An Employer’s Guide to the Temporary UK Work Visa

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This is how your company can use the Temporary UK Work visa to fill critical roles

24 April 2024

Our clients always tell us about their challenges in moving people into the UK for limited periods.

Film studios, theatres, and festivals need to be able to bring camera crews, actors, dancers, and musicians into the country.

Equally, businesses in the horticulture or agricultural sector often need manual workers to fill time-limited roles.

Yet in both scenarios, bringing in these crucial staff introduces a whole layer of complications. Surely, our clients say, there must be an easy way to get foreign staff in and out of the United Kingdom.

That’s where the UK Temporary Worker Visa comes in.

What is the Temporary UK Work Visa?

The UK’s Temporary Work Visa is a lifeline for many of the country’s most prized sectors. It allows organisations of many types to bring international professionals into the country to carry out specific roles for designated periods.

It’s hard to overstate the impact of this visa. After all, Barbie’s runaway success would have been impossible if Ryan Gosling had been turned away at customs on his way to shoot at Warner Bros. Studios in Watford.

The Temporary Worker Visa covers many job roles far beyond the film industry. It allows churches, factories, language schools, universities and all sorts of other organisations to access the variety of expertise they rely on. Let’s look at this in more detail.

Types of Temporary UK Work visas

The Temporary Work Visa spans several categories, each designed for different types of work. They differ in their requirements and conditions. Let’s look at each in turn.

Creative and Sporting visa

This visa is designed for individuals offered work as sportspersons or creative professionals, such as actors, dancers, musicians, or film crew members. Employers must provide a Certificate of Sponsorship and show that a resident worker cannot fill the role. Depending on the type of work, additional requirements may be added, such as endorsement from a relevant sports or creative body.

Charity Worker visa

This visa is for individuals working unpaid or voluntarily for a charity. Employers must show that the position is directly related to the charity’s work and that the individual will not replace paid staff. An employer also needs to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship for the worker.

Religious Worker visa

This visa is for those offered work, such as preaching or pastoral work, within a religious organisation. Employers must provide a certificate of sponsorship and evidence that the individual has enough money to support themselves without needing public funds.

Government Authorised Exchange Worker visa

This visa is for individuals coming to the UK through approved schemes that aim to share knowledge, experience, and best practices. Employers must be able to show that the individual’s work relates to the objectives of the exchange scheme and will not be taking a role that a resident worker could fill.

International Agreement Worker visa

This visa is for individuals working under international law or treaty, such as employees of overseas governments. Employers must provide a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) and evidence that the individual’s work relates to the international agreement under which they apply.

Importantly, the visa comes with flexibility. If the foreign worker’s skills remain vital to your business, the visa can be extended, ensuring sustained contributions to your business growth.

What employers should know about the UK Temporary Work visa application process

Securing Temporary UK Work visas for overseas staff involves several steps for an employer.

The first thing you need to do is apply for a sponsor licence. This will make you eligible to sponsor an overseas worker for a UK Temporary Work visa.

Once you have a sponsor licence, you can award your overseas worker a CoS. This will allow them to apply for their visa. A decision is typically given within three weeks.

Employers will need to cover the cost of sponsorship. They may also need to pay the visa application fee (£298 for all these types) and the Immigration Health Surcharge on behalf of their hire.

You should also note that temporary workers must leave the UK when their visa expires, unless they secure an extension or switch to a different visa.

Staying compliant when sponsoring temporary workers in the UK

The Temporary UK Work visa could be a lifeline for your company. But it’s crucial to ensure compliance when sponsoring temporary workers. Failing to comply with the rules and regulations can result in severe penalties, including fines, revocation of your sponsor licence, and, in extreme cases, criminal charges.

You can avoid nasty accidents by keeping yourself briefed on your obligations as a visa sponsor.

Our guide to staying compliant as a visa sponsor is a good place to start.

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Content Marketing Manager

Alex Schulte

Alex focuses on insights for global mobility, using his 8+ years of analysis experience to help educate the market with clear, practical content.

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