UK Seasonal Worker Visa

Short-Term Work, Properly Authorised

The UK Seasonal Worker Visa allows overseas nationals to work temporarily in the UK's horticulture or poultry sectors, sponsored exclusively through Home Office-approved scheme operators.

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What is the UK Seasonal Worker Visa?
A temporary immigration route for overseas nationals coming to the UK for up to six months to carry out seasonal work in the edible horticulture or poultry sectors, sponsored exclusively through Home Office-approved scheme operators.
A Strictly Quota-Controlled, Temporary Route

Unlike most work routes, the Seasonal Worker Visa does not require sponsorship by an individual employer. Instead, a small number of Home Office-licensed scheme operators — endorsed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) — allocate places to farms and growers within an annual quota set by the government.

For 2026, the Home Office has allocated a total of 42,900 visas — with 41,000 designated for the horticulture sector and 1,900 for the poultry sector.

The maximum duration allowed under this specific route is 6 months in any 12-month period for horticulture, or between October 2 and December 31 each year for poultry work.

This route does not lead to settlement, does not permit dependants, and cannot be applied for from inside the United Kingdom. It is designed exclusively for genuinely short-term, seasonal labour.

Applicants must be aged 18 or over when applying, hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number from an approved scheme operator, and have enough personal savings to support themselves upon arrival.

UK Immigration · Temporary worker route information

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Why Choose Our UK Seasonal Worker Visa Services?

Our expert team offers complete end-to-end guidance for the UK Seasonal Worker Visa process, ensuring all unique eligibility requirements are met and your documentation is flawlessly prepared. We simplify the complexities of obtaining your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), assist with mandatory financial proof checks, and manage your application timelines strictly to line up with peak UK agricultural and harvest seasons. From initial assessment to final temporary work visa approval, our professionals handle every formality efficiently so you can focus on your upcoming employment.
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Who can apply for a Seasonal Worker Visa? ⌃

Anyone with a confirmed place from a Home Office-approved scheme operator to work in the edible horticulture or poultry sector in the UK for up to six months. Applications must be made from outside the UK.

How long does the visa last? ⌃

Up to six months within any rolling 10-month period — or the length of your Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter. The poultry route is further restricted to a fixed annual window.

Can I bring my family? ⌃

No. Dependants are not permitted to join Seasonal Worker visa holders. This is an important restriction that differs from most other work routes.

Does this visa lead to settlement? ⌃

No. The Seasonal Worker route does not count towards Indefinite Leave to Remain and offers no pathway to permanent settlement in the UK.

Do I need to meet an English language requirement? ⌃

No. There is no English language requirement for the Seasonal Worker Visa.

What does the visa cost? ⌃

The application fee is £340 as at 8 April 2026. There is no Immigration Health Surcharge payable on this route.

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UK Seasonal Worker Visa Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, applicants must be sponsored through an approved scheme operator and meet six distinct categories of requirement.

01

Sponsorship and Job Offer

Your allocation must come from an approved, licensed entity rather than direct farm owners.

  • Approved Scheme Operator Only: Your place must be allocated by a Home Office-licensed scheme operator. Individual farms, growers, or producers cannot hold a Seasonal Worker sponsor licence directly.
  • DEFRA-Endorsed, A-Rated Sponsor: The scheme operator must hold both an A-rated Home Office sponsor licence and an endorsement from DEFRA.
  • Valid Certificate of Sponsorship: The operator must issue a CoS confirming your role, work dates, and salary. The CoS is valid once, within three months of issue.
02

Eligible Sector and Role

Applications are restricted to specific sectors with set allocations and strictly seasonal job vacancies.

  • Horticulture Sector: Fruit, vegetable, and flower picking, packing, processing, and related farm tasks — 41,000 places allocated for 2026.
  • Poultry Sector: Poultry production and processing roles, limited to 1,900 places for 2026 within a fixed seasonal window.
  • Genuine Vacancy: The role must be real, time-bound seasonal work — not a route into longer-term or permanent employment.
03

Personal and Suitability Requirements

Applicants must meet standard age, background, health, and nationality check criteria.

  • Minimum Age: Applicants must be at least 18 years old at the date of application.
  • Character and Suitability: Assessed under the standard Immigration Rules. A criminal record certificate is not routinely required but may be requested depending on the role or country of application.
  • No Nationality Restriction: The route has no nationality-based eligibility bar.
  • TB Test: A tuberculosis test certificate may be required if you are applying from a country on the Home Office's TB testing list.
04

Financial Requirement

You must show sufficient personal savings or secure a written maintenance guarantee from your sponsor.

  • £1,270 in Savings: You must demonstrate that you have held at least £1,270 for 28 consecutive days ending within 31 days of the date of application.
  • Sponsor-Covered Alternative: If the scheme operator confirms in writing that they will cover your maintenance costs, including your first month's expenses, the savings requirement does not apply.
  • No Public Funds: Seasonal Worker visa holders cannot access UK public funds under any circumstances.
05

Application Timing and Method

The visa must be obtained before traveling to the UK, following strict entry timelines.

  • Outside the UK Only: You must apply from outside the UK. It is not possible to switch into the Seasonal Worker route from inside the UK, even if you hold another valid visa.
  • No In-Country Switching: If you are already in the UK on a different visa, you must leave and apply for entry clearance from abroad.
  • Timing Window: Applications can be submitted up to three months before the work start date on your CoS. You may enter the UK up to 14 days before that date.
06

Duration and Re-Application

Stays are short-term, structured by industry sector, and enforce mandatory cooling-off intervals.

  • Horticulture Duration: A maximum of six months within any rolling 10-month period, or the length of your CoS plus 14 days, whichever is shorter.
  • Poultry Window: Restricted to a fixed annual period (broadly 2 October to 31 December), with applications required by 15 November each year.
  • Cooling-Off Period: After your stay ends, you must generally remain outside the UK for approximately four months before applying again under this route.
  • No Path to Settlement: Time spent on this visa does not count towards Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Final Note: Meeting all these parameters and securing a certified Home Office scheme sponsor will ensure a compliant and successful UK Seasonal Worker Visa application.
how we help

Expert Guidance For Your Seasonal Worker
Visa Journey, Simplified.

Our experienced professionals provide end-to-end support, ensuring your application meets all Home Office requirements smoothly and efficiently.

01 — assessment
Eligibility Check

Eligibility Check

We assess your eligibility against the requirements for the Seasonal Worker route — including the scheme operator sponsorship requirement, sector eligibility, and personal requirements — before any application is made.

02 — verification
Document Review

Document Review

We review all supporting documentation — including your Certificate of Sponsorship, financial evidence, and identity documents — to ensure everything meets Home Office standards before submission.

03 — filing
Application Submission

Application Submission

We prepare and submit your visa application accurately and on time, taking into account the strict outside-UK application requirement and the three-month CoS timing window.

04 — success path
Approval Assistance

Approval Assistance

Following a grant of leave, we advise on the conditions of your visa, the rules around movement within the scheme operator's network, and re-application options for future seasons.