Temporary Visas for Religious Workers

Temporary Worker - Religious Worker Visa (Tier 5)  

You can apply for a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - Religious Worker) visa if:  

Sponsorship  

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. 

How long it will take  

The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before the date you are due to start work. This date is on your certificate of sponsorship. 
You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK. 
 

Fees 

How much you pay for a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - Religious Worker) visa depends on your situation, where you are and how you apply. 
 
Who you are applying for - You 
Fee - £244 
 
Who you are applying for - If you are a citizen of Turkey or Macedonia 
Fee - £189 
 
Who you are applying for - All dependants 
Fee - £244 each 

Healthcare Surcharge 

You will also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you will have to pay before you apply. 

If you are applying to extend or switch in the UK 

You will need to pay £19.20 to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken. 

Get a faster decision on your application 

If you are applying to extend or switch in the UK you can pay an extra £500 for the priority service to get a decision within 5 working days.  
You can pay an extra £800 for the super priority service to get a decision:  
  • by the end of the next working day after providing your biometric information if your appointment is on a weekday  
  • 2 working days after providing your biometric information if your appointment is at the weekend 
Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays. 
Once you have got your decision letter, your biometric residence permit will take up to 10 working days to arrive. 

How long you can stay 

You will 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. 

What you can and cannot do 

You can: 
You cannot 
See Also: