You must be 18 or over when you apply and have both of the following: a certificate of sponsorship reference number from your UK sponsor enough money to support yourself in the UK - you’ll usually need to have at least £1,270 available (unless you’re exempt) Certificate of sponsorship A certificate of sponsorship is a reference number which holds information about the job and your personal details. It’s not an actual certificate or paper document. Your sponsor will give you your certificate of sponsorship reference number. You’ll need to add your certificate of sponsorship reference number to your visa application form - you can only use it once. Your certificate of sponsorship is valid for 3 months from the date it’s assigned to you. Multiple entry Your sponsor can give you a multiple entry certificate of sponsorship so you can leave and return to the UK. Money to support yourself You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK. You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa. You’ll usually need to show proof of this when you apply , unless your sponsor can cover your costs during your first month in the UK, up to £1,270. Read the guidance on financial evidence for more information about the money you need and how to prove it. If your sponsor can support you instead Your certificate of sponsorship must confirm this. Your sponsor will need to complete the ‘sponsor certifies maintenance’ section on your certificate. This is under ‘Additional data’.

Documents you must provide

When you apply you’ll need to provide: your certificate of sponsorship reference number - your sponsor will give you this a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality evidence that you have enough personal savings to support yourself in the UK , for example bank statements (unless your certificate of sponsorship shows your sponsor can support you) You need a blank page in your passport for your visa. If you have another type of travel document (for example, a stateless person’s travel document) it must have space for your visa. You must also provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh, apart from your passport. The Home Office might ask you to provide additional documents after you apply.

You must apply online for this visa. You’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre as part of your application. Find out how to get your visa decision faster - this depends on what country you’re in. Check if your visa application centre offers faster decisions and other services. If you have a child while you’re in the UK If you have a child while you’re in the UK, they do not automatically become a British citizen . You can apply online for their visa as your dependant . You must do this if you want to travel in and out of the UK with your child. You’ll need to provide a full UK birth certificate for each child, showing the names of both parents.

Temporary Worker - Seasonal Worker visa (T5)

Overview

You can apply for a Seasonal Worker visa (T5) if you want to come to the UK for up to 6 months to do farm work. You’ll need to:

have a sponsor
meet the other eligibility requirements

This visa has replaced the Tier 5 Seasonal Worker visa.

If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

If you or your close family member started living in the UK before 1 January 2021, you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme.

Otherwise you need a visa to work in the UK.

Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme.

How long it will take

The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before the date you’re due to start work. This date is on your certificate of sponsorship.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.

Find out about paying for a faster decision.

Fee

The visa costs £244.

If you’re from an eligible country

Your application fee will be automatically reduced by £55 if you’re from one of the following countries:

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden or Turkey.

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK for up to 6 months.

You can enter the UK as soon as your visa is valid (up to 14 days before the start date of your job).

What you can and cannot do

You can:

work in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship
study (for some courses you’ll need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate)

You cannot:

take a permanent job
work in a second job or a job that isn’t described in your certificate of sponsorship
get public funds
bring family members with you

Print entire guide

Temporary Worker - Seasonal Worker visa (T5)

Overview

If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

How long it will take

Fee

If you’re from an eligible country

How long you can stay

What you can and cannot do

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Temporary Worker - Seasonal Worker visa (T5)

Overview

If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

How long it will take

Fee

If you’re from an eligible country

How long you can stay

What you can and cannot do

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Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK