What is a Tier 5 visa?

What is a Tier 5 visa?

The Tier 5 visa was a temporary worker visa that allowed non-EEA (European Economic Area) nationals to come to the UK for a short period to do temporary work or participate in a government-authorized exchange scheme. It had six subcategories, including Creative and Sporting, Youth Mobility Scheme, Charity Worker, Religious Worker, Government Authorised Exchange, and International Agreement.

Under the new points-based immigration system, the Tier 5 visa has been replaced by several new categories such as the Youth Mobility Scheme Visa, the Charity Worker Visa, the Creative or Sporting Visa, and the Government Authorised Exchange Visa, etc.

A Tier 5 visa is a temporary work visa for people who want to come to the UK for a short time. There are 6 different types, including creative and sporting, charity, religious worker, and youth mobility scheme.

What are the different types?

There are 6 main categories of Tier 5 visa, including:

1. Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Charity Worker) visa;
2. Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Creative and sporting) visa;
3. Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Government Authorised Exchange) visa;
4. Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – International Agreement) visa;
5. Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Religious Worker) visa; and
6. Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visa.

The primary types let you participate in an exchange program, a research fellowship, training, or work experience. To apply, you must not be from the EEA or Switzerland. Tier 5 visa holders may stay in the UK for up to the shorter of i)12 or 24 months (depending on the scheme they apply for) or ii)the time specified on their certificate of sponsorship plus 28 days. It is not possible to use the Tier 5 visa to start a permanent work in the UK.
 

How long will does a Tier 5 application take?

You can apply for a Tier 5 visa 3 months before the position with your sponsor starts, and a decision on the application may take about 3 weeks.

Who can apply?

You can apply if you have a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed sponsor, are not from the European Economic Area or Switzerland. Generally, you will also need £945 savings, unless your sponsor is A-rated and will certify your maintenance.

The sponsor can be an organisation running an approved exchange scheme, a higher education institution (if you want to come to the UK for research, or to be a visiting academic or examiner), or a government department.

There are different eligibility requirements for each type of Tier 5 visa:

1. For the Tier 5 (Charity Worker) visa, you will need a Certificate of Sponsorship and £945 savings.
2. For the Tier 5 (Creative and Sporting) visa, you will need a Certificate of Sponsorship and £945 savings. You will also either need to be a sportsperson at the highest level, or to be a Creative Worker. You need to make a unique contribution to the UK, for example by being internationally renowned. For Creative Workers, there may also be a minimum salary requirement.
3. For the Tier 5 (Government Authorised Exchange) visa, you will need a Certificate of Sponsorship, savings of £945, and a position offered by an approved government authorised exchange scheme.
4. For the Tier 5 (International Agreement) visa, you will need a Certificate of Sponsorship, savings of £945, and your work must be covered by the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) or similar agreement. Alternatively, your position may be for a foreign government or international organisation, or to work as a private servant in a diplomatic household.
5. For the Tier 5 (Religious Worker) visa, you will need a Certificate of Sponsorship and £945 savings.
6. For the Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visa, you must be 18-30 years old and from 1 one of a number of certain countries. See below for more details.