Tier 5 is for temporary workers who may be paid or unpaid (voluntary) and who wish to come to the UK for a short period. Most applications will be done from outside the UK however; it is possible to apply to switch into some of the sub-categories and to make extension applications from inside the UK. All workers must have a sponsor and a valid certificate of sponsorship before applying. You may be able to come and go from the UK with your job if you have a multiple entry certificate from your employer and bring dependants though they will apply separately. You can also take on more work if it’s in the same sector, as long as it’s no more than 20 hours a week and provided it is outside your working hours your certificate of sponsorship is for.
This is a Points-Based System category and applicants must prove they can maintain themselves whilst in the UK by showing a minimum maintenance amount (varies per sub-category)available in their account for 90 days.
The Tier 5 route requires workers (paid/unpaid) be sponsored under the following sub-categories: T5 Creative and Sporting, T5 Charity workers, T5 Religious workers, T5 Government Authorised Exchange, T5 International Agreement and T5 Youth Mobility Scheme.
Tier 5 Creative and Sporting: This is for people coming to the UK to work as sportspeople, entertainers or creative artists for up to 12 months.
Who can apply? You can apply for entry clearance from outside the UK.
Sportspeople can apply from inside to extend your T5 Sporting visa up to 12 months.
Creative workers can apply from inside to extend their stay in the T5 sub-category for up to 24 months, provided they have not stayed for over 12 months at the time of application and that they are continuing with the same sponsor.
You do not need to obtain a visa before you come to the UK under Tier 5 (Temporary worker – Creative and Sporting if you want to come to the UK for less than 3 months and you are a national of a country that is not on the list of visa national countries.
*Before assigning your certificate of sponsorship, your sponsor must have an endorsement for you from the governing body of your sport, which confirms you meet the governing body’s requirements to give their endorsement. The governing body must be recognised by the UKBA.
* It is possible to switch into a T5 Creative and Sporting visa if you’re in the UK as a sports or entertainer visitor whose sponsor issued your certificate of sponsorship before you came to the UK.
Tier 5 Charity Workers: This is for people coming to the UK to do voluntary (unpaid) work for a charity for up to 12 months.
Who can apply? You can apply for entry clearance from outside the UK or from inside to extend your T5 Charity workers visa up to 12 months.
*You cannot apply to switch into the T5 Charity Workers sub-category if you are already in the UK in a different immigration category.
Tier 5 Religious Workers: This is for religious workers wanting to work in the UK for up to 12 months. Religious workers can: preach, do pastoral and/or non-pastoral work; work in a religious order with community which involves a permanent commitment such as would a monastery or convent.
Who can apply? You can apply for entry clearance from outside the UK or from inside to extend your stay in the T5 sub-category for up to 24 months. To stay for over 2 years would require applying separately under Tier 2.
Tier 5 Government Authorised Exchange: This is for people coming to the UK through approved schemes in order to share knowledge and experience. This category must not be used to fill job vacancies or to bring unskilled labour to the UK. This category is for sponsored researchers whose higher education institution are the sponsor or for those working for a government department or agency.
Who can apply? You can apply for entry clearance from outside the UK or from inside to extend your stay in the T5 sub-category for up to 24months unless you are on a Work Experience Programme in which case only 12 months stay is possible.
*Your sponsor must be an overarching body.
Tier 5 International Agreement: This is for people coming to the UK under contract to do work that is covered by international law, including:
- the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)
- similar agreements between the UK and another country
- employees of overseas governments and international organisations
- private servants in diplomatic households
Who can apply? You can apply for entry clearance from outside the UK or from inside to extend your stay in the T5 sub-category for up to 24 months unless you are an employee of an overseas government/international organisation. The employees of overseas government/international organisations may apply continuously for 12 month extensions for up to 6 years. Private servants in diplomatic households may stay for up to 5 years.
*It is possible to switch into this sub-category through application from inside the UK if you want to continue working for your employer (of an overseas/international organisation) and you have a work permit.
Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme: This is for people aged 18-30 with certain types of British Nationality or who are from certain countries and who want to live and work in the UK for up to 2 years.
Who can apply? The scheme allows a certain number of applicants to come to the UK with their government as sponsor if they are from the following countries:
- Australia
- Canada
- Japan
- Monaco
- New Zealand
- Hong Kong
- Republic of Korea
- Taiwan
- or are a:
You can also study and be self-employed although work as a professional sportsperson, doctor or dentist in training is forbidden.
*You would need to show the larger amount of £1,890 in savings to meet the maintenance requirement
*Please note this is not available to those with children whom they are financial responsible for or who have children that live with them.
Call us on 0208 8100 948 for more information, a free initial assessment of your requirements, and for fee details.