Temporary Worker - Religious Worker visa (Tier 5)
You can apply for a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Religious Worker) visa if:
• you want to do religious work, such as preaching or working in a religious order
• you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland
• you meet the other eligibility requirements
Sponsorship – Temporary Worker – Religious Worker visa (Tier 5)
You must have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor before you can apply to come to the UK to work.
The work you do in the UK must relate to your sponsor organisation’s work.
The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before the date you’re due to start work. This date is on your certificate of sponsorship.
You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application
You’ll be given a visa to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months, or up to 28 days more than the time on your certificate of sponsorship. You may be sponsored for a shorter period.
You can enter the UK up to 14 days before the start date of your job.
You can:
• study – for some courses you’ll need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate
• work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship
• do a second job in the same sector at the same level as your main job for up to 20 hours per week outside the hours of your main job
• do a job on the Tier 2 shortage occupation list for up to 20 hours per week outside the hours of your main job
• bring family members with you
You cannot get public funds.
You must have both of the following:
• a certificate of sponsorship reference number from your UK sponsor
• £945 in savings – to prove you can support yourself (you must have had it in your bank account for 90 days before you apply)
You will not need £945 in savings if your fully approved (‘A-rated’) sponsor has stated on your certificate of sponsorship that they’ll certify your maintenance and that you will not claim benefits during your stay.
A certificate of sponsorship is a unique reference number that holds information about the job you’ll do and your personal details. It’s not an actual certificate or paper document.
Your sponsor will give you the certificate of sponsorship.
Your sponsor must also give you the information they used on your certificate about your job, for example your working hours.
Your sponsor must be recognised by the UK government to issue certificates of sponsorship.
Your certificate of sponsorship is valid for 3 months from the date it is assigned to you.
Your sponsor can give you a multiple entry certificate of sponsorship so you can leave and return to the UK.
When you apply you’ll need to provide:
• a current passport or other valid travel identification
• bank statements showing you’ve had at least £945 in savings continuously for 90 days before you apply – this is to prove you can support yourself and you must have had this in your bank account for 90 days before you apply
• your tuberculosis (TB) test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test
You need a blank page in your passport for your visa.
You will not need £945 in savings if your fully approved (‘A-rated’) sponsor has stated on your certificate of sponsorship that they’ll certify your maintenance and that you will not claim benefits during your stay.
You’ll need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.
You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.
EXTEND YOUR VISA
You can apply to extend your Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Religious Worker) visa.
You should apply before your current visa expires.
You must continue to meet the eligibility rules.
You must apply again if you want to change your job within the same organisation or move to a new organisation.
You can apply to take your stay in the UK up to a maximum of 24 months, or the time on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days – whichever is shorter.
Your family members (‘dependants’) must apply to join or remain with you in the UK if they’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.
A dependant is any of the following:
• your partner
• your child aged under 18 years old
• your child aged 18 or older if they’re already in the UK as dependants
You must show that your dependants can be supported while they’re in the UK.
Each dependant must have £630 available to them whether they apply with you or separately. This is in addition to the £945 you must have to support yourself.
You must have proof you have the money, and that it’s been in your bank account or your dependant’s bank account for at least 90 days before you or they apply.
Example You must have £2,205 if you want to bring your partner and 1 child with you to the UK (£945 to support yourself + £630 for your partner + £630 for your child).
You can include dependants in your online application to extend this visa if they want to do it at the same time as you.
Family members cannot apply in the UK as your dependant if they hold a visitor visa.