--- title: "Seasonal Worker – Temporary Work Visa" url: https://immigrationvisaexpert.com/uk-seasonal-worker-temporary-work-visa/ type: page date: 2024-02-21 modified: 2026-10-27 markdown_url: https://immigrationvisaexpert.com/uk-seasonal-worker-temporary-work-visa.md author: "T Shah" --- # Seasonal Worker – Temporary Work Visa [Home](https://immigrationvisaexpert.com) # UK Seasonal Worker Visa (Temporary Work) Professional Seasonal Worker Visa support for applicants applying to work in eligible UK horticulture or poultry production roles. We help you review sponsorship, Certificate of Sponsorship details, maintenance evidence, documents, timing and refusal-risk points before you apply. [Book a Seasonal Worker Visa Consultation](#contact) ## Quick case check Check whether your sponsorship, job role, timing and maintenance evidence are ready before submission. ### Approved seasonal sponsor? ### Correct horticulture or poultry role? ### £1,270 funds or sponsor maintenance? ### No dependant or ILR route? [Ask a Citizenship Adviser](#Eligibility) Book Consultation Overview Key Facts Maintenance Eligibility Sponsorship Fees Documents Extension ILR How We Help FAQs ### Overview ## What is the UK Seasonal Worker Visa? The UK Seasonal Worker Visa is a temporary work route for people who want to come to the UK for short-term seasonal work in eligible horticulture roles or specified poultry production roles. It is not a general work visa and it is not suitable for permanent employment, second jobs, family migration or long-term settlement planning. The route is highly time-sensitive. Applicants must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from an approved seasonal worker sponsor before applying. The sponsor, role, pay, working hours and sector must all match the route requirements. A weak or incorrect sponsorship record can create refusal risk even where the applicant genuinely intends to work in the UK. At Immigration Visa Expert, we help applicants identify key risks before submission, including financial evidence, Certificate of Sponsorship wording, sponsorship timing, job role, salary, previous seasonal-worker history and supporting documents. ### Key facts ## UK Seasonal Worker Visa: key points before you apply Main purpose Temporary seasonal work in eligible horticulture or specified poultry production roles. Applicant age You must be 18 or over on the date of application. Sponsorship You need a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from an approved seasonal worker sponsor. Stay length Horticulture work is usually limited to up to 6 months. Poultry work is limited to the annual poultry period. Family members Partners and children cannot apply as dependants under this route. Settlement This is not a direct ILR route and is not designed for long-term UK residence. ### 2025/2026 update ## What is the current Seasonal Worker Visa maintenance requirement? Current financial position for 2025/2026 applications The applicant normally needs at least £1,270 available to support themselves in the UK, held for 28 consecutive days, unless the A-rated sponsor certifies maintenance on the Certificate of Sponsorship and confirms support up to the required amount during the first month of employment. This is not a monthly living-cost calculation. Applicants should still plan for travel, initial accommodation, food and living costs before receiving their first wages. There should be no fee charged to the worker for the Certificate of Sponsorship itself, and applicants should be cautious about recruitment-related payment requests that do not come from approved and legitimate channels. ### Sponsorship and job role ## What sponsorship and job rules must be checked before applying? The Certificate of Sponsorship must be current, valid for the application, issued by an approved sponsor, and must confirm the correct job details, salary, hours and sector. It can only be used once, and it is normally valid for 3 months from the date it is assigned. Pay and hours check Horticulture roles and poultry roles under occupation codes 8111, 9111, 9119 and 9132 must provide at least 32 hours of paid work each week at a minimum of £12.71 per hour. Poultry roles under occupation codes 5431 and 5433 must pay at least £15.88 per hour and meet the £38,700 annual salary threshold; because Seasonal Worker permission is short-term, the Home Office pro-rates the worker’s gross actual earnings to an equivalent annual figure when assessing that threshold. Worker protection check The role should comply with wage, working-time, accommodation and safety rules. A visa application can become risky if the sponsored role does not match the required pay, hours, sector or sponsor conditions. Application timing: You can apply up to 3 months before the job start date shown on your Certificate of Sponsorship. If you are applying for a poultry production role, your application must be submitted on or before 15 November in the relevant year. For horticulture, you must not have been in the UK as a Seasonal Worker during the 4 months immediately before the start date on your new Certificate of Sponsorship. Horticulture permission is normally limited to a maximum of 6 months in any 10-month period. This is an important area for professional review because applicants often focus only on personal documents, while refusal risk may come from the job description, salary wording, sponsor record, sector classification or timing rules. ### Fees ## How much does a UK Seasonal Worker Visa cost? Application fee **£340** The current application fee for a Seasonal Worker Visa applicant. Maintenance funds **£1,270** Required unless the sponsor certifies maintenance on the Certificate of Sponsorship. Dependants **Not allowed** Partners and children cannot apply as dependants under this route. Other possible costs may include travel, appointment-related services, translations, medical or criminal-record documents where required, accommodation and living costs before wages start. There should be no fee charged to the worker for the Certificate of Sponsorship itself. ### Documents ## What documents are usually reviewed for a Seasonal Worker Visa? The document position is usually narrower than many long-term visa routes, but accuracy still matters. We keep the review high-level and focused on the documents that affect eligibility, sponsorship and refusal risk. Identity and travel documents Passport or travel document details must be valid and consistent with the application record. Sponsorship evidence The Certificate of Sponsorship should match the correct role, sector, salary, hours and start date. Financial position Bank evidence or sponsor-certified maintenance should be checked before submission. ### Document check ## Already have a sponsor and CoS reference? We can review your sponsorship, maintenance and document position before you submit the application. [Request Document Review](#Eligibility) ### Extension ## Can a UK Seasonal Worker Visa be extended? The Seasonal Worker route is not designed as an in-country extension route. Permission is restricted by sector, sponsorship dates and the maximum route period. Horticulture workers are usually limited to up to 6 months in any 10-month period. Poultry workers are limited to the annual poultry production period. A further period of seasonal work may require a fresh sponsorship arrangement and careful timing. You can apply up to 3 months before the new job start date. For horticulture, you must not have been in the UK as a Seasonal Worker during the 4 months immediately before the new Certificate of Sponsorship start date. Poultry applications must be submitted on or before 15 November in the relevant year. Applicants should check previous seasonal-worker history, planned start date and the applicable timing rules before making a new application. ### ILR ## Can the Seasonal Worker Visa lead to ILR? No. The Seasonal Worker route does not lead directly to indefinite leave to remain. It is a short-term temporary work route and is not designed for settlement. Applicants who want long-term UK residence should consider whether a different route may be more appropriate, such as a Skilled Worker route where they have a qualifying sponsored job and meet all requirements. ### How we help ## How Immigration Visa Expert supports Seasonal Worker Visa applicants Process ### Seasonal Worker Visa support pathway 1 #### Initial review We check whether the route, timing and work sector are suitable for your situation. 2 #### Sponsorship and CoS check We review the sponsorship record, job description, sector, pay and maintenance certification points. 3 #### Evidence strategy We identify whether bank evidence, translations or additional documents may be needed. 4 #### Application support We help you prepare a clear application position and avoid avoidable mistakes before submission. 5 #### Refusal and next steps Where a case is refused or high risk, we advise on review options or alternative route planning. ### Refusal support ## What if a Seasonal Worker Visa is refused? If your Seasonal Worker visa application is refused, check the decision notice and refusal reasons promptly. The Immigration Rules provide for Administrative Review of a Seasonal Worker refusal under Appendix AR where you believe the decision contains a caseworking error. Depending on the reason for refusal and the evidence available, a fresh application may sometimes be more appropriate, so the decision should be reviewed before taking the next step. ### FAQs ## UK Seasonal Worker Visa FAQs [Who can apply for a UK Seasonal Worker Visa?](#collapse-d64d1886ae0b182dbea4) You must be aged 18 or over, have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from an approved seasonal worker sponsor, be applying from outside the UK, and meet the financial, suitability and job-role requirements for the route. [What jobs can be sponsored under the Seasonal Worker route?](#collapse-1a593046ae0b182dbea4) The route is mainly for seasonal horticulture work, such as fruit, vegetable, flower, mushroom, bulb, pot plant, ornamental and nursery-stock work, and for specified poultry production roles during the seasonal poultry window. [How long can I stay in the UK on a Seasonal Worker Visa?](#collapse-c8785b16ae0b182dbea4) You can apply up to 3 months before the job start date shown on your Certificate of Sponsorship. For horticulture, you must not have been in the UK as a Seasonal Worker during the 4 months immediately before the start date on your new Certificate of Sponsorship. Horticulture permission is usually limited to the shorter of the sponsored job period with permitted extra days or up to 6 months in any 10-month period. Poultry workers are limited to the seasonal poultry window from 2 October to 31 December in the relevant year, and poultry applications must be submitted on or before 15 November in the relevant year. [How much money do I need for a Seasonal Worker Visa?](#collapse-1d2e7c66ae0b182dbea4) You normally need at least £1,270 available and held for the required 28-day period, unless your A-rated sponsor certifies that they will maintain and accommodate you up to the required amount during the first month of employment. [How much is the Seasonal Worker Visa application fee?](#collapse-96193e06ae0b182dbea4) The current application fee is £340. Other costs may include travel, appointment-related costs, translation, medical or criminal-record documents where required in the applicant’s country, and living expenses before the first wage payment. [Can I bring my partner or children on a Seasonal Worker Visa?](#collapse-a0ded056ae0b182dbea4) No. Partners and children cannot apply as dependants under the Seasonal Worker route. This is an important planning point for applicants who need a family-friendly UK work route. [Can I work for any employer after getting the visa?](#collapse-5f423fc6ae0b182dbea4) No. You can only work in the job described in the Certificate of Sponsorship. The route does not allow a permanent job, a second job, or work outside the sponsored seasonal role. [Can I extend my UK Seasonal Worker Visa?](#collapse-7a785786ae0b182dbea4) The route is not designed for in-country extension. Horticulture workers are limited by the maximum period and the seasonal-worker timing rules, and a fresh application normally needs a new sponsorship arrangement from outside the UK. [Does the Seasonal Worker Visa lead to ILR?](#collapse-35c8c1a6ae0b182dbea4) No. The Seasonal Worker route is not a direct route to indefinite leave to remain. Applicants who want long-term residence must usually consider a different visa category if they qualify. [What are common reasons for refusal?](#collapse-6ed96146ae0b182dbea4) Common risks include an invalid or unsuitable Certificate of Sponsorship, weak financial evidence, unsupported job or salary details, previous seasonal-worker timing issues, incorrect documents, or concerns about whether the role meets the route rules. If a refusal occurs, check the decision notice promptly because Seasonal Worker refusals are eligible for Administrative Review where the relevant Appendix AR requirements are met. A fresh application may sometimes be more appropriate depending on the refusal reason and evidence. [Can I study while on a Seasonal Worker Visa?](#collapse-a84e9726ae0b182dbea4) Study may be allowed, but some courses require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate. Work remains restricted to the sponsored seasonal role. [Can Immigration Visa Expert check my Seasonal Worker Visa documents before submission?](#collapse-f2095966ae0b182dbea4) Yes. We can review the Certificate of Sponsorship details, maintenance evidence, passport and translation position, and the wider risk profile before the application is submitted. ## Related UK immigration guides Work route ## Skilled Worker Visa For applicants with a long-term sponsored skilled job offer in the UK. [Read guide](https://immigrationvisaexpert.com/skilled-worker-visa/) Employer route ## Sponsor Licence For UK employers planning to sponsor overseas workers under eligible routes. [Read guide](https://immigrationvisaexpert.com/sponsor-licence-for-uk-employers/) Refusal support ## UK Visa Refusal Support For applicants who need advice after a refusal or high-risk decision. [Request a refusal review](https://immigrationvisaexpert.com/contact-us/) ## Need your Seasonal Worker Visa checked before submission? Speak to Immigration Visa Expert before you apply. We can review your sponsorship, maintenance evidence, timing and document position and help you identify avoidable refusal risks. ### Book a Seasonal Worker Visa consultation ### Request a CoS and document review ### Get refusal or reapplication advice ### Ask an Immigration Adviser Share your visa query and our team will guide you on the next step.