Religious Worker Visa UK Guide

The Religious Worker visa is part of the UK’s Temporary Worker immigration routes, designed for overseas nationals coming to the UK to undertake short-term religious work in a non-pastoral role or within a religious order. It sits under the Temporary Work – Religious Worker subcategory within the UK Immigration Rules and is intended for roles that are not eligible for the longer-term Minister of Religion visa.

Religious organisations, churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, and other faith-based bodies may use this visa route to invite overseas religious workers for specific duties that support their religious mission. While the visa can cover a range of religious support activities, it is not for someone taking a key pastoral leadership role of a congregation — that is the Minister of Religion route.

From the perspective of both the sponsoring organisation and the visa applicant, understanding the detailed requirements of the Religious Worker visa is critical. For sponsors, this includes meeting strict UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) compliance duties. For applicants, this means demonstrating eligibility and preparing a legally compliant application with the correct evidence.

What this article is about
This guide explains the Religious Worker visa route in detail, with practical and legal information for both UK sponsors and overseas applicants. It covers the scope of the visa, eligibility criteria, sponsorship requirements, application process, costs, visa conditions, and compliance obligations. It also looks at possible next steps after the visa expires, including whether a change of immigration route is possible.

By the end of this article, you should understand:

• The type of work allowed under the Religious Worker visa
• The responsibilities of UK sponsors and visa holders
• How to make a compliant application
• The key legal considerations for maintaining valid immigration status under this route

Section A: Understanding the Religious Worker Visa

The Religious Worker visa is a specialist immigration route designed to enable faith-based organisations in the UK to invite overseas nationals for short-term religious work. It operates alongside, but separately from, the Minister of Religion visa.

Whereas the Minister of Religion visa is for individuals taking up a leadership role in a faith community—such as a full-time minister, priest, imam, rabbi, or other senior religious leader—the Religious Worker visa is intended for those who will support religious activities without assuming a pastoral leadership role.

1. Visa Purpose and Scope

The Religious Worker visa exists to allow temporary religious workers to come to the UK for roles such as:

• Working within a religious order
• Undertaking non-pastoral religious work for a religious organisation
• Other supporting duties that do not amount to leading a congregation

Applicants must be sponsored by a UK-based organisation that holds an appropriate Temporary Worker sponsor licence for the Religious Worker category.

The route does not provide a direct path to settlement and is time-limited.

2. Duration and Conditions of Stay

A Religious Worker visa is usually granted for up to 24 months, or up to 28 days more than the time on the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), whichever is shorter.

Holders of this visa may:

• Work only in the role for which they were sponsored
• Take supplementary employment for up to 20 hours per week in the same sector at the same level, or in a role on the Immigration Salary List, outside the hours of their main job
• Study in the UK, subject to course-specific requirements (e.g., ATAS where relevant)

They cannot:

• Claim public funds
• Take permanent employment outside their sponsored duties

3. Sponsorship Requirements

A UK sponsor must:

• Hold a valid Temporary Worker sponsor licence for the Religious Worker category and assign a valid CoS
• Confirm the role fits the Religious Worker route (non-pastoral or within a religious order)
• Carry out a “resident labour consideration” where required (formerly the resident labour market test) to ensure no suitable settled worker is displaced, and record the basis (including any exemption, such as a supernumerary role or where the worker mainly lives within a religious order) on the CoS

Section Summary
The Religious Worker visa permits UK faith-based organisations to bring in overseas workers for non-pastoral religious duties or work within a religious order, for a capped period, with defined work restrictions. Sponsors must meet licensing and, where applicable, resident-labour-consideration requirements.

Section B: Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for a UK Religious Worker visa, both the applicant and the sponsoring organisation must meet specific requirements in the Immigration Rules and UKVI guidance.

1. Applicant Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be aged 18 or over at the time of application
• Have a confirmed job offer from a UK-based religious organisation holding an appropriate Temporary Worker sponsor licence and be assigned a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
• Demonstrate they meet the financial requirement, unless exempt: at least £1,270 in personal savings held for 28 consecutive days, with day 28 within 31 days of application, unless the sponsor certifies maintenance or the applicant has been lawfully in the UK for at least 12 months

Additional route-specific rules include:

• A cooling-off restriction: you cannot get this visa if you held Religious Worker or Charity Worker permission in the previous 12 months, unless you can prove you were outside the UK for the whole of that period
• Your job must comply with UK minimum wage and working time rules, otherwise the application will be refused

Note on documents: UKVI does not list a routine criminal record certificate for this route; TB testing is required if applying from a listed country and staying over 6 months.

2. Sponsor Requirements

The sponsoring organisation must:

• Hold the correct licence and assign a valid CoS meeting Appendix Temporary Work – Religious Worker rules
• Undertake a resident labour consideration unless an exemption applies (e.g., supernumerary role, mainly living within a religious order, or in‑country extension with the same sponsor) and retain evidence accordingly
• Confirm maintenance on the CoS where certifying support for the first month (optional)

3. Additional Suitability Checks

• Tuberculosis test where applicable (Home Office country list)
• General suitability requirements (e.g., immigration history, conduct) apply across UK routes
• Employers should conduct appropriate safeguarding checks where relevant, although a formal CRC is not routinely specified for this route

Section Summary
Applicants must be 18+, have a licensed sponsor and CoS, satisfy maintenance (or be certified), and meet suitability rules, including the 12‑month cooling‑off rule for prior Religious/Charity Worker permission. Sponsors must meet licence and resident‑labour obligations or justify an exemption.

Section C: Application Process

The Religious Worker visa process is online and requires coordination between sponsor and applicant. A complete, accurate application is essential.

1. Applying from Outside the UK

Key steps:

• Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) assignment via the Sponsorship Management System (SMS)
• Online application for Temporary Work – Religious Worker
• Provide supporting documents (passport, maintenance evidence unless certified, TB results if applicable, relationship evidence for dependants)
• Biometrics (or ID Check app, depending on nationality/document)

You generally cannot make a first-time Religious Worker application from inside the UK; in-country applications are for extensions only.

2. Costs and Fees

• Application fee: £319 per applicant (inside or outside the UK)
• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £1,035 per year (reduced rates for applicants under 18)
• Immigration Skills Charge: not payable for this Temporary Work route (ISC applies to Skilled Worker and Senior/Specialist Worker routes)

3. Processing Times

• Standard decision times: 3 weeks (outside the UK) and 8 weeks (inside the UK for extensions)
• Priority/super-priority services may be available for an additional fee, subject to location and capacity

Section Summary
Prepare the CoS and documents, apply online, and provide biometrics/ID verification. Fees currently stand at £319 plus the IHS £1,035 per year. Standard decisions are ~3 weeks (out of country) and ~8 weeks (in-country extensions). The ISC does not apply to this route.

Section D: Compliance and Legal Considerations

Once a Religious Worker visa is granted, both the visa holder and the sponsoring organisation must meet strict compliance obligations.

1. Sponsor Compliance Duties

Licensed sponsors must:

• Report changes (non-start, unauthorised absences, early termination) and keep accurate right-to-work/attendance records
• Carry out and evidence a resident labour consideration unless exempt (e.g., supernumerary, mainly living within a religious order, or in-country extension with same sponsor), and include an explanatory sponsor note on the CoS
• Observe the cooling-off rules when considering repeat sponsorship
• Not pass on or recoup sponsor licence fees, CoS fees or associated admin costs from sponsored workers (prohibition effective 9 April 2025)

UKVI may conduct announced or unannounced compliance visits. Failure to comply can result in suspension or revocation.

2. Conditions on Visa Holders

Visa holders must:

• Work only in the CoS role
• May undertake supplementary work up to 20 hours/week in the same sector at the same level, or in a role on the Immigration Salary List, outside main hours
• Not access public funds
• Comply with travel and re-entry requirements and maintain up-to-date contact details with their sponsor

3. Extension, Switching, and Path to Settlement

• Extensions: Possible up to a maximum of 24 months total on this route, subject to eligibility and licence compliance, with standard 8-week decision times for in-country applications
• Switching: New applications cannot be made from inside the UK into this route; in-country applications are for extensions only
• Settlement: This route does not lead to ILR, but a person may later qualify to switch (from outside the UK or via a new route) into a category that can lead to settlement, e.g., Minister of Religion or Skilled Worker, if eligible under those rules

Section Summary
Sponsors must evidence resident-labour steps (or exemptions), keep records, report changes, observe cooling-off, and must not pass sponsorship costs to workers. Visa holders face defined work limits, supplementary work rules, and no public funds. Extensions are possible to a 24-month cap; there is no direct ILR under this route.

FAQs

What is the difference between the Religious Worker visa and the Minister of Religion visa?
Religious Worker is for non-pastoral roles or work within a religious order, capped at up to 24 months and not a route to settlement. Minister of Religion is for key pastoral leadership roles and can lead to settlement after 5 years.

Can dependants accompany a Religious Worker visa holder?
Yes. Partner and dependent children can apply, must meet relationship and maintenance requirements, and dependants can work (except as a professional sportsperson/coach).

Is there a language requirement?
No English language requirement applies to this route.

Can a Religious Worker visa holder change sponsor?
A change of employer requires a new application. However, in-country applications are for extensions only; a first-time application to work for a new sponsor is made from outside the UK.

Can Religious Worker visa holders apply from inside the UK?
You can extend your Religious Worker permission from inside the UK (subject to rules) with a standard decision time of 8 weeks. New applications are made from overseas.

Conclusion

The Religious Worker route provides a lawful means for UK faith-based organisations to bring in overseas nationals for non-pastoral religious work or roles within a religious order. Sponsor compliance now includes resident labour consideration (unless exempt) and a prohibition on passing sponsor and CoS fees to workers from 9 April 2025. Applications carry an £319 fee plus the IHS £1,035/year, and first-time applications are made from overseas; in-country applications are for extensions only. This route does not lead directly to settlement.

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Gill Laing

Gill Laing is a qualified Legal Researcher & Analyst with niche specialisms in Law, Tax, Human Resources, Immigration & Employment Law. Gill is a Multiple Business Owner and the Managing Director of Prof Services - a Marketing & Content Agency for the Professional Services Sector.

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