Every year British farms bring in tens of thousands of workers from overseas to pick fruit, harvest vegetables and cut flowers. They come on the Seasonal Worker visa, which is one of the only UK work routes that requires no qualifications, no English test and no previous experience.
That makes it the subject of a huge number of misleading adverts. This guide explains exactly what the visa offers in 2026, what it does not offer, and the one fact that decides whether you can realistically get it: who is allowed to recruit.
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What the visa is for
The Seasonal Worker visa covers two kinds of work only:
| Sector | Work | How long you can stay |
|---|---|---|
| Horticulture | Picking and packing fruit, vegetables and flowers, and related crop work | Up to 6 months |
| Poultry | Processing and related work ahead of Christmas | From 2 October to 31 December only |
It is strictly temporary. You cannot extend it, switch to another visa from inside the UK, bring family members, take a permanent job or claim public funds. Time spent on it does not count towards settlement. Anyone describing it as a path to permanent residence is misleading you.
The quota
The government sets a yearly limit on visas. For 2026, and again for 2027, there are 41,000 places for horticulture and 1,900 for poultry. Demand from workers around the world is far higher than that, which is why recruitment is tightly controlled.
The key fact: only licensed scheme operators can sponsor you
Individual farms cannot sponsor seasonal workers. Sponsorship is handled by a small number of scheme operators licensed by the Home Office and endorsed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The operator recruits workers abroad, issues the certificate of sponsorship, places workers on farms and is responsible for their welfare.
For horticulture, the approved operators in recent years have been AG Recruitment, Concordia, Fruitful Jobs, HOPS Labour Solutions and Pro-Force. Poultry has its own operators. The government has said it will not license new operators without prior approval, so this list changes rarely. Check the current list in the Home Office sponsor guidance before you trust any name.
Two practical consequences follow:
- Each operator chooses which countries it recruits in. In recent seasons most workers have come from Central Asia, with smaller numbers from other regions. Many operators do not recruit in West Africa at all. Look at each operator’s own website to see where it is currently recruiting. If your country is not listed, there is no legitimate way for that operator to hire you this season
- Nobody else can sell you a place. A travel agent, a “UK farm” emailing from a free email account, or a contact on social media cannot issue a certificate of sponsorship. Only the licensed operators can
Eligibility
- You are aged 18 or over when you apply
- You have a certificate of sponsorship reference number from a licensed scheme operator
- You have at least £1,270 in savings, held for 28 days in a row, unless your sponsor certifies that it will cover your costs for the first month
- You have not been in the UK as a seasonal worker during the four months before your new start date. In practice this means a maximum of six months of work in any ten
There is no English language test and no qualification requirement, although operators normally interview candidates and may test basic fitness and communication.
Pay and hours in 2026
Sponsors must pay seasonal horticulture workers at least £12.71 an hour and must guarantee at least 32 hours of paid work each week. Only basic pay counts towards that rate. Bonuses, overtime premiums and accommodation cannot be used to make up the figure.
| Period | Minimum guaranteed gross pay |
|---|---|
| One week (32 hours) | About £407 |
| One month | About £1,760 |
| Six months (26 weeks) | About £10,575 |
Many workers earn more, because farms offer extra hours at peak season and pay piece-rate bonuses for fast pickers. But you should plan around the guaranteed minimum. From gross pay you will have income tax and National Insurance deducted if you earn above the thresholds, along with a weekly charge for farm accommodation, which is capped by law.
What it costs you
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Visa application fee | £340 |
| Flights to and from the UK | Varies, usually paid by the worker |
| Savings requirement | £1,270, unless the sponsor certifies maintenance |
| Accommodation on the farm | Weekly charge deducted from wages |
| Recruitment fee | £0. Charging workers for a job or certificate of sponsorship is prohibited |
Work out the sums before you commit. After the visa fee, flights and living costs, a worker on minimum guaranteed hours for a full six months can save a useful amount. A worker who is only placed for two or three months may barely cover the cost of travelling. Ask the operator how many weeks of work are expected for the placement you are offered.
How to apply
- Check which operators recruit in your country and apply only through their official websites or named local partners.
- Complete the operator’s application and interview. You will be told which farm and what dates are offered.
- Receive your certificate of sponsorship reference number. It is an electronic record, valid for three months.
- Apply for the visa online on GOV.UK, up to three months before your start date, and pay the £340 fee.
- Prove your identity at a visa application centre and submit your passport and financial evidence if needed.
- Wait for the decision, usually within three weeks.
- Travel. You can enter the UK up to 14 days before your job starts.
Poultry applications must be made by 15 November each year. Horticulture applications can be made at any time, with most recruitment between January and June for the spring and summer season.
Your rights on the farm
- You must be paid at least the required hourly rate for every hour worked, with a payslip
- You must be given the tools and protective equipment you need, free of charge
- Accommodation must be safe, hygienic and in good repair
- You can ask your scheme operator to move you to another farm if there is not enough work or if you are treated badly
- Your employer cannot keep your passport
- You can contact the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority or the Acas helpline about underpayment or mistreatment
Signs of a fake seasonal work offer
- You are asked to pay for the job, the certificate of sponsorship or a “work permit”
- The offer comes from a farm or agent that is not one of the licensed scheme operators
- The email address is a free account and not the operator’s own domain
- The salary promised is far above the legal minimum, such as £3,000 or £4,000 a month for picking
- You are told the visa lasts for years or lets you bring your family
- You are pressed to pay quickly to “secure your slot”
Is it worth it?
For workers in countries where the operators actively recruit, the scheme can be a legitimate way to earn in pounds for a few months, and many people return year after year. It is hard, physical, outdoor work in all weather, and it does not lead to a long-term life in the UK. If your goal is to settle abroad, your effort is better spent on routes built for that purpose, such as skilled worker visas, study routes or vocational training programmes.
Related guides
- Finland Seasonal Jobs with Free Accommodation in 2026
- Ireland Warehouse Jobs with Visa Sponsorship in 2026
- How to Verify a Job Offer From Abroad: 12 Checks Before You Pay or Travel
Official sources
- GOV.UK: Seasonal Worker visa
- GOV.UK: guidance for sponsors of seasonal workers
- Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority
Figures were checked in October 2026. Pay rates, fees and quotas are revised regularly, so confirm the current rules on GOV.UK before you apply. This article is general information and not immigration advice.
