The Religious Worker visa is a temporary route for people coming to the UK to do religious work that is not a leading pastoral role: working in a religious order, or supporting the work of a faith community in a non-pastoral capacity. It is one of the Temporary Work routes.

Requirements

A certificate of sponsorship from a licensed religious organisation.
The role must be genuine religious work, and the organisation must have tried to fill it from the settled workforce where the rules require.
Maintenance funds unless certified by the sponsor.
No English language test, although you must be able to do the job.

Limits

Granted for up to 24 months, or the length of the role plus 14 days if shorter.
No extension beyond 24 months, and a cooling-off period: you cannot be granted a further Religious Worker or Charity Worker visa until 12 months have passed since the last one ended, unless you were in the UK for less than 12 months.
Does not lead to settlement. If the role is a leading pastoral one, the Minister of Religion visa applies and does lead to settlement.

Dependants

Partners and children can join you.

What we do

We advise the organisation which route fits the role, prepare the certificate and application, and plan ahead where the person is likely to need a longer-term route.

Fees

Home Office fees and the immigration health surcharge change each April; we confirm the current figures when we advise you. Our fee is fixed and quoted before you instruct us; see our fees.

For employers

We act for employers as well as workers: sponsor licence applications, certificates of sponsorship, right-to-work checks and compliance. See sponsor licences.