UK Temporary Worker Visa (Tier 5): Routes, Costs, and Rules in 2026
What replaced the Tier 5 visa?
- Every route needs a licensed sponsor, who assigns you a job reference called a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
- None of the six routes leads to settlement, meaning permanent residence, on its own.
Who can apply for a Temporary Worker visa?
You are likely eligible if:
- A sponsor holding a Temporary Worker licence has assigned you a CoS for the role.
- The work is short-term and matches one route, such as creative, charity, or religious work.
- You have the required savings, held for 28 days, or your sponsor covers your first month.
- Your pay meets the route's rules, such as the National Minimum Wage, where it applies.
This route may not be right for you if:
- You want to settle in the UK, where the Skilled Worker route may suit you better.
- You have no sponsor yet, because you cannot apply without a CoS.
- You are a sportsperson or coach, who will need the International Sportsperson visa.
- You supply services to a UK client under contract, which the Service Supplier visa now covers.
- Your creative work lasts 3 months or less and you visit visa-free, so you may not need a visa.
Which Temporary Worker route fits your work?
Creative Worker
The Creative Worker visa is for actors, dancers, musicians, film crew, and other creative workers with a confirmed UK job. You can stay up to 12 months at first, and up to 24 with the same sponsor. Your pay will need to meet the minimum rates set by Equity, PACT, or BECTU, where they apply.
Charity Worker
The Home Office wants to see truly voluntary work that supports your sponsor charity's own aims. You cannot be paid for it. You can stay up to 12 months, or your certificate period plus 14 days, if that is shorter.
Religious Worker
This route is for religious work that does not involve leading a congregation, for up to 24 months. From 29 October 2026, the role must be extra to normal staffing, or within a religious order. Six months of duties abroad for the same faith group, just before you apply, also counts.
Government Authorised Exchange
This route is for work experience, training, research, or fellowships through an approved government exchange scheme. The body running the scheme usually sponsors you, and you can stay 12 or 24 months, depending on the scheme. Erasmus+ traineeships and teaching placements joined the list on 8 October 2026, for up to 12 months.
International Agreement
This route is for work covered by international law, such as for an overseas government or international organisation. Private servants in diplomatic households also use it, for up to 5 years, granted 2 years at a time. Private servants who apply from outside the UK will need English at level B1, a mid level.
Seasonal Worker
This route covers crop work for up to 6 months, or poultry work from 2 October to 31 December. Only scheme operators endorsed by Defra, the government's farming department, can sponsor you. October 2026 guidance sets minimum pay for most roles at £12.71 an hour, for at least 32 hours weekly.
How do you apply for a Temporary Worker visa?
Your sponsor's licence must cover the route that matches the work you will do. We will check this before anything is assigned.
Your sponsor assigns your CoS, a reference number that confirms your role and dates. It is valid for 3 months from the day it is assigned.
You will need savings held for 28 days, unless exempt, plus your passport and any route evidence. We will review the bundle first.
You can apply up to 3 months before your start date. You will pay the £340 fee, in force since 8 April 2026, and any health surcharge.
You will use the UK Immigration: ID Check app, or attend a visa application centre. We will tell you which applies.
Decisions usually take 3 weeks from outside the UK and 8 weeks from inside. A priority service costs £500 as of April 2026, where offered.
You can usually enter up to 14 days before your start date. We will advise you if your role or dates change.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Routes explained
No. The Tier 5 visa name has gone, and each category now has its own route name. The Youth Mobility Scheme is a separate route too.
Routes explained
There are six. They are Creative Worker, Charity Worker, Religious Worker, Government Authorised Exchange, International Agreement, and Seasonal Worker. Each is a Temporary Work visa route that replaced a Tier 5 category.
Routes explained
It depends on the work. The route follows what you will do and who sponsors you. We match your job to the right route before a CoS is assigned.
Routes explained
A Temporary Worker visa has no general salary threshold and no Immigration Skills Charge, so it suits short jobs. The trade-off is that it does not lead to settlement.
Routes explained
Yes. The Home Office has set 41,000 horticulture visas and 1,900 poultry visas for both 2026 and 2027. Poultry applications must be made by 15 November each year.
Requirements and costs
Yes. You cannot apply for a Temporary Worker visa without a CoS from a licensed sponsor. For Seasonal Worker, only Defra-endorsed scheme operators can sponsor you.
Requirements and costs
As of November 2026, you will need at least £1,270, held for 28 days in a row. Day 28 must fall within 31 days of applying. You are exempt after 12 months' lawful UK stay, or when your sponsor covers your first month.
Requirements and costs
No general salary threshold applies. Seasonal Workers must get at least £12.71 an hour under October 2026 guidance, and Charity Workers are unpaid. Other paid routes need at least the National Minimum Wage.
Requirements and costs
No, except for private servants in diplomatic households who apply from outside the UK. They will need English at level B1, a mid level, unless their nationality is exempt.
Requirements and costs
As of 8 April 2026, the application fee is £340 for each person, plus £1,035 a year in health surcharge. No Immigration Skills Charge applies.
Work and family
Yes, on five of the six routes. Your partner and children can apply as dependants, each paying the fee and surcharge. Seasonal Worker allows no family members.
Work and family
Yes, on most routes, for up to 20 hours a week. It usually needs to be in the same sector and level, or a shortage job on the immigration salary list. Seasonal Workers and private servants cannot take one.
Work and family
Only within the same route. You will need a new CoS from the new sponsor, and a new application.
Work and family
Yes. You can apply up to 3 months before the start date on your CoS. The CoS stays valid for 3 months, so timing matters on both sides.
Work and family
Usually 3 weeks if you apply from outside the UK, and 8 weeks from inside. A priority service costs £500 as of April 2026, where it is offered.
Stay, extend and switch
It depends on the route. Stays run from about 3 months for poultry work to 2 years for Religious Worker. Private servants under International Agreement can stay up to 5 years in total.
Stay, extend and switch
On most routes, yes. Creative Workers can extend to 24 months in total with the same sponsor. You will need to apply from inside the UK before your current Temporary Worker visa expires.
Stay, extend and switch
Yes, on five of the six routes. You can switch from inside the UK if you meet the Skilled Worker rules. Seasonal Workers will need to apply from outside the UK.
Stay, extend and switch
It depends on the route. You can switch into Government Authorised Exchange from a Student visa after completing a UK bachelor's or master's degree. We will check your route's switching rules before you apply.
Stay, extend and switch
You will need to leave the UK, or switch to a route that lets you stay. None of the six routes leads to settlement on its own.
Temporary worker visa insights
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