Manchester: 0044 161 234 6800 London: 0044 207 046 7185 Brussels: 0032 2792 3371
The Temporary Worker – Charity Worker visa allows people to come to the UK to do voluntary work. If successful in their visa application, the charity worker can work in the UK for up to 12 months, or for the length of time stated on their Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days, depending on whichever is shorter.
There are strict eligibility requirements to qualify for the Charity Worker visa, including a sponsorship certificate from a licensed employer, so it may not be a suitable route for everyone who wants to undertake charity work in the UK. If you need information on immigration rules for UK visas or the routes available for temporary workers, the immigration experts at Latitude Law can help. Get in touch to learn more about how we can help you.
To speak to a solicitor about making a charity worker visa application, call us on 0044 161 234 6800 or 0044 207 046 7185, or fill in our contact form to request a call back.
To be eligible to apply under the Charity Worker visa, applicants must:
Your work must be unpaid voluntary work that directly contributes to the charitable purpose of your sponsor organisation in order for you to be eligible for this type of Temporary Worker visa. This includes activities that would not usually be paid jobs, and which help to achieve or advance your sponsor’s charitable purpose. If you need more information about eligible charity work, speak to our experts today.
You can make an application for a Charity Worker visa online. As part of the application, the applicant will need to prove their identity and provide specific additional documents.
Applicants must have:
Because of the complicated eligibility requirements and paperwork that is needed to apply for a temporary worker visa, it is usually best to speak to specialist immigration lawyers who can guide your efforts and offer you the best chance of success.
If you need advice on which immigration options are suitable for you, or support through the application process, Latitude Law can help. As a specialist immigration law firm, we have significant experience in applying for and securing temporary worker visas for our clients and supporting charity workers to take up work in the UK.
The services we offer for those applying for Charity Worker Visas include:
By supporting clients through the entire process of applying and securing their Charity Worker visa, we can help to ensure that they are successful. If you make a mistake with your application, it will likely be rejected, you will lose your application fee and you will have to apply again, so getting everything right in the first instance is vital when applying for this type of visa.
For advice on Temporary Worker – Charity Worker Visas, including how to make a successful application, contact Latitude Law today by calling 0044 161 234 6800 or 0044 207 046 7185. Alternatively, fill in our online enquiry form and we will call you back.
The costs involved in applying for a Charity Worker visa include:
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.
Are you an elite sportsperson or a company wanting to sponsor sportspeople? Latitude Law are experts in acquiring, extending and providing ongoing guidance for Tier 2 visas.
Are you hoping to work in the UK? Have you been offered a job role and seek permission to work here? Our immigration lawyers are experts in the operation of UK and European legislation that affects foreign workers.
"Dear Gemma & Victoria,
Thank you for all your hard work and encouragement."
Mr Hanif
July 2023
"Dear Gemma & Victoria,
Thank you for helping me to get my new Biometric Residence Permit"
Brother Koso
July 2023
"Natasha & the Latitude Law team showed exceptional professionalism and efficiency throughout the process of my family's permanent residency application. I'm incredibly thankful for their expertise and dedication."
Ms Zheng
June 2023
All content on this page was reviewed by Latitude Law and is accurate as of 05/10/2022