Charity Worker Visa UK

The Charity Worker visa is a category of UK Temporary Worker visas specifically designed for people who wish to come to the UK to undertake voluntary work in the charitable sector. This visa allows for a stay of up to 12 months, or the period stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship plus an additional 14 days, whichever is shorter.

It is essential to understand that this visa does not permit paid employment and is solely for unpaid voluntary work that contributes to the charity’s purpose. The work done must be directly related to the advancement or achievement of the sponsoring organisation’s charitable aims. This visa does not lead to settlement in the UK, but it provides an opportunity for those to support and contribute to UK charities temporarily.

The costs involved in applying for a Charity Worker visa include:

• An application fee of £298
• An annual immigration health surcharge of £624
• The need to prove at least £1,270 of personal savings available to support your stay in the UK

You may be exempt from the latter condition if your employer is able to provide the funds to cover your stay in the UK for your first month.

Once you have submitted your application, proven your identity and provided your documents, a decision will usually be made within three weeks if you’re outside the UK, or eight weeks if you’re inside the UK. It can sometimes take time to prepare the documents you need, so you should contact us as soon as possible if you have plans to work in the UK, even if you don’t yet have a start date.

The Charity Worker visa does not provide a path to settlement. The charity worker may be eligible to extend their stay in the UK. However, the maximum amount of time for which they can stay in the UK is limited to 12 months, or the time on their Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter. You cannot apply for a Charity Worker visa if you have held one within the last 12 months. For this reason, this type of visa is not suitable if you have been offered a permanent job in the UK.

A charity worker can be joined by their spouse/partner and any dependent children under the age of 18, provided that they are able to meet the relationship and financial requirements.

To be eligible for this application, a spouse or partner will need to prove that they have £285 available to support themselves while in the UK. A dependent child will need to show proof of funds of £315, and £200 for any additional child.

The types of charitable activities that qualify for a Charity Worker visa in the UK are strictly unpaid voluntary work roles that directly contribute to the charitable aims of the sponsoring organisation. These activities must not replace paid positions and should typically be roles that would not normally be filled by a paid worker. The work carried out must be directly related to the charity’s stated purpose, such as providing relief to the impoverished, advancing education, promoting health, saving lives, or any other activities deemed charitable under UK law. It is important that the voluntary work aligns with the sponsor’s registered charitable activities and is detailed in the Certificate of Sponsorship.

You can bring your family members with you on a Charity Worker visa as dependents, provided they meet certain eligibility criteria. The dependents that can accompany or join you include your spouse, partner and children under the age of 18. Each dependent must have a certain amount of personal savings to support themselves while in the UK; this is £285 for a spouse or partner, £315 for the first child and £200 for each additional child. These funds are required to prove that they can be maintained during their stay without requiring public funds.

Generally, you cannot switch to a Charity Worker visa from another immigration category while you are inside the UK. This visa must be applied for from outside the UK unless you are already in the UK under a different category of the Temporary Worker visa and are applying to continue your stay for the same job with the same sponsor. Seek legal advice from our immigration experts to understand the current regulations and to confirm your eligibility to switch categories within the UK.

The Charity Worker visa UK does not lead to permanent residency (Indefinite Leave to Remain). This visa category is for temporary work and is granted for a period of up to 12 months or the duration of the Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days – whichever is shorter. It is specifically designed for those who intend to undertake unpaid voluntary work related to a charity’s objectives and is not a route that counts towards settlement.

If your Charity Worker visa application is rejected, you will receive a notice from the UK Home Office outlining the reasons for the refusal. It is important to carefully review the refusal notice to understand the grounds on which the application was denied. Depending on the reason for rejection, you may have the right to an administrative review if you believe there has been a case working error. If there is new information or changes in circumstances, or if the initial application was incomplete, you may be able to apply again. However, you will need to pay the application fee again, and it is advisable to address the reasons for the initial refusal in the new application.

If you find yourself in this situation, call us as soon as possible and we will help you to assess your options and take the necessary action.

The charity worker route was renamed to the ‘Temporary Work – Charity Worker Visa’, replacing the former ‘Temporary Worker – Charity Worker Visa (T5)’​. The update was more of a rebranding of the visa rather than a change in its fundamental purpose or requirements.

However, it was updated to reflect changes to the UK’s immigration rules on 12th April 2023​. These updates have made some minor amendments and clarifications. It is recommended for individuals or organisations involved in the application process to seek professional legal advice to fully understand what the changes are and mean.