The UK Seasonal Worker visa: what you need to know

The Seasonal Worker visa lets you come to the UK for temporary farm work. Here are the essentials from the official GOV.UK site.

What work, and for how long

• Horticulture: picking fruit, vegetables or flowers, for up to 6 months.
• Poultry: from 2 October to 31 December in the same year. Applications for poultry work must be made by 15 November.

The main conditions

• You must be 18 or over when you apply.
• You need a UK sponsor, who gives you a certificate of sponsorship reference number.
• You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account, held for at least 28 days in a row.
• The application fee is £340.
• You'll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.
• You cannot bring family members on this visa.

Staying safe

• The certificate of sponsorship comes from the sponsor, not from an "agent". Don't pay middlemen for a "quota" or a "place".
• Never travel to work on a tourist visa: it can lead to removal and an entry ban.
• Apply and check the rules only on gov.uk.