Religious Worker visa (Temporary Work)
Eligibility
You must:
- have a certificate of sponsorship reference number from your UK sponsor
- have enough money to support yourself in the UK - you’ll usually need to have at least £1,270 available (unless you’re exempt)
- be 18 or over when you apply
You cannot get this visa if you were given a Religious Worker or Charity Worker visa in the last year, unless you can prove you were outside the UK for the whole of that time.
Your employer must make sure your job pays at least the minimum wage and follows the UK rules for how many hours a week you work. If your employer does not do this, your application will be refused.
Certificate of sponsorship
A certificate of sponsorship is a unique reference number that holds information about the job you’ll do and your personal details. It’s not an actual certificate or paper document.
Your sponsor will give you the certificate of sponsorship.
Your sponsor must also give you the information they used on your certificate about your job, for example your working hours.
Your sponsor must be recognised by the UK government to issue certificates of sponsorship.
Your certificate of sponsorship is valid for 3 months from the date it is assigned to you.
Money to support yourself
You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.
You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.
You’ll usually need to show proof of this when you apply, unless either:
- you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months
- your employer can cover your costs during your first month in the UK, up to £1,270
Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they’re in the UK. Check how much they’ll need.
Read the guidance on financial evidence for more information about the money you need and how to prove it.
If your employer can support you instead
Your certificate of sponsorship must confirm this. Your employer will need to complete the ‘sponsor certifies maintenance’ section on your certificate. This is under ‘Additional data’.