Temporary Worker - Charity Worker Visa (Tier 5)
You can apply for a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - Charity Worker) visa if:
you want to do unpaid voluntary work for a charity
you are from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
you meet the other eligibility requirements
Sponsorship
You must have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed employer before you can apply to come to the UK to work.
The work you do in the UK must relate to the work of your sponsor organisation.
How long it will take
The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before the date you are due to start work. This date is on your certificate of sponsorship.
You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.
Find out about paying for a faster decision.
Fees
How much you pay for a visa depends on who you are applying for.
Who you are applying for - You
Fee - £244
Who you are applying for - If you’re a citizen of Turkey or Macedonia
Fee - £189
Who you are applying for - All dependants
Fee - £244 each
Healthcare Surcharge
You will also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you will have to pay before you apply.
If you are applying to extend in the UK
You will need to pay £19.20 to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken.
Get a faster decision on your application
If you are applying to extend or switch in the UK you can pay an extra £500 for the priority service to get a decision within 5 working days.
You can pay an extra £800 for the super priority service to get a decision:
by the end of the the next working day after your UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) appointment if your appointment is on a weekday
2 working days after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is at the weekend
Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays.
How long you can stay
You can stay for up to 12 months or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 28 days, whichever is shorter.
You can enter the UK up to 14 days before the start date of your job.
What you can and cannot do
You can:
study - for some courses you will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate)
work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship
do a second job in the same sector at the same level as your main job for up to 20 hours per week
do a job on the Tier 2 shortage occupation list for up to 20 hours per week
bring family members with you
You cannot:
receive any payment for work
take a permanent job
get public funds
See Also:
For Further Information on Temporary Visas for Charity Workers can be found on GOV.UK.