T5 Temporary Work Visa

This page was last updated 25 January 2021

This is the option available if you require a short-term stay for paid engagements that are not covered under the Visitor visa route. You can stay in the UK for up to 12 months. It requires sponsorship from a UK organisation who holds a sponsor licence from the Home Office permitting them to recruit employees from outside the UK. This means you must have been offered a job by a sponsored employer and received a certificate of sponsorship from that employer before you travel to the UK. A list of current sponsored employers can be found at the foot of this page, check that your proposed employer is listed.

This route includes a variety of types of temporary work. While each type has their own requirements to be met, all types require sponsorship and for you to demonstrate you have enough funds to support your stay in the UK. The temporary work covered under this visa includes:

• Charity Worker visa: use this option if you want to do unpaid voluntary work for a charity. You cannot be paid or take up a permanent job, but you will be able to undertake limited study, do a second job or take up a job in shortage occupation.
• Creative and Sporting visa: if you have been offered work as a sports person or creative worker then this is the option to choose. You cannot start your own business, but you can undertake limited studies, a second job or a job in shortage occupation, a sports broadcaster, and work as a sportsperson for your national team while it is playing in certain competitions.
• Government Authorised Exchange visa: it you want to come to the UK for work experience or training, work in an Overseas Government Language Programme, research or undertake a fellowship, then you can do so using this option. The permitted Government Authorised Exchange Schemes are listed in the Immigration Rules, if the scheme is not listed here then you cannot use this route. See the links at the end of this page for a list of the schemes.
• Religious Worker visa: if you want to do religious work in a non-pastoral role or religions order then choose this option. You can also undertake some study, have a second job or work in a job that is in shortage occupation.
• Seasonal Worker visa: this is for those who wish to come to the UK for up to 6 months to do farm work. This is a more restrictive option, while you can take some studies, you cannot take any other jobs or bring your family members with you.
• Youth Mobility Scheme: this allows young people, aged between 18 to 30, to come to the UK to live and work for up to 2 years. It’s limited to certain nationalities, none of which includes EEA or Swiss nationals. It is possible for EEA and Swiss nationals to be included in this category, but it is dependent on further future negotiations between the UK and the EU.
• International Agreement Worker visa: this allows entry for workers in industries or services listed in international agreements or treaties. The UK-EU trade deal has been included in this category and if an industry or service is listed within this trade deal then a worker can apply for this type of temporary visa to enter the UK. If it is not listed, then it will not be possible to use this route.