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How do I sponsor a migrant?

An interview panel

Categories of temporary worker

This page explains the different categories of temporary worker that you can apply to sponsor under tier 5 of the points-based system.

What is the tier 5 - creative and sporting category?

This category is for migrants who want to come to the United Kingdom to work as sports people for up to 12 months, or to perform as entertainers or creative artists for up to 24 months.

It does not cover people who currently enter the United Kingdom under the permit-free concessions for entertainers (including permit-free festivals) and sports people. These concessions have been brought within the immigration rules (outside the points-based system) under the revised visitor categories.

See business and special visitors for more information. 

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What is the tier 5 - charity worker category?

Migrants coming to work temporarily in the United Kingdom as charity workers should do only voluntary activites and not paid work. They should intend to carry out work directly related to the purpose of your organisation.

Migrants entering the United Kingdom under the charity workers category will be given a maximum of 12 months' permission to stay.

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What is the tier 5 - religious worker category?

The religious worker category is for people coming to the United Kingdom to work temporarily. Religious workers can:

  • do preaching, pastoral work and non-pastoral work;
  • work in the United Kingdom in the same way that they are working in an overseas organisation (although their duties in the United Kingdom may be different) - the job should be done in their holiday from their job overseas; or
  • work in a religious order with a community which involves a permanent commitment, such as a monastery or convent. The work in a religious order must be in the order itself or be outside work directed by the order. A migrant can apply if he or she is a novice whose training means taking part in the daily community life of the order.

A migrant should apply under the student category (tier 4) if they are a member of a religious order and studying for a qualification, a formal full-time course of study or training in an academic institution not looked after by the order.

Teachers working in schools not looked after by their order must apply as teachers under the sponsored skilled worker category (tier 2). See the Categories of skilled worker page for more information.

Migrants entering the United Kingdom under this category will be given a maximum of 24 months' permission to stay. Their dependants will be allowed to work if accompanying or joining them in the United Kingdom.

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What is the tier 5 - government authorised exchange category?

The government authorised exchange category is for people coming to the United Kingdom through approved schemes that aim to share knowledge, experience and best practice. This category must not be used to fill job vacancies or to bring unskilled labour to the United Kingdom.

Migrants entering the United Kingdom under the government authorised exchange category will be given a maximum of 24 months' permission to stay.

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What is the tier 5 - international agreement category?

This category is for migrants who are coming to the United Kingdom under contract to provide a service that is covered under international law, including:

  • the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS);
  • similar agreements between the United Kingdom and another country;
  • employees of overseas governments and international organisations; and
  • private servants in diplomatic households.

Migrants in the GATS and similar agreements between the United Kingdom and another country can come for up to a maximum of 24 months.

Employees of overseas governments and international organisations can come for an initial maximum of 24 months. They then have the option to apply from inside the United Kingdom for an extension for periods of 12 months at a time, up to a total maximum of 72 months.

Private servants in diplomatic households or households of employees of international organisations can come for an initial maximum of 24 months, with the option to apply inside the United Kingdom for periods of 12 months at a time up to a total maximum of 72 months. (You should also read our additional guidance on the handling of applications for private servants in diplomatic households. This covers transitional arrangements for those working in the United Kingdom on or before 26 November 2008, and changes to settlement provisions for those entering the United Kingdom under tier 5 on or after 27 November 2008.)

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What is the tier 5 - youth mobility scheme category?

Sponsors under the youth mobility scheme are the national governments of the participating countries.

The youth mobility scheme is for young people from participating countries who would like to experience life in the United Kingdom. Sponsored young people from participating countries will be allowed to come to the United Kingdom for up to two years, while young United Kingdom nationals enjoy similar opportunities in participating countries. These young people will be free to do whatever work they like during their stay in the United Kingdom, except for setting up their own business, playing professional sport or working as a doctor in training.

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