Temporary Work Visa UK from Philippines
At any time, there are around 1.5 million temporary workers in the UK filling short-term roles. If your company wants to hire a Filipino temporary worker, you will need to sponsor them for the right visa.
To get help with Temporary work visa applications and the sponsorship process, please contact Total Law at 0333 305 9375 or visit us online.
What is a Temporary Worker Visa?
If you decide to bring a worker from the Philippines to the UK for a temporary role, you will need to make sure they get a Temporary Worker visa. This visa comes in a range of categories, with eligibility periods lasting from six months to two years.
A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your company is usually needed for a temporary worker to get a visa. However, you will also need a sponsor licence to give out Certificates of Sponsorship.
Types of Temporary Work Visas
There are a range of different Temporary work visa types, and you will need to make sure that your Filipino hire applies for the right one to come to the UK. The primary types of this visa are listed in the sections below:
Seasonal Work Visa
This visa type is common in the agricultural industry with workers coming to the UK to fulfil seasonal labour demands. You can use this visa if you want to hire a Filipino worker to deal with the increased workload during peak seasons.
Creative Work Visa
The Creative Worker visa is tailored to those in the arts and creative industries. It is ideal if you are putting on a production and want to hire performers from other parts of the world.
Religious Worker Visa
The Religious Worker visa allows Filipinos to come to the UK to temporarily fill a paid religious role. This can include missionary and pastoral work as well as filling positions in a religious ministry.
Charity Worker Visa
The Charity Worker visa allows charities to temporarily hire foreign workers. This can promote international collaboration as British charities work to address societal issues.
International Agreement Visa
The International Agreement visa is used by individuals travelling to the UK based on diplomatic agreements. This includes work as a representative of an overseas government or a ‘recognised international organisation’. It can also apply to a private servant in a diplomatic household.
Government Authorised Exchange Visa
The Government Authorised Exchange visa (GAE) is designed to help international workers gain valuable experience in the UK. Filipino workers can use it to get work experience or training in the UK, or to conduct a research fellowship or complete an Overseas Government Language Programme.
Eligibility Requirements for Temporary Work visa
Overview
You will need to check that the Filipino worker you are bringing to the UK meets the requirements for a UK Temporary Worker visa. The exact requirements depend on the type of visa the worker is applying for, but the standard requirements include the following:
- They are over 18 years old.
- They can financially support themselves with at least £1,270 in their bank account unless you agree to support them for the first month.
- You have given them a Certificate of Sponsorship specific to the role for which you are hiring them.
Required Documents
The Filipino temporary worker will also need to prove they match the requirements by providing the following documentation:
- A valid passport with at least one blank page for the visa to go in.
- The Certificate of Sponsorship reference number.
- Bank statements from the last month.
- Certificates and licences, if needed for the role.
As the Philippines is on the tuberculosis (TB) list, you will also need to provide a recent TB test to prove that you do not have the disease.
Please note that documents not in English or Welsh will have to be translated.
How to Apply for a Temporary Worker Visa
To apply for a UK Temporary Worker visa, your Filipino worker will need to head to the UK government website, where they can find an application form for their category of visa. This can be submitted online alongside the standard documentation and any further documents required for the specific visa application type. Moreover, if the worker is bringing family members with them, they will need to prove their relationship.
Having submitted their application and documentation, the applicant will then have to go to a visa application centre. Here, they will get a photograph taken and biometric information such as their fingerprints taken. This will be used on their biometric residence permit.
Getting a Sponsorship Licence
Overview
To sponsor foreign workers to come to the UK to work in your company, you need the right sponsor licence. You will need to get a ‘Temporary Worker’ licence, although you can also get a ‘Worker’ licence if you will also be hiring permanent workers from the Philippines.
The application for a sponsor licence will be made by your business’ appointed authorising officer, and you can get further legal assistance if required. To apply, get an application form from the UK government website and submit it online. You will then have five days to submit any supporting documents.
Giving a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
Having obtained a sponsorship licence, your business will be able to give Certificates of Sponsorship to the foreign workers it wants to hire. This is your verification that you are sponsoring the Filipino worker to get a visa and come to the UK.
There are two types of Certificate of Sponsorship. You will need to give the Undefined CoS for applicants who will be applying for a UK Temporary Worker visa through work in your company.
How Can Total Law Help?
Successfully obtaining a UK Temporary Work visa for a temporary worker can be challenging. It requires you to make sure that they fit the eligibility requirements and that your business has a sponsor licence and can give out a Certificate of Sponsorship.
Due to the complexity of this process, it is common for businesses to get help from an immigration lawyer. Total Law has experience across the entire range of Temporary Work visas and in helping businesses to get a sponsor licence. We can help you to assess which visa is needed, compile the necessary documentation, and complete the applications.
If you decide to get assistance from Total Law, please contact us at 0333 305 9375 or visit us online.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
FAQs
A range of documentation will prove that your business is eligible for a temporary worker sponsor licence, including the following:
- Evidence of liability insurance.
- VAT registration certificate.
- HMRC registration evidence.
- A recent financial report.
- Evidence you have are legally permitted to conduct your business operations.
- A hierarchy chart. This must list all employees if you have less than 50 staff members.
Alongside this documentation, you also need to give information about the nature of your business, its operating hours, and the reasons that you are applying for a sponsor licence.
The only type of Temporary Worker visa that does not require sponsorship is the Youth Mobility Scheme. This allows youths from nations like Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and Hong Kong to temporarily come to the UK to gain skills and experience life in the UK.
In this case, the youth’s home country will act as their sponsor. To apply successfully, the applicant will need to achieve a score of 50 on the points-based system.
