The UK Seasonal Worker Visa is a transitory work permit that does not result in long-term residency. It permits temporary employees to work in the poultry and horticulture industries, which includes collecting flowers, fruits, and vegetables. A quota of 47,000 slots is available for the UK Seasonal Worker route in 2024, with 2,000 reserved for poultry and 45,000 for horticulture. This quota is determined annually by the UK Government. A five-year extension has been granted to this initiative, ending in 2029.
The Temporary Worker – Seasonal Worker visa (T5) has been superseded by the seasonal worker visa, which is available to candidates worldwide. Higher qualifications are not necessary, but applicants must have sufficient funds—typically at least £1,270—to sustain themselves. Before applying, workers must also have a job offer from a sponsor who is an authorized scheme operator. Below are further specifics regarding the qualifying fields, prerequisites, and visa application process.
Job Location: UK
Job Sectors: Horticulture, Poultry
Eligibility: Open to applicants from all countries
Visa Type: Seasonal Worker Visa (Temporary Visa)
Roles Eligible for the Poultry and Horticulture Sectors
The Horticultural Sector:
- Safe Vegetables: Produced in glasshouse environments
Vegetables, herbs, leafy salads, and potatoes that are grown in the field
- Soft fruit: Produced either outdoors or indoors, in greenhouses or polytunnels, for example. consists of blueberries, blackcurrants, raspberries, and strawberries.
- Fruit of the Top (Orchard Fruit: Fruit trees, including those that produce apples, plums, cherries, and apricots
- Mushrooms
- Cut flowers and bulbs: such as daffodils, are grown both indoors and outdoors.
- Potted plants: Transient bedding plants such as poinsettias, geraniums, violas, and pansies
- Hardy Ornamental Nursery Stock: Consists of decorative trees, perennials, shrubs, roses, and Christmas trees.
- Nurseries for Trees and Forests
Poultry Production Sector:
- 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)
For Work in Horticulture:
Application Period: All year round, you can apply for a seasonal worker visa in horticulture.
Maximum Stay: half a year
(You are welcome to come work in horticulture in the UK at any time.)
Regarding Poultry Work:
Application Period: By November 15 of each year, you can apply for a Seasonal Worker visa for poultry.
Work Period: Every year, from October 18 to December 31.
Qualifications and Needs for a Seasonal Worker Visa in the UK:
- Candidates have to be at least eighteen years old.
- Accepting applications from all nations.
- It is necessary to get a sponsorship certificate outlining the offered role from the UK business.
- The UK Sponsor is the one that issues the sponsorship certificate.
- After obtaining the Certificate of Sponsorship, the seasonal worker visa application must be submitted within three months.
- A lot of UK-based employment agencies and businesses offer sponsorship letters.
- In the first month following their arrival in the UK, applicants must have at least £1,270 available in their local account to maintain themselves. Alternatively, up to £1,270 in expenses for the first month may be covered by the sponsor.
- If the business offers lodging and meals, this information needs to be stated in the letter.
- Employers are required to make sure that the position pays the minimum wage.
Can someone apply for a seasonal visa in the absence of a job offer?
It isn’t feasible, sorry. A Seasonal Worker Visa requires an employment offer from a sponsor who has been approved by the Home Office. Sponsors Approved by the UK Home Office
The following is a list of companies authorised to sponsor employees under the Worker and Temporary Worker immigration routes: The Sponsors’ List.
If you’re unemployed, you might think about applying for the UK High Potential Individual (HPI) Visa, which is intended for those looking for work.
Visa Charges:
The application fee for a UK Seasonal Work Visa is £298 for nationals applying from any country. The application cost needs to be paid online.
Required Documentation
- Evidence of employment
- Valid passport
- CoS reference number provided by your sponsor
- Bank statements
How to Apply Online for a Seasonal Worker Visa in the UK
Step 1: Get Employment
Get a job and a legitimate work offer from a company who has been approved by the UK before you start.
Step 2: Fill out an online application
To apply online, go to the UK Government’s Visas and Immigration website (Link: https://www.gov.uk/seasonal-worker-visa).
Step 3: Scheduling an appointment and paying the fee
Make an appointment after paying the application cost online. Use the GOV.UK “Find a visa application centre” feature to find a visa application centre.
Step 4: Submission of Biometric Data and Passport
Keep your appointment to turn in your passport and produce biometrics.
Step 5: Wait for Visa Approval
Await the outcome of the visa application. The UK Work Visa often takes three to four weeks to process. After submitting an online application, you should normally hear back within three weeks.
