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Temporary workers - religious workers

Image of hands clasped together in prayer.

This section explains how you can come to the United Kingdom or remain here in the religious worker category (Tier 5 Temporary Worker) under our points-based system to work in the United Kingdom.

What is the religious worker category?

The religious worker category is for people coming to the United Kingdom to work temporarily as a religious worker. 

Religious workers can do:

  • preaching, pastoral work and non-pastoral work;
  • work in the United Kingdom in the same way you are working in an overseas organisation (although your duties in the United Kingdom may be different). The job should be done during a break from your job overseas; or
  • work in a religious order with community which involves a permanent commitment like a monastery or convent. The work in a religious order must be in the order itself or outside work directed by the order. You can apply if you are a novice whose training means taking part in the daily community life of the order.

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Who can apply as a religious worker?

Before you apply under the religious category, you must have:

  • a sponsor; and
  • a valid certificate of sponsorship.

When you apply you are awarded points based on your sponsorship and available maintenance (funds). (85)

You can apply under the religious worker category now if you are:

  • applying for permission to enter the United Kingdom (known as 'entry clearance') under the religious worker category;
  • already in the United Kingdom as a religious worker and want to extend your permission to stay if you have been here for less than 24 months, which is the maximum time you are allowed to stay.

If you are coming to the United Kingdom for a business visit, for example, you are attending a conference, you can do some preaching and pastoral work as long as you are based overseas and do not plan to work here. See business and special visitors for more information.

If you are a member of a religious order and studying for a qualification, a formal full-time course of study or training in an academic institution not looked after by the order, you should apply under the student category (tier 4 when it launches).

Teachers working in schools not looked after by their order must apply as a teacher under the sponsored skilled worker category of tier 2. See the sponsored skilled worker category for more information.

If your main reason for coming to the United Kingdom is to do preaching and pastoral work, you should apply under the minister or religion category of tier 2. See the minister of religion category for more information.

Switching is not allowed in or out of the religious worker category.

Go to our visa services website if you are applying from outside the United Kingdom. There you can find out more about the process in the country you are applying from and download the relevant application forms.

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How long can you stay for?

If you are given permission to stay as a religious worker, you will be able to live and work in the United Kingdom for a maximum time of 24 months, or the time given in your certificate of sponsorship plus 28 days, which ever time is shorter. 

If you would like to come to the United Kingdom for longer you should see the minister of religion category of tier 2 of our points-based system to work in the United Kingdom.

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If you need to be able to come and go from the United Kingdom with your job

If you need to leave and come back to the United Kingdom quite a few times as part of the job you are doing, you can get a multiple entry certificate of sponsorship. Your sponsor will give you a multiple entry certificate of sponsorship that allows you to come and go from the United Kingdom a number of different times during the length of your certificate.

If you have permission to come (entry clearance) for any length of time, you will be able to leave and come back to the United Kingdom during the time you have permission.

If you leave the United Kingdom and you were given six months or less permission to stay (leave to remain), you will not be able to come back as your permission to stay ends when you leave the United Kingdom. You must apply again to be able to come back.

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