the Seasonal Worker Visa?

Below are the specific job titles and sectors eligible for the Seasonal Worker route.

Horticulture Sector

Eligible jobs include occupations growing the following:

• Protected vegetables – those grown in glasshouse systems
• Field vegetables – those grown outdoors, including vegetables, herbs, leafy salads and potatoes
• Soft fruit – those grown outdoors or under cover, e.g. in glasshouses or polytunnels. Includes strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, blueberries and all ribes and rubus species
• Top fruit (orchard fruit) – trees that bear fruit, e.g. apples, plums, cherries, apricots
• Vine and bines – both twining or climbing flexible stems of certain plants, e.g. hops and grapes
• Mushrooms typically cover Agaricus Bisporus species but can also include more exotic species that are usually grown indoors.
• Bulbs and cut flowers, such as daffodils, grown outdoors and indoors
• Pot plants, such as seasonal bedding plants like pansies, violas, germaniums and poinsettias
• Hardy ornamental nursery stock such as Christmas trees, shrubs, roses, ornamental trees and perennials
• Tree and forest nurseries

Poultry Production Sector

Eligible jobs and occupation codes include the following:

• Butcher (occupation code 5431)
• Bird/game dresser (occupation code 5433)
• Killer and plucker (occupation code 5433)
• Plucker (occupation code 5433)
• Poulterer (occupation code 5433)
• Poultry processor (occupation code 5433)
• Poultry sticker (occupation code 5433)
• Trusser (occupation code 5433)
• Food operative (occupation code 8111)
• Poultry catcher/handler (occupation code 9111)
• Poultry vaccinator (occupation code 9119)
• Poultry meat packer (occupation code 9134)

How to Apply for a Seasonal Work Visa UK?

You must apply for the Seasonal Worker visa online through the Gov.uk website.

When applying for this visa, complete the application form with your personal information and upload the necessary supporting documents.

You’ll also have to prove your identity. This will be done at a visa application centre, where you’ll give your biometric information or scan your identity document using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app.

Which one you’ll have to do will depend on where you’re from and your passport type.

If you need to attend a visa application centre, you’ll give your fingerprints and have a photograph taken of you for your permit. In addition, the visa application centre may need to keep your passport and documents while they process your application.

Required Documents for Seasonal Worker Visa Application

You will need to provide the following documents when applying for the Seasonal Worker visa:

• Your certificate of sponsorship reference number (your sponsor will give you this)
• A valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality
• Evidence that you have enough personal savings to support yourself in the UK, such as bank statements (unless your certificate of sponsorship shows your sponsor can help you)

You may be asked to provide additional documents after you apply.

You will also need to have a blank page in your passport to allow for your visa to be placed inside.

Note that you must also provide a certified translation of documents that is not in English or Welsh.

Fees & Processing Time for Seasonal Worker Visa

The Seasonal Worker visa costs £319 to obtain.

Once you’ve submitted your online application, proved your identity and supplied your supporting documents, you should receive a decision on your application within 3 weeks.

You can only apply for your visa up to 3 months before your job starts. The job’s start date should be listed on your certificate of sponsorship.

Certificate of Sponsorship Requirements for UK Seasonal Worker Visa

Applicants for Temporary Work – Seasonal Worker Visa must obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship from a registered employer before they start working. The sponsoring employer must have an A-rated listing on the licensed sponsors’ official Home Office register.

They must also be endorsed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and be licensed by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority.

The CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) must have been given to you no more than three months before the date on your Temporary Work—Seasonal Worker Visa application.

Employer’s Requirements: Hiring Seasonal Worker Visa

Before distributing a UK seasonal work visa to temporary workers, employers must be an approved scheme operator endorsed by DEFRA and licensed by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority.

As an employer, you must ensure that your employees are monitored and cared for in a professional sense. For instance, as an employer, you must provide:

• Safe work environment meeting Health and Safety standards.
• Fair treatment of workers without penalties for not meeting piece-rate targets.
• Employment contracts in both the worker’s first language and English, excluding zero-hours contracts.
• Proper payment in accordance with National Minimum Wage regulations, including fair piece-work rates and Holiday Pay.
• Allowance of time off and adequate breaks.

How Can IAS Help with Seasonal Worker visa application?

The Seasonal Worker visa route is one of numerous temporary work visas the UK government offers.

If you’re a foreign worker looking to come to the UK under the seasonal worker scheme or an employer looking to obtain Seasonal Worker visas for your business, IAS can help.

We are knowledgeable immigration lawyers specialising in both personal and business international immigration. We are experienced in working with individuals, companies, or scheme operators to ensure they can get the required results and outcomes.

Whether you’re a business that needs assistance obtaining a seasonal worker sponsor licence to sponsor foreign workers, an individual looking to come to the UK for temporary work or need to speak to an immigration lawyer for more information about your specific circumstances, we can help.