“45,000 Nigerians, Others Needed”: UK Issues Guidelines to Apply for Seasonal Worker Visa

• The United Kingdom government has opened applications for Nigerians and other nationals to apply for seasonal worker visas
• The country extended the seasonal worker visa for five years until 2029 to allow for more immigrants
• Applicants for the seasonal worker visas would work in horticulture and the poultry industry

Legit.ng’s Pascal Oparada has reported on tech, energy, stocks, investment, and the economy for over a decade.

The United Kingdom has extended the seasonal work visa programme for five more years until 2029 for Nigerians and others.

The country has allocated 43,000 visas for immigrant workers in horticulture and 2,000 visas for the poultry sector.

The move increases opportunities for 45,000 Nigerians and others to pursue their immigration goals.

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Criteria for UK’s seasonal worker visa in 2024

The seasonal worker visa is for those not currently living in the US who can work as horticulturists for about six months, picking fruit, vegetables, and flowers or working in the poultry sector.

Visas for horticulturists are available all year round, while poultry jobs run from October to December every year.

Applicants for poultry worker visas must do so by November 15 annually.

Eligibility criteria for UK seasonal workers

The age limit for UK seasonal worker visas is 18 years and above. They must show certificates of sponsorship from a UK employer and have at least 1,270 pounds as proof of funds for self-support unless the employer sponsors them. They must also have secured a job in the country.

Documents required for UK seasonal visa application

Applicants must have sponsorship certificates (COS) with serial numbers from the sponsor and a bank statement showing adequate funds unless sponsored.

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They must also have a valid international passport with space for visas and a certified translation for non-English/Welsh documents.

Steps to apply for UK seasonal work visa

Applicants must complete the form on the UK government’s Visas and Immigration website and upload scanned documents.

They must pay 259 pounds as a visa fee and book an appointment at a visa application centre.

Processing time and visa validity

Applicants to the UK’s seasonal worker visa must apply three months before the job start date and be issued valid visas for six months.

They must also enter the country two weeks before starting the new job.

According to reports, applicants can work in specific areas indicated in their sponsorship certificates and study during their visa validity.

They must also take only temporary employment as additional jobs outside their certificates are prohibited, and access to public funds is also not allowed.

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They must not bring dependents or live permanently in the country.

In an earlier report by Legit.ng the UK government banned care workers from bringing dependents from the UK in a move to boost its immigration laws.

UK releases names of firms to sponsor Nigerians

Legit.ng previously reported that the United Kingdom had updated its list of organisations licensed to sponsor skilled immigrants through the temporary worker immigration route.

According to checks, the latest list, updated on January 12, 2024, now includes 99,856 approved companies.

This marked an increase of 31,226 companies compared to the 68,630 approved as of January 2023.

Proofread by Kola Muhammed, journalist and copyeditor at Legit.ng

Source: Legit.ng