Application process

There are five operators currently licensed by the Home Office to recruit and sponsor workers on the Seasonal Worker scheme:

• Pro-Force

• Concordia

• Fruitful Jobs

• HOPS Labour Solutions

• Agri HR

The operator is not your employer, they are only your visa sponsor and are responsible for your welfare and employment in the UK. Your employer is the company (such as a farm) that you will be working for.

To apply for a Seasonal Worker Scheme visa, follow this step-by-step guide.

1. Operators usually only recruit from certain countries before the start of a growing season. First, contact an operator directly to see if they may be able to offer you a visa to work in the UK or check their website for more information. 

2. Follow the instructions on the operator’s website to submit an expression of interest form. In some countries, such asKyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, government ministries work with operators and organise recruitment events that you can attend to apply directly.

3. If your expression of interest form is approved, the operator will contact you to guide you through the visa application process. Any questions should be addressed in writing (preferably by email) to the operator.

Yes, but you must wait at least six months before you can return to the UK for another season of work. Contact your operator directly to find out how to apply for a Seasonal Worker visa as a returnee worker.

You should also receive instructions from your operator on how to claim back tax you have overpaid. This is usually done via a P85 form, which you should complete and then send by post. You will need a P45 form from your last place of work to do this. You should not have to pay anyone money to process a tax return.

Your operator should provide you with a contract in a language that you understand. This contract will have important information, like the work conditions that your operator guarantees (e.g. minimum 32 paid hours per week) and who to contact in the case of any issues or complaints. Your operator might also provide you with additional information on your rights and responsibilities (such as information on your free UK health insurance). Make sure to read all of these documents carefully.

Your operator should also provide you with some information about your private health insurance and their contact details. If you have any questions, the insurance provider should have a helpline that is accessible in a language you understand. If you are unable to access it, contact your operator directly, via email.

When you start work, you should also receive some general information about who your employer will be, basic contractual terms. These are called ‘particulars of employment’. You will receive a full contract of employment once you arrive in the UK. Once again, this information will be in a language that you can understand.