Temporary Worker Sponsor Licence Application

The Temporary Worker route contains several subcategories:

Creative Worker

Organisations in the creative and entertainment sectors can sponsor individuals to undertake short-term creative roles, such as artists, dancers, musicians, entertainers, or fashion models. It also includes technical or support staff (“entourage”).

Charity Worker

To apply under this route, an organisation must be a registered, excepted or exempt UK charity in line with the relevant charity legislation, or an ecclesiastical corporation — either a corporation sole or body corporate — established for charitable purposes.

Religious Worker

Organisations can sponsor individuals to support the activities of religious institutions by conducting religious work, such as working in a religious order or undertaking non-pastoral duties for a religious organisation. To use this route, the organisation must be a genuine religious body and will usually need to be registered as a UK charity, unless a specific exemption applies.

Government Authorised Exchange

This route enables organisations to sponsor individuals taking part in approved Government Authorised Exchange schemes. These eligible schemes, listed in Appendix Government Authorised Exchange Schemes of the Immigration Rules, are designed to facilitate structured work experience, training, research or academic exchanges. For a scheme to be used, it must be endorsed by the relevant government department and overseen by an overarching sponsor.

Certain Higher Education Institutions may also use this route to sponsor researchers for up to two years, allowing them to contribute to research projects, provide a series of lectures or undertake external examinations.

International Agreement

The International Agreement category is available to organisations sponsoring individuals whose work in the UK is covered by international law or treaty. This includes employees of an overseas government, a recognised international organisation or private servants in diplomatic households.

Seasonal Worker

The Seasonal Worker route allows approved organisations in the horticulture sector or poultry production to sponsor individuals for short-term seasonal roles.