The Seasonal Worker visa lets people come to the UK for up to six months to work in horticulture, or for a shorter period in poultry production. You do not apply to a farm directly; you are sponsored by one of the licensed scheme operators, which place workers with growers.

Requirements

Aged 18 or over.
A certificate of sponsorship from a scheme operator for a role in the sector and period the quota allows.
Maintenance funds unless the operator certifies them.
No English requirement.

Limits

Six months in any twelve-month period for horticulture; the poultry season runs from October to the end of December.
No dependants, no settlement, no switching into most other routes from inside the UK.

Pay and welfare

Operators must pay at least the National Living Wage and guarantee a minimum number of paid hours a week, provide suitable accommodation, and comply with welfare standards. Workers who are not paid properly, are charged unlawful fees, or face poor conditions can raise it with the operator, the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, or with us.

If your sponsor's licence is revoked

Your leave can be cut short. You may be able to be transferred to another operator or, where you have been exploited, to be referred under the modern slavery framework; see trafficking and modern slavery.

What we do

We advise workers on their rights, act where pay or conditions have broken the rules, and advise operators and growers on compliance.

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.