Tier 5 – Temporary Workers

This route is for certain types of temporary workers whose entry helps to satisfy cultural, charitable, religious or international objectives, including volunteering and job shadowing.

Temporary Workers – Creative and Sporting

A creative worker is someone who works in the creative industry, for example an actor, dancer, musician or film crew member.

You must apply for a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - Creative and sporting) visa if:

  • you’ve been offered work in the UK as a sports person or creative worker
  • you meet the other eligibility requirements

Temporary Workers– Charity workers

You can apply for a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - Charity Worker) visa if:

  • you want to do unpaid voluntary work for a charity
  • you meet the other eligibility requirements
  • 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

Temporary Workers – Religious Workers

You can apply for a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - Religious Worker) visa if:

  • you want to do religious work, such as preaching or working in a religious order
  • you meet the other eligibility requirements
  • you must have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor before you can apply to come to the UK to work
  • the work you do in the UK must relate to your sponsor organisation’s work

Sponsorship

You need to have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor before you can apply to come to the Isle of Man to work.

Your work, training or research in the Isle of Man must relate to the work of your sponsor organisation.

Your sponsor can be any of the following:

  • an organisation running an approved exchange scheme
  • a higher education institution (if you are a sponsored researcher, visiting academic or examiner)
  • a government department or agency

How long you can stay

You can stay in the Isle of Man for up to 12 or 24 months (depending on the scheme you’re applying for) or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 28 days, whichever is shorter.

You can enter the Isle of Man up to 14 days before the start date of your job.

Migrants under this visa do not qualify for settlement (ILR).

What you can and can’t do

You can:

  • study (for some courses you’ll need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate)
  • work in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship
  • do a second 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 as well as your main job
  • apply to change (‘switch’) into a Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa if you’re in the government authorised exchange scheme for sponsored researchers
  • bring family members with you

You can’t:

  • take a permanent job
  • get public funds

Apply 

You make an application for entry clearance to the Isle of Man at UK Visas and Immigration.

Current sponsor licence holders can be viewed online.