Last checked against official sources: October 5, 2026
The UK Seasonal Worker visa is one of the few legal routes to paid work abroad that doesn’t require a degree, a points score or English test results. It’s also one of the most heavily targeted by fake recruiters. This guide explains how the route really works, what you’ll earn, what it costs, and how to spot a scam.
What the visa allows
- Horticulture (picking and packing fruit, vegetables and flowers): up to 6 months in any 12-month period
- Poultry (seasonal turkey, goose and duck work): from October 2 to December 31 each year
You can’t bring family members. You can’t take a permanent job, and you can’t work anywhere that isn’t on your certificate of sponsorship. When the season ends, you must leave.
2026 allocation: The government made 41,000 horticulture and 1,900 poultry visas available. It has confirmed a five-year extension of the scheme, and allocations for later years are due to be published.
Who is eligible?
You must:
- be 18 or over
- have a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) from a licensed scheme operator. Individual farms can’t sponsor you directly.
- have £1,270 in savings, held for 28 days in a row before you apply. You don’t need this if your scheme operator certifies it will support you for your first month.
There’s no degree requirement and no points test. The route is open to applicants from any country, but scheme operators decide which countries they recruit from.
Pay, hours and conditions
- Minimum pay: at least the UK National Living Wage, which is £12.71 per hour from April 1, 2026
- Guaranteed hours: at least 32 paid hours a week
- Employers must provide safe accommodation, with deductions capped by law. They must also provide transport, training and free protective equipment.
- Piece-rate pay is allowed, but it can’t take you below the minimum hourly rate.
Rough example: 32 hours × £12.71 = about £407 a week before tax and accommodation. Many workers do more hours in peak season, but don’t plan around overtime you aren’t promised.
What it costs you
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Visa application fee | £340 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | Not charged (the visa is 6 months or less) |
| Flights | Usually paid by you (check your contract) |
| Accommodation | Deducted from wages, capped by law |
| Recruitment or placement fee | £0. Legitimate operators don’t charge this. |
How to apply, step by step
- Find a licensed scheme operator. Check the name on the UK government’s Register of Licensed Sponsors (look for the “Seasonal Worker” route). Then contact the operator only through the details on its own official website.
- Go through their recruitment process. This often means an interview, sometimes with practical tests. Some operators recruit through partner agencies or governments in specific countries.
- Get your certificate of sponsorship (CoS) reference number. It’s valid for 3 months and can only be used once.
- Apply online on GOV.UK. Pay the £340 fee and prove your identity, either through the app or at a visa application centre.
- Get a decision. This usually takes about 3 weeks.
- Travel and start work on the dates in your CoS.
How to spot a seasonal worker visa scam
This route is a common target for scams, especially on Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram. Walk away if anyone:
- asks you to pay for a certificate of sponsorship or a “job slot.” The GOV.UK worker guidance says a scheme operator won’t ask you for money in exchange for a visa.
- promises a “guaranteed visa” for a fee
- asks you to send money to a personal bank account or mobile money number
- only talks to you on messaging apps and has no verifiable company website
- offers a seasonal job that “can be converted” to a permanent UK job or residence. This visa doesn’t lead to settlement.
If you’re already in the UK and something is wrong (unpaid wages, passport taken, threats), contact your scheme operator first. You can also report it to the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) or the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline.
Honest pros and cons
Pros: It’s a legal route, you earn in pounds, it doesn’t need a degree, and your housing is arranged for you.
Cons: The work is physically demanding and depends on the weather. It lasts at most 6 months, it can’t be extended into a long-term visa, and you can’t bring family. Places are limited and most operators focus on recruiting from certain countries.
If you want a longer-term route, look at skilled trades and care work. Our work visas without a degree guide compares the options. The UK Skilled Worker visa explains the longer-term UK route.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply directly to a UK farm?
No. You need a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed scheme operator, not from the farm itself.
Can I come back next year?
Yes, if you’re recruited again. You can’t spend more than 6 months in the UK on this visa in any 12-month period.
Do I need IELTS?
There’s no formal English test requirement. Operators may still check that you can understand basic safety instructions.
How we researched this
We checked the GOV.UK Seasonal Worker visa pages (updated September 2026), the GOV.UK guidance for seasonal farm workers (March 2026), the Home Office sponsor guidance, and the National Farmers’ Union’s 2026 scheme update. Check every detail on GOV.UK before you pay anyone.
One Visa Center is an information site, not a recruiter or law firm. We don’t place workers, and this is not legal advice. Read how we research, fact-check and use AI tools in our Editorial Policy.
Related reading: Work abroad from Ghana · Job seeker visas explained
Get visa, passport, and travel-planning guides like this one sent straight to your inbox — plus first access to new country guides and scholarship roundups.
