The Tier 5 has introduced the charity worker category, which allows people coming to the United Kingdom to do voluntary work for charity, which is not paid work.  The work must be directly related to the work of your sponsor’s organisation.

When making an application under this category, you must have a sponsor; and a valid certificate of sponsorship. When you apply you are awarded points based on your sponsorship and available maintenance.

You can apply under the charity worker category now if you are:

• applying for permission to enter the United Kingdom (known as 'entry clearance') under the charity worker category;
• already in the United Kingdom as a charity worker and want to extend your permission to stay if you have been here for less than 12 months, which is the maximum time you are allowed to stay.

Switching is not allowed in or out of the charity worker category.

Further information on applying for a UK Visa, can be found on our UK Visas page. ICS Legal provide support in making an application from outside the United Kingdom.

How long can you stay

If you are given permission to stay as a charity worker, you will be able to live and work in the United Kingdom for a maximum time of 12 months, or the time given in your certificate of sponsorship plus 28 days, which ever time is shorter.

If you need to be able to come and go from the United Kingdom with your job

If you need to leave and come back to the United Kingdom quite a few times as part of the job you are doing, you can get a multiple entry certificate of sponsorship. Your sponsor will give you a multiple entry certificate of sponsorship that allows you to come and go from the United Kingdom a number of different times during the length of your certificate.

If you have permission to come (entry clearance) for any length of time, you will be able to leave and come back to the United Kingdom during the time you have permission.

If you leave the United Kingdom and you were given six months or less permission to stay (leave to remain), you will not be able to come back as your permission to stay ends when you leave the United Kingdom. You must apply again to be able to come back.