Seasonal Worker Visa UK

Seasonal Worker visa: 6-month sponsored stay in edible or ornamental horticulture and autumn poultry, via licensed scheme operators with a 32-hour weekly guarantee.

Wesbridge Associates is an IAA-regulated UK immigration law firm. Our advisers support individuals, families and UK sponsors with skilled worker visas, sponsor licences, family routes, settlement (ILR), British citizenship, appeals and compliance — combining experienced legal advice with AI-powered self-service tools.

Reviewed by Wesbridge Associates' IAA-regulated immigration advisers. Last updated: July 2026.

The Seasonal Worker visa is a sponsored short-term route allowing overseas workers to come to the UK for up to 6 months for edible horticulture, poultry (autumn/winter) or ornamental horticulture roles. It is capped, quota-managed, and only sponsored by a small number of Home Office-licensed 'scheme operators' who match workers to farms. Wesbridge Associates advises scheme operators and workers on compliance, welfare and switching post-visa.

Who qualifies

You need (a) a job offer via one of the small number of licensed Seasonal Worker scheme operators (there are only a handful, all listed on GOV.UK — you cannot apply direct to a farm), (b) a role in edible horticulture (fruit, vegetables, mushrooms, herbs, cut flowers under some categories), poultry production (from 2 October to 31 December each year), or ornamental horticulture, (c) a Certificate of Sponsorship from the scheme operator, (d) proof of £1,270 personal savings held for 28 days unless the operator certifies maintenance, and (e) suitability. There is no minimum age above 18 for horticulture (poultry roles require 18+), no English language test, and no long-term intention to remain — the visa cannot be extended and does not lead to settlement.

What the visa allows and does not

6 months in any 12-month rolling period, tied to the sponsoring scheme operator (though you can be placed at multiple farms via the operator during your stay), paid at least at the National Living Wage and at the going rate for SOC 5433 (agricultural and fishing trades) — with a minimum of 32 guaranteed paid hours per week. You cannot bring dependants (partner or children), cannot switch to another route from inside the UK, cannot access public funds, and cannot extend. Scheme operators have enhanced welfare duties — accommodation standards, transport, pay records and a route for workers to raise concerns — that the Home Office and Defra enforce.

How it works with Wesbridge

Step 1 — scheme operator identification: we confirm the operator you have been offered a role by is one of the small number currently licensed under the Seasonal Worker scheme and that they hold quota for your sector and year. Step 2 — CoS assignment: the scheme operator issues a Certificate of Sponsorship covering placement details, wage rate and accommodation. Step 3 — application: online form, £319 Home Office fee, IHS (£1,035/year, pro-rated for 6 months — currently paid in full for the year), biometrics at a VAC in your home country. Step 4 — decision (standard 3 weeks; priority 5 working days where available). Step 5 — arrival and compliance: right-to-work check, welfare briefing, payslips and the operator's grievance channel; return home at the end of the 6 months. Applicants who came for horticulture in a previous year can normally re-apply for another season.

Worker welfare and common issues

Scheme operators must ensure fair pay (at least 32 guaranteed hours/week, National Living Wage, correct going rate for SOC 5433), safe and inspected accommodation (with clear deductions rules), transport between accommodation and placements, and a confidential mechanism for raising concerns. The Home Office and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) audit scheme operators. Workers who suspect exploitation, unpaid wages, unsafe housing or passport retention should contact the operator's welfare team, the GLAA (0800 432 0804) or Modern Slavery Helpline (08000 121 700) — reporting does not affect your immigration status.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply directly to a UK farm?

No. Seasonal Worker sponsorship sits only with the small number of licensed scheme operators listed on GOV.UK; the farm is your placement, not your sponsor. Any 'agency' offering you a direct Seasonal Worker CoS outside these operators is not legitimate and often signals fraud.

Can I bring my family or extend my stay?

No. The Seasonal Worker route does not allow dependants and cannot be extended. Total stay is capped at 6 months in a 12-month rolling period, and you cannot switch to another visa route from inside the UK. You must leave at the end of your permitted stay.

What if my employer is not paying me correctly or my accommodation is unsafe?

Raise the issue with your scheme operator's welfare team first (they have a Home Office duty to investigate). If unresolved, contact the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority on 0800 432 0804, or the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700. Reporting will not affect your immigration status and, where exploitation is found, additional protections apply under the National Referral Mechanism.

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