Coming to the UK for Charity Work
The UK Charity Worker Visa allows people from overseas with a valid job offer to come to the UK for up to 12 months to do voluntary work for a registered charity. The Temporary Worker Charity Worker Visa does not provide a path to settlement in the UK, but you can bring a spouse or partner and children under 18 as dependents.
Duration of Stay
If granted a UK Charity Worker visa, you will be allowed to remain in the UK for up to 12 months or, if your Certificate of Sponsorship specifies, 14 days beyond the 12 months. You can also enter the UK up to 14 days before beginning your charitable role.
Activities Allowed
As a Charity Worker visa holder, in addition to carrying out the charitable activities specified on your Certificate of Sponsorship, you can:
- Study
- Take on a secondary job within the same sector as your primary role
- Bring your spouse or partner and dependent children under 18 to the UK
However, you may not:
- Receive payments for your work beyond reasonable expenses
- Access most public funds and benefits
- Take up permanent employment
Definition of Charitable Work Under This Visa
To qualify as a charity worker under the Charity Worker Visa route, the work you plan to undertake must meet three specific criteria:
- It must be voluntary, hands-on work that directly contributes to your sponsor charity’s purpose. This includes activities that would not normally be advertised as a paid job or role. It does not cover administrative, retail, fundraising or similar roles.
- You can only be paid reasonable expenses to enable you to perform your duties.
- You must not be filling any permanent position, even temporarily.
General Visa Requirements
To be eligible for a Temporary Worker Charity Worker Visa, you will likely need to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration that:
- You are aged 18 or over
- The charity work meets the specified requirements
- You hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the role
- You genuinely intend to and are able to undertake the sponsored role
- You meet the financial requirement
- You have not had permission as a Religious Worker or Charity Worker in the past 12 months
- There are no general grounds for refusal
- You have obtained a TB test certificate if required
The exact requirements can vary depending on your specific situation. It is advisable to consult an immigration lawyer for expert guidance.
Certificate of Sponsorship
To qualify for this visa, you need a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK Home Office approved A-rated licensed sponsor, unless you are applying for an extension to continue working for the same employer. Your sponsor must be authorized by the Home Office to sponsor the role under the Charity Worker route.
The Certificate must confirm that the role meets the voluntary work requirements, has not already been used in a granted or refused application, is still valid, and has not been withdrawn or canceled.
It must have been assigned no more than 3 months before the visa application date and remains valid for 3 months from assignment. An application submitted after the 3-month validity period risks being refused.
Financial Requirement
Unless you have had permission to stay in the UK for over 12 months already, you will need to demonstrate that you have held a minimum of £1,270 in personal savings for 28 consecutive days in the 31 days before applying.
Alternatively, your sponsor can certify on the Certificate of Sponsorship that they will provide accommodation and maintenance funds of at least £1,270 until the end of your first month in the UK.
For dependents, additional funds must be shown – £285 per partner, £315 per first child, and £200 per subsequent child.
Benefits of Being a Charity Worker in the UK
There are several advantages to doing charity work in the UK on this visa:
- Make a positive impact supporting a cause you feel passionate about
- Develop new skills and experience to improve your résumé
- Network with other charity professionals in the UK
- Help charities attract more international talent and volunteers
- Explore the UK and other parts of Europe during your free time
Application Process
To get entry clearance under the Temporary Worker Charity Worker route, you must apply for and be granted a visa from outside the UK. You must not have had permission in this category or as a Religious Worker in the 12 months before applying, unless you can show you were not in the UK at all during that time.
You may need to provide a valid tuberculosis test result with your visa application, submitted online. You must also pay the immigration health surcharge.
The standard fee for a Temporary Worker Charity Worker Visa is currently £244, reduced by £55 if you are from an eligible European country. Dependent applicants must submit and pay for their own visa applications separately.
If applying for an extension before your current visa expires, you should receive a decision within 3 weeks of an application from overseas.
Additional Resources
For more information, guidance and support on the requirements, process and application for a UK Charity Worker Visa, check out the following additional resources:
UK Government Visa Site – Official information on eligibility, fees and application process
Find a Licensed Sponsor – Searchable register of approved visa sponsors
We hope this guide gives you a helpful overview of the main requirements, activities, process and resources available for the UK Charity Worker Visa. Let us know if you have any other questions!
