This section explains how you can apply to come to work in the United Kingdom as a minister of religion, missionary or a member of a religious order.

A minister of religion is a religious official whose main regular duties are to lead a congregation in performing the rites and rituals of the faith and to preach the essentials of the creed.

A missionary is a person who is directly engaged in spreading a religious doctrine and whose work is not administrative or clerical in nature.

A member of a religious order is a person who is coming to live in a community run by that order.

You may apply to come to the United Kingdom to work under this category provided you meet our requirements for qualifications and can show that you are able to communicate well in English. For full details of the requirements you must meet, see Eligibility.

While working here as a minister of religion, missionary or as a member of a religious order you may not change your job without our permission. We will allow you to change your job if you are still working in the category you were originally given permission for and you still meet the requirements for this category of visa.

A person applying to enter the United Kingdom as a minister of religion, missionary or member of a religious order may be admitted for up to two years provided he/she is able to produce to the immigration officer, on arrival, a valid United Kingdom entry clearance for entry in this capacity.

An extension of stay as a minister of religion, missionary or member of a religious order may be granted for a period not exceeding 3 years provided you satisfy eligibility requirements.

Once you have lived here for five years under this category, you will be able to apply to live here permanently. See Extending for more information about this.

Please note the Ministers of religion arrangements are due to be deleted later this year when the new points-based system Skilled workers of Tier 2 is launched. These arrangements will include sports people and ministers of religion unless they are coming here temporarily and they will need to apply under Tier 5 - temporary worker .