Guidance

Sponsor a seasonal worker

Guidance for sponsors on sponsoring a seasonal worker.

From:
UK Visas and Immigration
Published
9 December 2020
Last updated
1612 MarchApril 2023 — See all updates

Documents

Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors: sponsor a seasonal worker (accessible version)

HTML

Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors: sponsor a seasonal worker

PDF, 362301 KB, 2120 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format.
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email alternativeformats@homeoffice.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

Guidance for employers on how to sponsor a worker on the Seasonal Worker (Temporary Work) immigration route.

The Seasonal Worker route allows employers in the edible horticulture sector to source workers for up to 6 months through an approved scheme operator.

Published 9 December 2020
Last updated 1612 MarchApril 2023 + show all updates

  1. Updated guidance to reflect new pay requirements which will come into effect with the new immigration rules from 12 April.

  2. Workers are now allowed to re-enter the UK 5 months after leaving rather than 6 months, under a concession. Added information about new salary requirements which come into effect on 12 April 2023.

  3. Updated quota allocation and deleted references to pork butchers as this sector is no longer able to use the route.

  4. Updated the guidance to include poultry workers.

  5. Updated guidance for use on or after 6 April.

  6. Guidance updated with the following changes: SE5.6: minor amendment to reflect that the CoS fee concession for CESC nationals has been abolished; paragraph SE5.6A has been deleted; SE6: this section has been amended to reflect the revised salary requirement for Seasonal Workers from 6 April 2022, as set out in Statement of Changes HC 1118 (published on 15 March 2022); other minor housekeeping changes.

  7. Updated guidance includes: pork butchers and haulage drivers are no longer able to apply on this route; this has been noted throughout, and reflecting the ending of the fee concession for Certificates of Sponsorship assigned to CESC nationals from 26 February 2022. For a full list of changes see the 'Changes from last version of this guidance' section.

  8. Guidance updated to correct the definition of horticulture to include pot plants.

  9. Guidance updated to add a concession for ornamental horticulture workers to access this immigration route, and other changes. Added an accessible HTML version.

  10. Updated to reflect temporary provisions to add specified pork butchers to the seasonal worker route.

  11. Guidance updated to reflect the rebranding of the T5 (Temporary Worker) Seasonal Worker route as the Temporary Work - Seasonal Worker route; and to make temporary provision for poultry production workers and workers undertaking haulage driving involving transportation of food goods.

  12. Updated guidance, expanding and clarifying the specific sponsoring duties for seasonal worker sponsors.

  13. Updated guidance to reflect scheme quota for 2021.

  14. First published.