Religious Worker Visa

What is a Religious Worker Visa?

A Religious Worker visa enables sponsored overseas nationals to come to the UK for a short time to do religious work in a non-pastoral role or religious order.

This visa has replaced the T5 (Temporary Worker) Religious Worker visa.

What Are the Key Eligibility Requirements for a Religious Worker visa?

In order to successfully apply for a Religious Worker visa, applicants must meet the following key requirements:

• Must be at least 18 years of age; Religious Worker Visa
• Must have a job offer and a certificate of sponsorship from a Home Office approved licenced sponsor; Religious Worker Visa
• Must genuinely intend to undertake the role for which they are being sponsored for; Religious Worker Visa
• Must evidence they have sufficient money to support themselves or their sponsor must confirm that they will support the applicant. If, however an applicant has been in the UK with a valid visa for 12 months or more, they will not need to show proof that they have sufficient money to support themselves; Religious Worker Visa
• May need to provide a tuberculosis (TB) certificate depending on which country the applicant resides in; and Religious Worker Visa
• Must not have been given a Religious Worker or Charity Worker visa in the last year, unless they can prove they were outside the UK for the whole of that time. Religious Worker Visa

How Long is a Religious Worker Visa Valid for?

A Religious Worker visa is granted for whichever is shorter of:/p>

• Up to 24 months; or
• The time given on the certificate of sponsorship plus 28 days

Can a Religious Worker Visa be Extended?

Before the expiry of a Religious Worker visa, applicants must apply to the Home Office to extend their stay in the UK. If the extension application is approved, applicants will be granted a visa for the period detailed in their certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days after that period so long as they have not reached the maximum stay under this visa.

The maximum time period applicants can stay on a Religious Worker visa is 24 months.

Can Dependants Join or Accompany Religious Workers?

The partner and children of an applicant can accompany or join them so long as they meet the eligibility criteria. If this is met, they will be issued a visa which will have the same end date as the Religious Worker visa holder.

How Long Does it Take For a Decision to be Made?

The Home Office will usually process a Religious Worker visa application within 3 weeks. If an application is made within the UK a decision is usually made within 8 weeks.

If eligible, applicants will be advised whether they can apply to get a decision faster. The Home Office charge additional fees for these priority services.

How Much Does it Cost?

The Home Office fee for a Religious Worker visa is £259.

The fee is the same whether applicants are applying from inside or outside the UK.

Applicants must also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge which is usually £624 per year.

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If you have any questions, please complete our online enquiry form or email us at [email protected]. Alternatively, you can call us on 01724 701111 and one of our experts will be happy to assist you.