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Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme

Fruit picker

What requirements do I need to meet to come to the United Kingdom as a seasonal worker?

This page explains the requirements you need to meet to come to the United Kingdom as a seasonal worker under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS).

From the 1 January 2008, the SAWS will only be open to nationals of Bulgaria and Romania.

The SAWS is a short-term immigration category. If you come to the United Kingdom as a seasonal agricultural worker you will be given permission to work for a maximum of six months.

To qualify to work in the United Kingdom under the SAWS you must:

  • be either a Romanian or Bulgarian national; and
  • be over 18 years of age; and
  • have been issued with a work card by a UK Border Agency approved SAWS operator.

You will carry out low-skilled work including:

  • planting and gathering crops;
  • on-farm processing and packing of crops;
  • handling livestock.