Tier 5 Visas

Tier 5 of the Points Based System (PBS) is designed to allow temporary workers and 18-30 year olds in the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) come to the United Kingdom to undertake short-term, temporary work to satisfy essentially non-financial objectives.

Tier 5 is designed to ensure the UK will continue to receive the cultural, social, religious and international development benefits of particular types of temporary workers and youth mobility.

Under Tier 5 - Applicants may apply through one of the following categories:

Youth Mobility Scheme

 The Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme replaces the UK Working Holiday Visa programme. The Youth Mobility Scheme is for young people who want to live, work and travel in the United Kingdom for a period of up to two years.

The Youth Mobility Scheme is only open to countries which have a special reciprocal agreement with the United Kingdom. The list of countries participating in the scheme is much smaller than list of countries participating in the original UK Working Holiday programme.

Currently, only passport holders from the following countries are eligible to apply under the UK Youth Mobility Scheme:

Australia
New Zealand
Canada
Japan

Temporary worker – Creative and Sporting

For those coming to the UK as sportspeople, entertainers or creative artists for short periods of time, primarily to perform, compete or otherwise take part in one or a series of events.

Temporary worker - Charity Workers
For migrants coming to work temporarily in the UK as voluntary workers for a charity.

Temporary worker – Religious Workers
For migrants coming to work temporarily in the UK either as a religious worker in a non-pastoral role, where the duties include performing religious rites but not preaching to a congregation, or as a visiting religious worker.

Temporary worker – Government Authorised Exchange
For migrants coming through approved schemes aimed at sharing knowledge, experience and best practice.

Temporary worker – International Agreement
For migrants who are coming to the UK under contract to provide a service that is covered under international law, including GATS, similar bilateral agreements, employees of overseas governments and international organisations, and the provision for private servants in diplomatic households.