What is the Seasonal Worker Visa?

From 2025, the UK government announced they would provide a total of 45,000 temporary worker visas. These are set to pass under the new ‘Seasonal Worker visa’ format.

The government’s aim here is to help fix labour shortages in agriculture. Most of which derived from the aftermath of Brexit, as well as the end of freedom of movement within the European Union (EU).

It’s crucial for farming employers to follow visa application rules correctly. One wrong move and you could end up hiring workers illegally, breaching immigration laws, and paying fines of up to £10,000. For more information on the Seasonal Worker visa, speak to one of our expert HR advisors today.

In this guide, we’ll look at what a Seasonal Worker is, how long the visas last for, and how to employ foreign nationals for UK agricultural jobs.

What is the Seasonal Worker visa?

A Seasonal Worker visa is an official document that allows a foreign person to enter the UK and work in certain farming jobs – specifically, in the horticulture and poultry realm.

The government will allocate visas through the Seasonal Worker scheme. 43,000 visas will be available for horticulture jobs and 2,000 for poultry jobs. The scheme aims to provide much-needed labour support in industries like food and agriculture. And help meet consumer demands during peak seasons.

It’s important to note that the new Seasonal Worker visa is a replacement of the previous ‘Temporary Worker – Seasonal Worker visa (T5)’. It’s not possible to switch between the two; a new application will be required.

What jobs do you need a Seasonal Worker visa for?

Foreign nationals will need a Seasonal Worker visa for jobs in:

Horticulture: This includes jobs like picking fruit, vegetables, or flowers.

Poultry: This includes jobs like rearing birds, preparing for consumer demands, and producing by-products.

Employers must also ensure their farming jobs meet UK employment law requirements. This includes things like, maximum working hours and legal wages. Without compliance, the applications may be refused by the Home Office.

How long does the Seasonal Worker visa take?

Applicants can apply for the Seasonal Worker visa up to three months before the day they’re due to start work in the UK. The exact start date should be listed on their certificate of sponsorship.

As part of the application process, they’ll need to prove their identity, as well as provide other documents. Some applicants may be allowed extra time to do this. But this will be made clear at the beginning of the application process. Applicants who have applied online, proved their identity, and provided documents, should receive a decision within three weeks.

How long does a Seasonal Worker visa last?

The length that a Seasonal Worker visa will last depends on which area of agricultural work is chosen. For example:

Horticultural visas: These last for six months. Applications are available all year round.

Poultry visas: These last from 2 October to 31 December. Applications are only available from 15 November each year.

Successful applicants will be able to enter the UK as soon as their visa is valid. This is up to 14 days before the start date of the job.

How to check eligibility for a Seasonal Worker visa

Employers must take the correct steps into checking whether a potential employee is eligible for a Seasonal Worker visa. If you don’t, you could end up hiring foreign people illegally – resulting in £10,000 fines per person. Let’s take a look at the eligibility criteria for a Seasonal Worker visa:

Certificate of sponsorship

Employers will need to provide the applicant with a certificate of sponsorship. The certificate should include:

• The applicant’s personal details.
• Information on the job.
• A reference number from the UK sponsor (this is specifically required for the visa application).

A certificate of sponsorship is only valid for three months. They start from the date it was assigned to the applicant. Make sure the start date for your job is in line with these types of deadlines.

Support money

The applicant must have enough money to support themselves in the UK. This is at least £1,270 (unless they’re exempt). The money must remain in their bank account for 28 days. (The 28th day must be within 31 days of applying for the visa).

Employers can provide support money to applicants if they wish to. You’ll need to confirm this on the certificate of sponsorship given to them. The visa application itself costs £298. Again, employers can choose to pay for this if they desire.

Identification

The applicant will need to provide a valid passport or other document that proves identity or nationality. They also must be 18 years old or over at the time of application.

The Seasonal Worker visa will be stamped in their passport or travel document. Any documents not in English or Welsh must come with a certified translation. It’s important to note that the Home Office can ask applicants for additional documents at any time during the application process.

What rules must applicants follow on Seasonal Worker visas?

There are certain rules which successful applicants can and cannot do on whilst a Seasonal Worker visa. They may work in a job described in their certificate of sponsorship. They're also allowed to study, too. However, for certain courses, they may need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate.

Applicants cannot:

• Take a permanent job.
• Work in a second job.
• Work in a job that isn’t described in their certificate of sponsorship.
• Receive public funds.
• Bring family members with them.

Get expert advice on Seasonal Worker visas with Peninsula

In recent times, the agricultural sector has suffered from labour shortages, weather complications, and pressure from consumer demands. With changes to visa applications, farmers can turn to hiring foreign nationals to help meet UK business goals and continuity.  

Peninsula offers expert advice on seasonal workers visas. Our 24/7 HR advice is available 365 days a year. We also offer tailor-made agriculture employment contracts suitable to your business needs.

Want to find out more? Book a free chat with one of our HR consultants. For further information, call 0800 051 3685.

Sources

Food: Supply Chains | UK Parliament