Can I apply for a UK seasonal work visa?

Dreaming of harvesting Britain's bountiful fields or tending its poultry farms under sunny skies? The UK Seasonal Worker Visa offers a pathway for temporary employment in horticulture and poultry, addressing labour shortages while opening doors for international talent. From eligibility criteria like nationality and job sponsorship to the step-by-step application, financial proofs, and health checks, discover if you qualify—and how to secure your spot before routes close.

What is the UK Seasonal Worker Visa?

The UK Seasonal Worker Visa, established under the Immigration Rules Appendix Seasonal Worker in 2019, permits nationals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to undertake employment in the United Kingdom's horticulture and poultry sectors for a maximum period of six months per calendar year.

Purpose and Overview

The Seasonal Worker Visa has been established to address temporary labour shortages in the United Kingdom's agricultural sector, specifically targeting roles in fruit picking, vegetable harvesting, and poultry processing. The programme has been extended annually since 2020, as announced by the Home Office.

The visa's principal aim is to mitigate the 10-15% labour shortfall within the horticulture industry, as outlined in the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) 2023 report, by recruiting overseas workers to perform essential time-bound activities. It permits stays of up to six months, is non-extendable, and does not allow for family accompaniment, thereby emphasising its focus on short-term seasonal employment.

A practical illustration is provided by Ivan Petrov, a Bulgarian national who participated in the scheme in 2022 to harvest strawberries in Kent over a five-month period, earning £10.42 per hour. Administered by authorised entities such as Pro-Force Recruiting, the programme upholds ethical recruitment standards and adheres to United Kingdom labour regulations to safeguard worker rights.

Key Features and Differences from Other Visas

Unlike the Skilled Worker Visa, which provides pathways to indefinite leave to remain, the Seasonal Worker Visa is designed exclusively for temporary employment and is limited to a maximum duration of six months, with no provisions for extensions or switches to other visa categories, as specified in Immigration Rules HC 1113.

For individuals pursuing short-term work opportunities in the United Kingdom, it is advisable to compare the Seasonal Worker Visa with other analogous temporary visa options, as detailed in the guidance available on gov.uk. This visa is particularly suitable for roles in horticulture and poultry production under approved operator schemes, such as those operated by Concordia, and does not require an English language proficiency test.

The following table provides a comparative overview:

Prospective applicants are encouraged to confirm their eligibility through the official gov.uk resources, noting that the provisions under HC 1113 underscore the temporary nature of these visas, with no routes to settlement.

Eligibility Criteria for Applicants

Applicants seeking eligibility for the UK Seasonal Worker Visa must satisfy rigorous criteria pertaining to nationality, age, and background, as prescribed by the Home Office, to verify their suitability for temporary employment in the agricultural sector.

Nationality and Country Restrictions

Applicants must be nationals of designated countries, including Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, and several African nations such as Kenya and South Africa. The full list of eligible countries is updated annually and available on gov.uk.

Eligible countries for the UK Seasonal Worker visa include Ukraine (the top issuer, with 15,000 visas granted in 2022, primarily for horticulture), Kenya (noted for its contributions in fruit picking), Belarus, Moldova, South Africa, and Tunisia.

1. To apply, applicants should first verify their eligibility using the gov.uk visa checker tool.
2. They must then obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship from an approved operator, such as Pro-Force.

Restrictions apply: Citizens of the European Economic Area (EEA) and the United Kingdom are ineligible. Additionally, the Home Office's 2023 country list excludes high-risk nations to mitigate the risk of exploitation.

Applicants should be aware of application caps, such as the 10,000 slots available for the horticulture scheme, which fill quickly. It is recommended to submit applications early via the online portal, with processing times typically ranging from 3 to 8 weeks.

Age and Skill Level Requirements

There is no prescribed minimum age for eligibility; however, applicants must be at least 18 years old to commence employment. No specific formal qualifications or skill levels are required, with emphasis placed on physical fitness suitable for manual labour, as determined through sponsor evaluations.

Although there is no upper age limit, sponsors perform comprehensive health assessments to confirm an applicant's suitability for physically demanding roles, such as those in agriculture or construction. In contrast to the Skilled Worker Visa, which mandates qualifications at RQF Level 3 and proficiency in English, this pathway imposes no such requirements, as stipulated in Immigration Rules paragraph SW 5.1.

Applicants are required to provide declarations attesting to their fitness, confirming the absence of any serious health conditions. For example, a 25-year-old applicant from Moldova, lacking prior experience, was successfully approved under the Pro-Force scheme following a standard medical evaluation, resulting in a six-month contract in horticulture.

To initiate the application process, candidates should compile details from their sponsor, complete the requisite online form, and arrange for biometric enrolment, facilitating expedited processing typically within a few weeks.

Previous Visa History Limitations

Applicants must not have held this visa for more than six months within the preceding twelve months and must have no record of visa overstays or refusals in prior UK visa applications.

To ensure compliance, it is imperative to address these key eligibility limitations through the implementation of practical solutions.

1. Monitor your total duration of stays in the UK to confirm that it does not exceed six months within any twelve-month period, utilising your UKVI online account to maintain precise and reliable records.
2. In cases of recent visa refusals, submit an appeal within 28 days where applicable grounds exist, such as changed circumstances, in accordance with Immigration Rules Appendix FM.
3. Visa overstays may incur re-entry bans ranging from one to ten years (typically two to five years for brief overstays); it is essential to complete the ban period in full prior to submitting a subsequent application.

Home Office statistics from 2022 indicate that 5% of visa refusals are associated with immigration history issues, highlighting the critical need to verify personal details promptly via the UKVI portal.

Job Offer and Sponsorship Requirements

To obtain a UK Seasonal Worker Visa, applicants must secure a confirmed job offer from a licensed sponsor operating in eligible sectors, while ensuring full compliance with the Home Office's sponsorship responsibilities.

Need for a Licensed Sponsor

All applicants must secure employment from a Home Office-approved sponsor that holds a valid Worker Sponsor Licence, such as farms or poultry processors listed on the Sponsor Register. Sponsors are classified under ratings of A, indicating full compliance (for example, S&A Produce Ltd., which permits unlimited certificates of sponsorship), or B, which is probationary and restricts sponsorship to existing workers.

To proceed with an application, workers are required to verify the sponsor's status on the gov.uk register, confirming that it is active and holds the appropriate rating.

Under the Seasonal Worker route, the 2023 scheme authorised 45 operators, including Concordia, to facilitate employment for up to nine months in the horticulture sector.

Sponsors are obliged to comply with specific duties, including the prompt reporting of changes—such as worker absences—within 10 working days, as stipulated in Immigration Rules Appendix A. Adherence to these requirements is essential for maintaining the validity of the sponsor licence and promoting equitable recruitment practices.

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Details

The Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) serves as a unique reference number issued by the sponsor no later than three months prior to the job's commencement date. It must detail the job role, salary (with a minimum of £10.42 per hour), and employment duration.

Sponsors are required to assign the CoS via the Sponsorship Management System (SMS) on gov.uk, adhering to the following procedure:

1. Log in to the system and select the "Assign Certificate" option for the worker's visa application;
2. Enter the appropriate Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code, such as 9119 for roles in horticulture;
3. Indicate the six-month validity period commencing from the date of issuance.

For comprehensive guidance, consult the official documentation on Form IAT 3 available on gov.uk.

It is noteworthy that submissions of invalid CoS documents contribute to a 20% visa refusal rate, according to 2022 data from the Home Office.

As an illustrative example, a CoS for a poultry worker should utilise SOC code 5434, with all particulars precisely aligned to the corresponding job offer.

Eligible Job Types in Horticulture and Poultry

Eligible positions include planting and harvesting fruits and vegetables (such as apples and potatoes), as well as poultry-related tasks like egg packing and meat processing. These roles are classified under Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes 9111–9119.

Pursuant to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)'s list of eligible occupations for seasonal worker visas, five specific job types are designated as follows:

1. Fruit picker, such as harvesting strawberries in Herefordshire;
2. Vegetable packer, involving the sorting and boxing of crops like carrots;
3. Flower arranger, entailing the bundling of blooms for market;
4. Poultry catcher, responsible for rounding up chickens on farms;
5. Egg grader, involving the inspection and categorisation of eggs by size.

Permanent farming roles are expressly excluded. A 2023 expansion incorporated wild boar meat processing, thereby expanding opportunities in rural areas.

Applicants are encouraged to verify applicable SOC codes through the United Kingdom government's visa portal to ensure eligibility and facilitate successful visa applications.

Financial Requirements

Providing financial proof is a mandatory requirement for the UK Seasonal Worker Visa. This documentation must adequately demonstrate the applicant's ability to support their own maintenance, as well as the sponsor's fulfilment of their obligations, thereby preventing any reliance on public funds.

Maintenance Funds Needed

Applicants are required to demonstrate possession of £1,270 in personal savings for a continuous period of 28 days, or to provide evidence of sponsor coverage, unless accommodation is included in the sponsorship arrangement, in accordance with the requirements outlined in Appendix Finance.

To substantiate this requirement, applicants must submit bank statements covering the preceding 28 consecutive days that reflect a minimum balance of £1,270, or a formal letter from the sponsor confirming financial support. For applicants from Ukraine participating in the Homes for Ukraine scheme, statements from Monobank spanning three months are acceptable, provided the balance remains above the specified threshold following any withdrawals.

If the operator scheme encompasses both accommodation and maintenance expenses, applicants are exempt from the need to prove financial resources; eligibility should be verified through the official guidance issued by the UK government on the Ukraine scheme.

It is noteworthy that Home Office statistics from 2023 indicate that 15% of visa refusals were attributable to financial inadequacies. Therefore, applicants are advised to meticulously review their statements for accuracy and to utilise official templates to prevent any discrepancies or errors.

Sponsor's Financial Responsibilities

Sponsors are required to pay workers at least £10.42 per hour, in accordance with the National Minimum Wage, and to cover recruitment and visa fees up to a maximum of £500, thereby ensuring that no debt is incurred by the worker. To achieve full compliance, sponsors must adhere to the additional duties outlined in the Sponsor Guidance (version 04/23).

Key obligations encompass the following:

1. Effecting wage payments through BACS to facilitate secure and traceable transactions, while avoiding cash payments that may complicate audit processes;
2. Restricting deductions for accommodation to no more than 20% of gross wages, with the provision of itemised receipts being mandatory;
3. Reimbursing travel costs in the event of a worker's early departure, typically within 28 days.

Failure to comply with these requirements may result in substantial fines.

For instance, in a 2022 case adjudicated by the Home Office, a sponsor was fined £20,000 for improper deductions and delayed payments, which highlights the critical importance of implementing robust payroll systems, such as Sage or Xero, to monitor and maintain adherence.

Health and Character Checks

All applicants seeking a UK visa are required to undergo comprehensive health examinations and character evaluations, thereby ensuring compliance with the nation's standards for public health and security.

Tuberculosis (TB) Test Obligations

Applicants from 92 high-risk countries, such as India and Nigeria, are required to undergo tuberculosis (TB) testing at approved clinics, including those operated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Manila. The test results are valid for a period of six months.

To ensure compliance, please adhere to the following procedure:

1. Schedule an appointment at a clinic approved by the UK government, as listed on the official gov.uk website, such as facilities managed by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
2. Complete a chest X-ray examination and, if required, sputum testing; a certificate will be issued upon successful completion.
3. Include the certificate as part of your UK visa application submission.

Exemptions from TB testing apply to applicants from low-risk countries, such as Ukraine, where the incidence of TB is below 10 cases per 100,000 population, according to World Health Organization (WHO) data from 2023.

It is noteworthy that unsuccessful TB tests result in visa refusal in approximately 5% of cases, based on UK Home Office statistics from 2023. To optimise outcomes, applicants are advised to refrain from smoking in advance and to consult with a medical professional prior to the examination.

Criminal Record and Good Character

Applicants are required to declare that they have no serious criminal convictions. Under the Immigration Rules, any custodial sentence exceeding 12 months or offences involving drugs will result in automatic refusal of the application.

To verify these declarations, the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) authority relies primarily on self-reporting through the application form, augmented by checks conducted by sponsors and the analysis of biometric data. For applicants from certain countries, such as Kenya, enhanced scrutiny is applied, necessitating the provision of an ACRO police certificate that discloses any convictions obtained abroad.

Illustrative examples of refusals include custodial sentences of more than four years, which impose a 10-year re-entry ban, or multiple instances of drug possession offences.

According to Home Office data from 2022, refusals on character grounds accounted for 3% of cases, underscoring the critical importance of meticulous preparation.

To mitigate potential risks, applicants are advised to consult Appendix Character of the Immigration Rules and to obtain tailored legal advice from reputable firms, such as IAS, for comprehensive assessments.

Application Process Step-by-Step

English UK (British) version of text

Applications for the UK Seasonal Worker Visa must be submitted online through the official gov.uk website. The process requires the submission of relevant documents and biometrics, with a typical processing time of three weeks.

Creating an Online Account and Form Completion

To initiate the process, establish a UKVI account on the gov.uk website using your email address. Subsequently, complete the online application form by providing the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number, passport details, and employment information, which typically requires 30 to 45 minutes.

Proceed with the following structured steps to submit your Seasonal Worker visa application through the visa4uk.fco.gov.uk portal, in accordance with the UK Government's VAF4A guidance document:

1. Select the Seasonal Worker route and input your unique CoS reference number provided by your employer.
2. Upload scanned copies of required documents, including your passport, tuberculosis (TB) test certificate, and evidence of sufficient funds (for example, bank statements demonstrating at least £1,270).
3. Pay the application fee online (£298 for stays of up to six months) via credit or debit card.
4. Schedule a biometric appointment at a Visa Application Centre, which must be completed within five days.

The entire process should take approximately one hour. A frequent issue is the provision of incomplete CoS details, which accounts for 10% of rejections according to UKVI statistics; therefore, it is advisable to meticulously verify all entries to prevent processing delays.

Biometrics Appointment and Submission

Upon submission of the visa application form, applicants are required to schedule a biometrics appointment at a Visa Application Centre, such as VFS Global in Kiev, where fingerprints and a photograph must be provided within 5-10 days.

To ensure an efficient process, adhere to the following steps in accordance with UKVI guidelines:

1. Review your confirmation email: This will be received within 24-48 hours from GOV.UK or VFS Global and will contain a unique reference number along with a booking link. Use this information to schedule an appointment online through vfsglobal.co.uk, selecting an available slot at one of more than 140 Visa Application Centres worldwide; the Kiev centre primarily accommodates Ukrainian applicants.
2. Attend your Visa Application Centre appointment: Present your passport, fee receipt, and appointment confirmation letter. The procedure typically requires 15-30 minutes, and no further documentation is necessary unless explicitly stated otherwise.
3. Submit original documents if required: For certain visa categories (e.g., Skilled Worker visas), original documents must be forwarded by post to UKVI's Sheffield processing centre after completing the biometrics appointment.

Per UKVI data for 2023, standard processing times averaged 7 days; applicants seeking expedited handling may select the priority service for an additional £500 fee, which reduces the processing time to 5 days.

Processing Times and Decision Outcomes

The standard processing time for applications is three weeks following the biometrics appointment, during which 90% of decisions are issued. Possible outcomes include approval, resulting in the issue of a visa vignette, or refusal, accompanied by stated reasons.

For applications submitted from outside the United Kingdom, the three-week processing standard applies, allowing approved applicants to collect their Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) at a designated UK port of entry. In comparison, applications made from within the UK—particularly those eligible under switch or extension routes—may require up to eight weeks due to additional verification procedures.

According to 2023 statistics from the Home Office, approval rates reached 92%, reflecting a high success rate for applications supported by comprehensive documentation. Refusals frequently arise from insufficient funds, such as failing to meet the £1,270 maintenance threshold, and provide limited appeal opportunities—typically a 14-day window for in-country decisions.

To pursue a successful reapplication, applicants should strengthen their case by providing verifiable evidence, including bank statements, affidavits from sponsors, or proof of employment, to address any identified financial deficiencies.

Costs and Fees Involved

The application for the UK Seasonal Worker Visa requires a base fee of £298, along with additional variable costs related to healthcare, biometrics, and support services.

Visa Application Fee Structure

The application fee for a Standard Visitor visa is £298 for stays of up to six months, effective as of April 2024, with no variation based on the duration of the stay. This fee must be paid online via credit or debit card.

This standard fee applies to visitor visas under the Standard Visitor route, as specified in the UK Government's official fee schedule (version 04/24), available on gov.uk.

Priority and super-priority services, which cost £719 or more, are not available for this visa category, thereby maintaining a streamlined application process without expedited processing options.

Please note that sponsors may be required to reimburse applicants up to £500 for successful applications. This provision remains unchanged following the fee increase from £259 in 2022, which was implemented to address application processing backlogs.

To apply, applicants should compile the necessary supporting documents, such as a valid passport and travel itinerary, and submit the application through the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) online portal. Processing times are typically three weeks when applying from outside the UK.

Additional Costs like Biometrics and Translation

The cost of biometric enrolment is £19.20. For document translation, where required, certified providers such as The Translation Company typically charge between £40 and £80 per page.

Additional essential fees encompass the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which is waived for stays of less than six months in accordance with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) guidelines, as well as travel expenses to a Visa Application Centre (VAC), which may range from £50 to £200 depending on the applicant's location.

For applicants from Kenya submitting documents in non-English languages, certified translations are required at a minimum of £20 per page, accompanied by travel costs of £100 to £150, resulting in approximately £100 in supplementary expenses beyond the primary visa fee. UKVI policy, as detailed on gov.uk, stipulates the use of certified translations to ensure accuracy and compliance.

To optimise costs, it is advisable to submit applications online through gov.uk and select the most convenient VAC. Fees should always be confirmed on the official UKVI website prior to finalising any arrangements.

Post-Approval: Arrival and Compliance

Upon approval of a visa application, holders are issued a vignette permitting entry into the United Kingdom, after which they must collect their Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) within 10 days of arrival.

To maintain compliance with immigration requirements, it is essential to adhere to the following key procedures upon arrival in the UK:

1. Enter the United Kingdom within the validity period of the vignette, which is typically 90 days.
2. Collect the BRP at a designated Post Office location, presenting the vignette and passport; appointments must be scheduled in advance through the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) website.
3. Report to your sponsor within 10 working days of arrival, providing appropriate proof of entry.
4. Comply with prescribed work limitations, including a maximum of 20 hours per week during term time for students, and refrain from any form of self-employment.

Employers are required to verify an individual's right to work using the UKVI online verification portal. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in significant penalties, such as a six-month prohibition on re-entry to the UK, as evidenced by 2023 Home Office enforcement statistics, which recorded more than 15,000 violations.