Tier 5 Visas

Tier 5 is a UK work permit designed to ensure the UK will continue to receive the cultural, social, religious and international development benefits of particular types of temporary workers and youth mobility.

Under Tier 5 - Applicants may apply through one of the following categories:

Temporary worker – Creative and Sporting

For those coming to the UK as sportspeople, entertainers or creative artists for short periods of time, primarily to perform, compete or otherwise take part in one or a series of events.

People who found this page helpful also read Tier 5 Visa Creative and Sporting Workers guide on our site.

Temporary worker - Charity Workers

For immigration to UK with the intention of working temporarily as voluntary workers for a charity.

Temporary worker – Religious Workers

For migrants coming to work temporarily in the UK either as a religious worker in a non-pastoral role, where the duties include performing religious rites but not preaching to a congregation, or as a visiting religious worker.

Temporary worker – Government Authorised Exchange

A UK visa for migrants coming through approved schemes aimed at sharing knowledge, experience and best practice.

Temporary worker – International Agreement

For migrants who are coming to the UK under contract to provide a service that is covered under international law, including GATS, similar bilateral agreements, employees of overseas governments and international organisations, and the provision for private servants in diplomatic households.

Youth Mobility Scheme

For young people to travel to the UK to satisfy principally non-economic objectives.

Tier 5 Visa Assessment

All Temporary Workers will need to obtain an entry clearance in the category under which they are applying and will need to show they have enough points to qualify. Points will be assessed against two sets of objective criteria and awarded on production of:

• A valid certificate of sponsorship issued by their licensed sponsor, and
• Evidence that the migrant has sufficient funds to support him/ herself.

Individual 

applications

 for the Youth Mobility Scheme will be required to:

• be a national of a country participating in the Scheme (or a British Overseas Citizen (BOC); a British Overseas Territories Citizen (BOTC); or a British National (Overseas) (BN(O));
• be sponsored by their national government (unless they are a BOC, BOTC or BN(O));
• be aged between 18 and 30 years of age inclusive;
• satisfy a funds test to ensure that they will not draw on public funds or become destitute during his stay;
• not have any dependant children; and
• not have previously spent time in the United Kingdom on a working holidaymaker or a Youth Mobility Scheme.