Temporary Workers
Tier 5 of the Points Based System is designed for workers who wish to carry out temporary work in the UK for a licensed sponsor. The Schemes that closed on 26th November 2008 and for which you will no longer be able to apply under are as follows: Au pairs, Gap Year, Japan Youth Exchange Scheme, Visiting religious workers and religious workers in non-pastoral roles, Overseas Government employees, Voluntary Workers and Working holidaymakers.
The Youth Mobility Scheme under Tier 5 is a route for individuals between the ages of 18 and 31 years of age from participating countries which currently include Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand or if migrants are a British overseas citizen, British overseas territory citizen or a British national overseas. If you are granted permission to stay in the UK under the Youth Mobility Scheme you will be granted a maximum period of 24 months to live and work in the UK.
Individuals can also apply under the Tier 5 Temporary Worker schemes devised for Creative and Sporting Workers, Charity Workers, Religious Workers, and under the Government Authorised Exchange and International Agreement schemes.
Under the Creative and Sporting Workers category, you must be internationally established at the highest level if you are applying as a sports person or your job must make a significant contribution to the development and running of the sport at the highest level in the UK. In addition, if you are a coach you must be suitably qualified to do your job.
The Charity Workers category is available for those who will be carrying out voluntary work for a charity, which is unpaid. Religious Workers can apply to work as a religious worker on a temporary basis and there are a number of activities that religious workers can undertake in the UK under this scheme. The Government Authorised Exchange scheme is available for people coming to the UK through approved schemes with the aim to share knowledge experience and best practice and experience social and cultural life in the UK. This category is not designed to fill job vacancies and this scheme demands that there is support from a UK government department of the overarching body who manages the Government Authorised Exchange scheme. The International Agreement scheme allows people coming to the UK under contract to do work that is covered by international law. The Creative and Sporting Workers and Charity Workers categories allow individuals to remain in the UK for a maximum period of 12 months. The Religious Workers, Government Authorised Exchange and International Agreement schemes allow individuals to stay in the UK for up to 24 months. It is important to understand that none of the Temporary Worker categories leads to settlement in the UK.
It is essential for organisations that employ workers under Tier 5 to be registered as a Sponsor with the UK Border Agency. If you are an organisation, please refer to our section on Sponsorship and Prevention of illegal working for more information. The requirements for each category under Tier 5 are different and it is important to ascertain whether you are eligible to apply under Tier 5 or whether the nature of your work and how long you wish to stay in the UK means that you should apply under the visitor rules.