WH Solicitors
Minister of Religion (Tier 2)
The UK’s Minister of Religion (T2) Visa scheme allows migrants to come to the UK for work within faith communities. Eligible jobs that fall within the scope of this visa scheme include ministers of religion, missionaries, and members of religious orders.
Successful applicants can stay in the UK for up to 3 years and 1 month, although they may be able to apply to extend their stay. The Minister of Religion visa allows you to bring your partner and/or children to the UK if they are eligible.
As specialist immigration solicitors, we help our clients to secure visas across all categories – including for work and volunteering within religious communities. We use our expertise to navigate the UK’s complex visa system, and assist all clients with the fast, reliable, and sensitive service that they deserve.
Minister of Religion Visa Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for a Minister of Religion (T2) visa, applicants must:
- gain a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a religious organisation that has a Sponsorship Licence from the UK Home Office;
- prove sufficient knowledge of the English language;
- show that you are being paid an appropriate salary;
- have enough in savings to support yourself when you arrive in the country;
- prove you can travel, and show travel history for the past 5 years;
- provide tuberculosis test results if you are migrating from a country listed in the Immigration Rules.
Your Certificate of Sponsorship must confirm that your stay will be subject to pay and conditions that are equal to, or in excess of, those that would ordinarily be given to a settled worker in the same role. This could take the form of a salary, stipend, customary offering, board and lodgings, or a combination of these features. Your salary must at the very least comply with, or be exempt from, the UK’s National Minimum Wage regulations.
Applicants must also pay the UK’s Healthcare Surcharge in advance, although this will be refunded if their application is refused.
The Points-Based Criteria
The Minister of Religion visa uses the UK’s points-based immigration system to apply the above eligibility criteria. For a successful application, applicants to this visa category must score 70 points from the following criteria:
- up to 50 points for gaining a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS);
- up to 10 points for having the necessary funds to maintain themselves on arrival in the UK;
- up to 10 points for knowledge and proficiency with the English language.
Gaining Sponsorship
For a Minister of Religion (T2) visa application to be approved, the Home Office UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) must be satisfied that the candidate’s proposed job is genuine and one that they are capable of undertaking. To assess this, they will apply the Genuineness Test and may request additional information or even require the applicant to attend an interview.
When assessing genuineness, UKVI will consider the applicant’s knowledge of the role, their relevant experience, knowledge of the UK sponsor organisation, the method and circumstances of recruitment, and any other relevant information.
Visa Conditions
Successful applicants who gain a Minister of Religion visa are permitted to work for their sponsor in the job described on their Certificate of Sponsorship. They can also:
- take on a second role of up to 20 hours per week in certain circumstances, if it is in the same profession as their main job or is on the Skilled Worker Shortage Occupation list;
- do voluntary work;
- study, provided that it does not interfere with the sponsored role;
- travel abroad and return to the UK; and
- bring an eligible partner and/or children into the UK.
Minister of Religion visa holders are not permitted to:
- access public funds; or
- own more than 10% of their sponsor’s shares, unless they earn more than £159,600 per year.
How We Can Help
At WH Solicitors, we are experts in our field and provide all clients with a fast, reliable, high-quality service that secures visa application success.
Our experienced team can help you to assess the best visa categories for your circumstances, assist your proposed employer in getting a Home Office sponsorship licence, and represent your interests in coming to the UK and even bringing your family with you.
For more information, help, and support, contact our team today by calling (+44) 01483 608 786 or by emailing contact@whsolicitors.co.uk.
Minister of Religion (T2) Visa – FAQs
Who Has the Right to Work in the UK?
All individuals must prove their right to work in the UK before employment can commence, however, the following individuals do not need any further leave or permission from the Home Office to do so:
- British Citizens (but not British Overseas Citizens, British National (Overseas) or British Protected Persons)
- EU/EEA/Swiss nationals resident in the UK by or before 31 December 2020, and who subsequently apply to EU Settlement Scheme for pre-settled or settled status by 30 June 2021
- Non-British nationals with Leave to Remain/Settlement in the UK
The following groups are also exempt from UK work visa requirements:
- Members of the armed forces of Commonwealth or Overseas Territories posted to the UK
- Overseas government ministers while on official business
- Officials working for an overseas head of state
- Diplomats who resided outside of the UK when appointed to their post
All other individuals require a visa to work in the UK, and should not commence employment until the relevant proof of visa status has been given.
How does the UK immigration points system work?
From 1 January 2021, the UK launched a new points-based immigration system. The points-based system works by assigning points that reflect various factors, such as a migrant’s professional skills and grasp of the English language.
Under the new system, applicants who wish to come to the UK to work will need to score a minimum of 70 points to qualify for a visa. The points requirements that apply to Minister of Religion (T2) visa applications vary from the general table that is set out below.
Some requirements are mandatory and will earn a visa applicant a maximum of 50 points. The remaining 20 points can be made up of Under the new system, applicants who wish to come to the UK to work will need to score a minimum of 70 points to qualify for a visa.
The current criteria for the points-based system are as follows:
| Characteristics | Mandatory / Tradeable | Points |
| Offer of a job by an approved sponsor | Mandatory | 20 |
| Job at an appropriate skill level | Mandatory | 20 |
| Speaks English at the required level | Mandatory | 10 |
| Salary of £20,480 to £23,039 or at least 80% of the going rate for the profession (whichever is higher) | Tradeable | 0 |
| Salary of £23,040 to £25,599 or at least 90% of the going rate for the profession (whichever is higher) | Tradeable | 10 |
| Salary of £25,600 or above or at least the going rate for the profession (whichever is higher) | Tradeable | 20 |
| Job in a shortage occupation as designated by the Migration Advisory Committee | Tradeable | 20 |
| Education qualification: PhD in a subject relevant to the job | Tradeable | 10 |
| Education qualification: PhD in a STEM subject relevant to the job | Tradeable | 20 |
What are the rules for EU nationals already in the UK?
Following the end of the UK’s Brexit transition period and the freedom of movement with the EU, the rules for EU nationals have changed.
EU Nationals already resident in the UK as at 11 pm on 31 December 2020 have until 30 June 2021 to submit an application to the EU Settlement Scheme for pre-settled or settled status. Individuals who fall into this category have the right to work in the UK until 30 June 2021 regardless of whether they have made an application to the scheme or not.
EU Nationals who arrived in the UK after 31 December 2020 have no right to work unless, before arrival, they have obtained a visa that permits them to do so. These individuals are not eligible for the EU Settlement Scheme.
Employers will not be required to conduct retrospective checks on existing EU national employees after 30 June 2021. After this time, the same new immigration rules will apply to both EU and non-EU nationals, and so employers who wish to recruit workers from abroad will need to hold a sponsor licence.
Can you bring your family to the UK on a Minister of Religion visa?
Yes – provided they are eligible, you can bring your partner and/or children to the UK as dependants with a Minister of Religion visa.
Can you apply for indefinite leave to remain with a Minister of Religion visa?
Yes – to qualify for settlement via Indefinite Leave to Remain with a Minister of Religion visa, you must have continuously resided in the UK under the same visa route for a period of at least 5 years.
Contact our team for help and support with applying for settlement in the UK.
The contents of this webpage are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute legal advice. All information is correct as of the date of publication, and any individual or organisation should be careful to seek qualified advice from a specialist immigration lawyer before acting on any of the topics referenced by this content.
WH Solicitors
Global Mobility
The Secondment Worker visa is intended for overseas workers who are taking up a temporary work position in the UK as part of a high-value contract, investment, or project. This is a brand-new visa scheme that was launched by the Government alongside reforms to other types of Global Mobility Visa.
There are strict entry requirements for anyone who wishes to apply for a Secondment Worker visa. This makes it even more important to put forward the strongest possible application with supporting evidence to demonstrate exactly why you qualify and how you’ll be an asset to your employer and the organisation you’ll be on secondment to.
This guide explains more about the Global Business Mobility: Secondment Worker visa. Read on to learn more about how the experienced WH Solicitors team could help you to file a successful visa application.
Contact the Team
H2: What is the Global Business Mobility Visa Scheme?
On 15 March 2022, the UK Government launched a new set of visa schemes under the revised points-based immigration system. The Global Mobility visa scheme was established at this time, and provides skilled workers with a variety of routes to enter and work in the UK for a temporary period.
H2: Global Business Mobility Visa –Requirements for Secondment Workers
To qualify for a Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker Visa, you will need to show that you meet the relevant requirements. You must:
- Get a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK employer with a sponsor licence from the Home Office.
- Have been approved for a secondment to a UK business or organisation that has a contract with your overseas employer for the work that you will do.
- Have worked for your overseas employer, or a member of the same business group, for at least 12 months before making an application.
- Have been sponsored for a job that is on the government’s list of eligible occupations.
- Be paid at least the minimum eligible salary for the role you are taking.
- Be able to show that you have sufficient funds to maintain yourself when you come to the UK.
H2: Getting a Certificate of Sponsorship
To get approved for a Secondment Worker visa, you will need a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK business that has received a sponsorship licence from the Home Office. The sponsorship certificate will provide details of the work that you will do whilst in the UK, and show that your overseas employer is connected to the secondment business by common ownership or control.
In some cases, the Home Office may consider whether there is a genuine need for the job described in the Certificate of Sponsorship. They may also wish to investigate the sponsor’s history with the immigration system to determine whether they are likely to comply with the relevant rules including those relating to pay and working conditions for migrant workers.
H2: Visa Conditions
Once you have been approved for a Secondment Worker visa, you will be able to stay in the UK for the shorter of either a period of 12 months, or for a maximum of 14 days longer than the date shown on your sponsorship certificate.
Whilst in the UK, you will be permitted to work for your sponsor in the job that is described on your certificate of sponsorship, start an educational course and study, bring your dependant partner, spouse or children to the UK if they are eligible, undertake voluntary or charity work, and travel overseas and return to the UK.
Secondment Worker visa holders are not permitted to do the following:
- apply for public funds, most benefits, or the State Pension;
- change to another job without updating their visa;
- take on a second job;
- apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain to stay in the UK permanently.
H2: How We Can Help
WH Solicitors is a specialist immigration law practice that offers expert advice and practical help that allows businesses and individual migrants to navigate the UK legal system. We make it easy for clients to apply for a visa and assist companies as they apply for a sponsorship licence.
For a personal, professional approach to immigration law, contact our expert team today by calling (+44) 01483 608 786 or by emailing contact@whsolicitors.co.uk.
Contact the Team
Secondment Worker Visa
FAQs
Yes, all Global Business Mobility visa routes require sponsorship from an employer with a valid sponsorship licence. You will not be able to gain leave to remain as a secondment worker without a valid certificate of sponsorship.
When applying for a Secondment Worker visa, you will usually need to pay:
- the £259 application fee; and
- the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay in the UK.
You will also need to show that you have enough money to support yourself and any dependants when you come to the UK.
If you will not be coming to the UK on secondment for a project or major contract, you will need to apply for leave to remain under another visa category and will not be able to attain a valid certificate of sponsorship.
Applications for a Secondment Worker visa can be made up to 3 months before the day you intend to start work in the UK. This date should be listed on your certificate of sponsorship.
Once your application has been submitted, it could take up to three weeks for a decision to be made if you are applying from outside the UK, or 8 weeks if you’re already in the country.
The contents of this webpage are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute legal advice. All information is correct as of the date of publication, and any individual or organisation should be careful to seek qualified advice from a specialist immigration lawyer before acting on any of the topics referenced by this content.