Religious Worker Visa UK: Solicitors in London
Specialist UK immigration solicitors helping religious workers and faith-based sponsors with Religious Worker visa applications, extensions and refusals. Free consultation in person, by phone or by video.
call 0207 100 2525 to speak to a specialist today. Available 24/7
The Religious Worker visa (Temporary Work) lets you come to the UK for up to 24 months to do non-pastoral religious work, or to work within a religious order, for a licensed faith-based sponsor. It costs £340 per applicant, requires £1,270 in maintenance funds and does not lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain. From 29 October 2026, new Immigration Rules (HC 584) replace the sponsor advertising requirement with an affiliation requirement.
Our SRA-regulated immigration solicitors in High Holborn and Upton Park advise religious workers and faith-based sponsors on every stage of the application. Call 0207 100 2525 or book a free consultation.
What is the Religious Worker visa?
The Religious Worker visa is a temporary sponsored work visa for non-pastoral religious roles and members of religious orders. It replaced the old Tier 5 (T5) Religious Worker visa.
Typical roles include religious assistants, members of a religious order such as monks or nuns, and support roles linked to the sponsoring organisation’s religious activities. You need a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed UK sponsor, and your work must relate to the sponsor’s work (GOV.UK: Religious Worker visa).
The route is temporary. Time spent on a Religious Worker visa does not count towards Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
Religious Worker visa or Minister of Religion visa?
Choose the Religious Worker visa for non-pastoral or religious-order work. Choose the Minister of Religion visa if the role is pastoral (leading worship, preaching, performing rites or missionary work) or if you want to settle in the UK. Applying under the wrong route is one of the most common reasons for refusal.
| Religious Worker (Temporary Work) | Minister of Religion (T2) | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of role | Non-pastoral religious work, or work within a religious order | Pastoral: preaching, leading worship, rites, missionary work |
| Maximum stay | 24 months | Up to 3 years 1 month per grant, extendable |
| Leads to ILR | No | Yes |
| English requirement | None | Yes (B2) |
| Application fee | £340 | £819 outside UK / £943 inside UK |
| Maintenance funds | £1,270 | £1,270 |
If your role is pastoral, see our Minister of Religion visa solicitors page. For other short-term sponsored routes, see Temporary Worker visas.
Religious Worker visa requirements
To qualify, you must be 18 or over, hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed sponsor and meet the maintenance requirement. In full, you must:
- be 18 or over when you apply
- have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a licensed UK sponsor
- do work that relates to your sponsor’s religious work
- be paid at least the National Minimum Wage (unless the role is exempt) and work within UK working-time rules
- meet the maintenance requirement (see below)
- not have held a Religious Worker or Charity Worker visa in the 12 months before an application from outside the UK, unless you were outside the UK for that whole period
Religious Worker visa rule changes from 29 October 2026 (HC 584)
From 29 October 2026, Religious Worker sponsors no longer have to advertise the role. Instead, the worker must show a genuine connection to the sponsoring faith organisation. These changes were made by the Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules HC 584.
- Advertising is replaced by an affiliation requirement. Unless the role is supernumerary or within a religious order, you must have performed religious duties outside the UK for the same faith-based organisation the sponsor is affiliated with, for at least 6 months immediately before you apply. You will need a letter from the overseas organisation describing that work.
- New rules for unpaid workers. If you are not entitled to the National Minimum Wage for the role, you do not need to show personal funds. Instead, your A-rated sponsor must confirm on the CoS that it will maintain and accommodate you for the whole period of your permission. The same applies to your dependants.
- Transition: applications made on or before 28 October 2026 are decided under the old rules.
If your sponsor relied on the advertising route, or you have worked for the organisation abroad for less than 6 months, take advice before your CoS is assigned.
Certificate of Sponsorship
Your Certificate of Sponsorship is a unique reference number from your licensed sponsor. It is valid for 3 months, so you must apply within 3 months of it being assigned. It records your role, working hours, pay and employment dates, and your sponsor must give you the job details it used.
Sponsors must hold a valid sponsor licence for the Religious Worker route. If you are extending with a new sponsor, the sponsor must be A-rated. Read more on our Certificate of Sponsorship page. Faith organisations that need a licence can use our sponsor licence application service.
Financial (maintenance) requirement
You must usually have at least £1,270 in your bank account for 28 days in a row, with day 28 falling within 31 days of your application.
You do not need to show these funds if:
- you have been in the UK with valid permission for at least 12 months, or
- your sponsor certifies maintenance on your CoS, agreeing to cover your costs for your first month up to £1,270
Religious Worker visa fees and total cost (2026)
The Religious Worker visa costs £340 per person, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per adult for each year of the visa. The application fee is the same inside and outside the UK (GOV.UK).
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee (each applicant) | £340 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (adult) | £1,035 per year |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (under 18) | Reduced rate (see GOV.UK) |
| Faster decision | Optional, where available |
| Certified translations, TB test | Where applicable |
Example: a single applicant granted 24 months pays £340 + £2,070 surcharge = £2,410 in government fees.
How long the visa lasts and how long it takes
You can stay for up to 24 months, or the dates on your CoS plus 14 days either side, whichever is shorter. You can enter the UK up to 14 days before your job starts.
- Processing time: usually 3 weeks from outside the UK and 8 weeks from inside the UK
- When to apply: up to 3 months before the start date on your CoS
Can you extend or switch to a Religious Worker visa?
You can extend a Religious Worker visa up to the 24-month maximum, but you cannot switch into this route from a different visa. To apply from inside the UK, your current or last permission must be as a Religious Worker (Immigration Rules: Appendix Temporary Work – Religious Worker).
You must also make a new application if you change job within the same organisation or move to a new sponsor (GOV.UK: extend your visa). If you want a longer-term or settlement route, consider the Minister of Religion visa or the Skilled Worker visa.
What you can and cannot do
You can:
- work for your sponsor in the role described on your CoS
- take a second job in the same sector and at the same level for up to 20 hours a week, outside your main working hours
- take certain jobs listed under the Skilled Worker rules for up to 20 hours a week
- study (some courses need an ATAS certificate)
- bring your partner and children
You cannot:
- claim public funds
- switch to this visa from another route
- count this time towards settlement (ILR)
Bringing your partner and children (dependants)
Your partner and children under 18 can join you as dependants. Each pays the £340 fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge. Dependants can work, including self-employment, except as a professional sportsperson or sports coach.
On top of your £1,270, they usually need:
| Dependant | Funds needed |
|---|---|
| Partner | £285 |
| First child | £315 |
| Each additional child | £200 |
A partner must be your spouse or civil partner, have lived with you for at least 2 years, or have been in a relationship with you for at least 2 years where you cannot live together. Children must live with you (unless in full-time education elsewhere) and must not be married or in a civil partnership. Source: GOV.UK: your partner and children.
Documents you need
- Your CoS reference number
- A valid passport or other proof of identity and nationality
- Bank statements showing your funds (not needed if your sponsor certifies maintenance)
- Proof of relationship for any dependants
- TB test results, if you are from a listed country
- From 29 October 2026: a letter from the overseas faith organisation confirming at least 6 months of religious duties (affiliation route)
- Certified translations of any document not in English or Welsh
Source: GOV.UK: documents you must provide.
Common reasons Religious Worker visas are refused
- Wrong route: a pastoral role (preaching, leading worship) submitted as a Religious Worker application
- Expired CoS: applying more than 3 months after the CoS was assigned
- Funds not held for 28 days, or the 31-day window missed
- Cooling-off breach: a Religious Worker or Charity Worker visa held in the previous 12 months
- Missing affiliation evidence (from 29 October 2026): under 6 months of duties abroad, or no letter from the overseas organisation
- Pay below the National Minimum Wage where the role is not exempt
If you have been refused, you may be able to apply for administrative review or, in some cases, bring an immigration appeal.
How Adam Bernard Solicitors can help
Our SRA-regulated immigration solicitors in High Holborn and Upton Park advise both religious workers and faith-based sponsors. We can:
- confirm whether the role is non-pastoral (Religious Worker) or pastoral (Minister of Religion) before a CoS is assigned
- prepare affiliation evidence under the new 29 October 2026 rules
- check CoS details, funds evidence and dependant documents
- help sponsors apply for or manage a sponsor licence
- deal with refusals through administrative review or a fresh application
Call 0207 100 2525 or book a free consultation. Video consultations are available by Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp and Skype.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.
Religious Worker Visa FAQs
What is a Religious Worker visa?
How much does the Religious Worker visa cost in 2026?
Does the Religious Worker visa lead to ILR?
Can I preach on a Religious Worker visa?
How much money do I need for a Religious Worker visa?
What changes to the Religious Worker visa on 29 October 2026?
Can I switch to a Religious Worker visa from inside the UK?
Can I bring my family on a Religious Worker visa?
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