Important note
Kindly note: You need Certificate of Sponsorship before you apply for this visa. We don’t provide them, we assist in the documentation and application for the charity visa. Therefore, please get the Sponsorship and then contact us.
The UK Short-term work visas are a part of the Tier 5 visas and come under the UK’s Point-based system.
The UK Short-term work visas are also known as ‘Temporary Workers Visas’
The visas under this category are listed below:
– UK Charity Worker visa.
– UK Creative Worker visa.
– UK Government Authorized Exchange visa.
– UK International Agreement visa.
– UK Religious Worker visa.
– UK Seasonal Work visa.
– UK Youth Mobility Scheme visa.
– UK Graduate visa.
Table of contents
– Overview – UK Charity Worker visa
– What are the eligibility criteria for a UK Charity Worker visa?
– Will I require a Certificate of Sponsorship to apply for a UK Charity Worker visa?
– How can I get a Certificate of Sponsorship?
– What are the documents required to apply for a UK Charity Worker visa?
– When should I apply for a UK Charity Worker visa?
– How to apply for a UK Charity Worker visa?
– How long does it take to get a decision on a UK Charity Worker visa?
– How much does a UK Charity Worker visa cost?
– How long can I stay in the UK on a UK Charity Worker visa?
– What is permitted and not permitted on a UK Charity Worker visa?
– Can I extend my UK Charity Worker visa?
– Can I bring my partner and children to the UK on a UK Charity Worker visa?
– How can The SmartMove2UK be of help for your UK Charity Worker visa application?
Overview – UK Charity Worker visa
Applicants can apply for a UK Charity Worker visa if they want to do unpaid voluntary work for a charity.
What are the eligibility criteria for a UK Charity Worker visa?
The eligibility criteria for a UK Charity Worker visa are listed below:
- The applicant must have a Certificate of Sponsorship from their UK sponsor.
- The applicant must have enough money to support their stay in the UK – a minimum of £1,270 in the applicant’s bank account is mandatory. The money must be available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.
- The applicant must be 18 years old or above 18 years when they apply.
Will I require a Certificate of Sponsorship to apply for a UK Charity Worker visa?
- Yes, the applicant must have a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed employer before they can apply to come to the UK to work.
- The applicant’s charity work in the UK must relate to the work of their sponsor organisation.
How can I get a Certificate of Sponsorship?
- The UK-based employer – also known as a ‘Sponsor’ – must provide the applicant with a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ stating all the information regarding the job role for which the applicant is employed in the UK.
- It’s an e-Certificate. That means, it is an electronic record and not a paper document.
- The applicant will need the reference number from the Certificate of Sponsorship to apply for the visa.
- The Certificate of Sponsorship must be valid for 3 months from the date it is assigned to the applicant.
What are the documents required to apply for a UK Charity Worker visa?
The documents required to apply for a UK Charity Worker visa are listed below:
- A Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK employer.
- A valid passport with enough blank pages for the visa, and other documents that proves the identity and nationality of the applicant.
- Evidence of enough personal savings to support the applicant’s stay in the UK. For example, bank statements.
- Proof of relationship with the partner or children, if they apply.
- Tuberculosis (TB) test results (if required).
- The applicant will need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.
When should I apply for a UK Charity Worker visa?
The applicant can apply for a UK Charity Worker visa up to 3 months before the day they are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on the Certificate of Sponsorship.
How to apply for a UK Charity Worker visa?
The applicant must apply online for a UK Charity Worker visa.
How long does it take to get a decision on a UK Charity Worker visa?
Once applied online, submitted identity proofs, and provided valid documents, the applicant will usually get a decision on their visa application within:
- 3 weeks, if the applicant is outside the UK.
- 8 weeks, if the applicant is inside the UK.
How much does a UK Charity Worker visa cost?
The applicant is required to pay:
- The application fee, which is £259 (the fee is the same whether you’re applying from inside or outside the UK).
- The immigration healthcare surcharge, which is £624 for each year granted on the visa.
(Application fees updated as of May 2022).
How long can I stay in the UK on a UK Charity Worker visa?
The applicant can stay for up to 1 year or the time mentioned on the Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter.
The applicant can enter the UK up to 14 days before the start date of their job.
What is permitted and not permitted on a UK Charity Worker visa?
The applicant is permitted to:
- Study (for some courses).
- Work for the sponsor in the job described on the applicant’s Certificate of Sponsorship.
- Do a second job in the same sector at the same level as the applicant’s main job for up to 20 hours per week.
- Do a job on the Skilled Worker shortage occupation list for up to 20 hours per week.
- Bring a partner and children (under 18 years), if they’re eligible.
The applicant is not permitted to:
- Receive any payment for work.
- Take a permanent job.
- Get public funds.
Can I extend my UK Charity Worker visa?
The applicant can apply to extend their UK Charity Worker visa before their current visa expires.
Can I bring my partner and children to the UK on a UK Charity Worker visa?
- The applicant can bring along a partner and children (under 18 years) to join them in the UK as their ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible.
- If their application is successful, their visa will end on the same date as the main applicants.
A dependent partner or child is any of the following:
- Husband, wife, civil partner, or an unmarried partner.
- Children under 18 years – including if they were born in the UK during the main applicant’s stay in the country.
- Children over 18 years if they’re currently in the UK living as a dependant.
Did you know that if you meet the requirements, the UK Health & Care Worker visa also allows you to extend your stay in the country and apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (settlement)? Read the article for more…
How can The SmartMove2UK be of help for your UK Charity Worker visa application?
Kindly note: You need Certificate of Sponsorship before you apply for this visa. We don’t provide them, we assist in the documentation and application for the charity visa. Therefore, please get the Sponsorship and then contact us.
The SmartMove2UK is a UK immigration law firm, established in 2009. Our firm has a team of UK immigration solicitors and experts.
- Our law firm was announced as the winner of the IAE Corporate Immigration Law (India) award, in 2016.
- We are recognized by Who’s Who Legal (WWL) as a Corporate Immigration Firm in 2016.
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Our offices are located in India – Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru.
We have been assisting clients from all over the world and our clientele is spread across 26+ countries, with 1,000 success stories.
Our UK-qualified solicitors have the expertise of over 2 decades in providing Legal Advice for all UK immigration-related assistance.
We also offer Full Representation service and Filing Appeals for Refused applications.
You can get in touch with our UK immigration lawyer to book a consultation
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