The Temporary Worker – Religious Worker visa (T5) scheme allows migrants to come to the UK for religious work such as preaching or working in a religious order.
Successful applicants gain the right to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months, or up to 28 days more than the time stated on their Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), whichever is shorter.
WH Solicitors offers a fast, friendly, and reliable service for individuals who wish to come to the UK for temporary religious work. Our expert team work closely with applicants and sponsor organisations to secure positive outcomes, and also assist holders of Temporary Worker visas who wish to switch to a long-term Minister of Religion visa.
For professional, affordable help and support, get in touch with our experienced immigration law team today.
For more information, help, and support, contact our team today by calling (+44) 01483 608 786 or by emailing contact@whsolicitors.co.uk.
To qualify for a Temporary Religious Worker visa applicants must:
Applicants must also not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal. These are factors that the Home Office consider as signs of poor character, and include past prison sentences, association with known criminals, and immigration offences amongst other things.
Applicants cannot qualify if they have held a T5 Religious Worker or T5 Charity Worker at any time during the 12 months before the date of their application, unless they can provide evidence that they were not in the UK at any point during that period.
The Temporary Religious Worker visa scheme 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 40 points from the following criteria:
There is no requirement for Temporary Religious Worker visa applicants to display knowledge and proficiency with the English language. Applicants for visas in this category must still pay the UK’s Healthcare Surcharge.
Applicants to the Temporary Religious Worker visa scheme are required to gain a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a licenced sponsor before they can make a full application. Certificates of Sponsorship can be issued by organisations that have a Sponsor Licence from the UK Home Office.
When issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship, a sponsor must guarantee that the individual visa applicant:
Applicants that are approved for a Temporary Religious Worker visa can work for their sponsor in the job described on their Certificate of Sponsorship for a period of up to 24 months – or up to 28 days more than the time stated on their Certificate of Sponsorship. They can also:
Temporary Religious Worker visa holders are not permitted to access public funds.
At WH Solicitors, we are experts in our field with years of experience in applying for UK visas across all categories.
Our fast and reliable service helps our clients to navigate the complex UK immigration system, giving them the strongest chance of success. Working closely with you and your Religious Worker sponsor, our knowledgeable and friendly team will ensure that your visa application is as strong as possible.
For more information, help, and support, contact our team today by calling (+44) 01483 608 786 or by emailing contact@whsolicitors.co.uk.
The Temporary Worker – Religious Worker visa replaced the Tier 5 (Temporary Worker) Religious Worker route on 1 December 2020. The two visa categories have many similarities; however, the new Temporary Worker visa applies to both European Economic Area (EEA) nationals who arrived in the UK after 11 pm on 31 December 2020 and non-EEA nationals.
Yes – you can live and work full time in the UK with a Temporary Religious Worker visa provided that you are working in the role described in your Certificate of Sponsorship. You may also be able to take on up to 20 hours of extra work each week, provided that the additional role is the same as your sponsored job, or is on the Skilled Worker Shortage Occupation list.
A Temporary Religious Worker visa will usually be issued for a maximum of up to 24 months, or the time given in your certificate of sponsorship plus up to 28 days – whichever is the shorter.
Partners and dependents of a person who holds a UK Temporary Work visa can come to the UK in certain circumstances. The criteria for these applications vary depending on the category of visa held by your family member, spouse, or partner, but you must have a genuine and subsisting relationship with the long-term work visa holder, adequate accommodation, and access to funds to maintain yourself while living 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.
