Working holidaymakers (INF 15)

Guidance - Working holidaymakers (INF 15)
Last updated 16 July 2008

This guidance explains what you need to do if you want to come to the United Kingdom (UK) as a working holidaymaker, and what the Immigration Rules say. It is only a guide but it aims to answer some common questions.

What is the Working Holidaymaker Scheme?
The Working Holidaymaker Scheme is an arrangement where a person aged between 17 and 30 can come to the UK for an extended holiday of up to two years. You can work for up to 12 months of your holiday, but the holiday should be the main reason for your stay, not the work.
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How do I qualify as a working holidaymaker?
You must be able to show that you:

  • are a citizen of a country listed in Appendix 3 of the Immigration Rules, a British Overseas Territories citizen, a British Overseas citizen or a British National (Overseas)
  • are aged between 17 and 30
  • want to come to the UK for an extended holiday, and intend to take employment as part of your holiday for no more than 12 months during your stay
  • do not intend to set yourself up in or run a business, or work as a professional sportsperson during your stay
  • are single, or that you are married to, or the civil partner of someone who also qualifies as a working holidaymaker and you plan to take the working holiday together
  • do not have any dependent children aged five or over, or who will be five before your holiday ends
  • can support yourself in the UK without needing any help from public funds
  • have not spent time in the UK on a previous working holidaymaker visa, and
  • intend to leave the UK at the end of your holiday.

You must get a visa before you travel to the UK as a working holidaymaker.
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How long can I stay?
You can stay in the UK for up to two years from the date you were first given permission to enter as a working holidaymaker. We will count any time you spend outside the UK during that period as part of the two years.
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How much and what work can I do?
Work in the UK must not be the main reason for your holiday, so you must spend no more than 12 months working.

You can take most types of work, including voluntary work, but you cannot set yourself up in or run a business, or work as a professional sportsperson. You can choose when to work and when to take your holiday breaks, but you must not work for more than a total of 12 months or you will be breaking the conditions of your stay.
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Do I need a visa as a working holidaymaker?
You must get a visa as a working holidaymaker before you travel to the UK.
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What is a visa?
A visa is a certificate that is put into your passport or travel document by an Entry Clearance Officer at a British mission overseas. The visa gives you permission to enter the UK.

If you have a valid UK visa, we will not normally refuse you entry to the UK unless your circumstances have changed, or you gave false information or did not tell us important facts when you applied for your visa.

When you arrive in the UK an Immigration Officer may ask you questions, so take all relevant documents in your hand luggage.
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How do I apply for a visa?
You can apply in a number of ways, for example by post, by courier, in person and online. The visa section of your nearest British mission overseas will tell you about the ways in which you can apply.

Some visa sections will only accept applications made online. To find out if you can apply for your visa online please visit www.visa4uk.fco.gov.uk

If you cannot apply online you will need to fill in a visa application form VAF 2 – Employment. You can download the form from this website, or get one free of charge from your nearest visa application centre.

You should apply for a working holidaymaker visa in the country of which you are a national or where you legally live.

In some countries, if you are applying for a visa to stay in the UK for more than six months, you may need to be tested for active tuberculosis before we will accept your application. You can find out if you need to be tested by using our Do I need a visa? questionnaire on the homepage of this website, or by contacting your nearest visa application centre.
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What are visa application centres?
In some countries, we are working with commercial companies to run visa application centres (VACs). The VACs are in largely populated areas, making it easier and more convenient for people to apply for a UK visa. Trained staff at each VAC deal with all visa enquiries and applications. They collect your biometric information (see the relevant section of this leaflet) along with the relevant fees, and provide unbiased, face-to-face advice on the application process, including whether or not you have included all the necessary documents. Entry clearance staff at the British mission will then consider your application and decide whether to issue or refuse your visa. VAC staff have no say in this decision.
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What will I need to make my application?
You will need to make your application online or fill in the following visa application form:

  Application form VAF2 - Employment
  Employment form guidance notes

You will also need the following:

  • Your passport or travel document.
  • A recent passport-sized (45mm x 35mm) colour photograph of yourself.
    This should be:
    • taken against a light-coloured background
    • clear and of good quality, and not framed or backed
    • printed on normal photographic paper, and
    • full face and without sunglasses, hat or other head covering unless you wear this for cultural or religious reasons (but the face must not be covered).
  • The visa fee. This cannot be refunded and you must normally pay it in the local currency of the country where you are applying.

You may also need to provide evidence of:

  • how much money you have, and
  • any travel plans you have made, such as a provisional travel booking.

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What is 'biometric' information?
All UK visa applicants, save for those benefiting from a limited number of exemptions and exceptions, are required to provide biometric data (10-digit finger scans and a digital photograph) as part of the application process.

You will have to go to your nearest visa application centre in person to provide your biometrics. In those countries where there is no visa application centre, you will need to go to the British mission.

Your visa application will not be processed until you have provided the necessary biometric information. The finger scans are electronic so staff do not need to use any ink, liquid or chemicals. You will have your digital photograph taken at the same time and the whole procedure should take no more than five minutes to complete. You should make sure that you do not have any decoration (such as henna), or any cuts or other markings on your fingertips before having your finger scans. You should also make sure that if you have any cuts and bruises on your face, they have healed or disappeared before you have your photograph taken. Digital photographs must be of your full face and you should not wear sunglasses, a hat or any other head covering (unless you wear it for cultural or religious reasons but the face must not be covered).
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How much money will I need to qualify as a working holidaymaker?
You must be able to:

  • support yourself without needing help from public funds
  • show that you have enough money to pay the cost of at least your journey to the UK, and
  • show that you have enough money for your accommodation and living expenses for the first two months after you arrive, or for at least one month if you can show that you have arranged a job in advance, and that this job will pay you enough to cover your accommodation and living expenses.

You can get information about living expenses in the area where you want to stay through UK websites such as www.i-uk.com or from the UK's regional tourist offices. This information will help you to find out how much money you will need: i-uk, VisitBritain.
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What will happen when I make my application?
The Entry Clearance Officer will try to make a decision using your application form and the supporting documents you have provided. If this is not possible, they will need to interview you.

Please check your visa when you get it. You should make sure that:

  • your personal details are correct
  • it correctly states the purpose for which you want to come to the UK, and
  • it is valid for the date on which you want to travel to the UK. (You can ask for your visa to be post-dated for up to three months if you do not plan to travel immediately).

If you think that there is anything wrong with your visa, contact the visa section immediately.
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What are public funds?
Under the Immigration Rules, if you want to travel to the UK you must be able to support yourself and live without claiming certain benefits. A full list of public funds is available on the UK Border Agency website.

You can find more information about public funds in the Immigration Directorate Instructions (IDIs) and Immigration Rules on the UK Border Agency website.

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Can I apply to extend my stay once I am in the UK?
You cannot extend your stay as a working holidaymaker. However, you may be eligible to switch into another immigration category. Consult the UKBA website for further information. Working in the UK website.
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More advice and information

The UK Border Agency
For more advice and information about extending your stay once you are in the UK:

UK Border Agency
Croydon Public Caller Unit
Lunar House
40 Wellesley Road
Croydon CR9 2BY
Phone: (+44) (0)870 606 7766 (general enquiries)
Phone: (+44) (0)870 241 0645 (application forms)
Email: indpublicenquiries@ind.homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk

UK Border Agency, Visa Services Directorate
London SW1A 2AH

Immigration Advisory Service (IAS)
The Immigration Advisory Service is the UK's largest charity providing advice and representation in asylum, immigration and nationality law. It has offices right across the UK and abroad. It provides a free service to those who are eligible. It may also be able to help those who are not eligible. The IAS is a non-profit service.

Immigration Advisory Service
3rd Floor, County House
190 Great Dover Street
London SE1 4YB
Phone: (+44) (0)20 7967 1200
Phone: (+44) (0)20 8814 1559 (duty office open 24 hours a day)
Fax: (+44) (0)20 7403 5875
Email:advice@iasuk.org
Website: www.iasuk.org

Information about immigration advisers
If you or your sponsor feels that you have had poor advice from, or have been overcharged by, an immigration adviser in England or Wales contact the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC).

Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner
5th Floor, Counting House
53 Tooley Street
London
SE1 2QN
Phone: (+44) (0)20 7211 1500
Fax: (+44) (0)20 7211 1553
Email: OISC email enquiries
Website: www.oisc.gov.uk

or

The Law Society - International Division
Victoria Court
8 Dormer Place
Royal Leamington Spa
Warwickshire CV32 5AE
Phone: (+44) (0)845 608 6565
Email: enquiries@lawsociety.org.uk
Website: www.lawsociety.org.uk

If you have a complaint about a practising solicitor in Scotland, contact:

The Law Society of Scotland
Client Relations Office
26 Drumsheugh Gardens
Edinburgh EH3 7YR
Phone: (+44) (0)845 113 0018
Email: cro@lawscot.org.uk
Website: www.lawscot.org.uk

If you have a complaint about a practising solicitor in Northern Ireland, contact:

The Law Society of Northern Ireland
Law Society House
98 Victoria Street
Belfast BT1 3JZ
Tel: (+44) (0)28 9023 1614
Email:info@lawsoc-ni.org
Website: www.lawsoc-ni.org

If you think the advice you or your sponsor were given from any other organisation was poor, incompetent or too expensive, you should complain to that organisation.

For a list of advisers write to:

Immigration Law Practitioners' Association
Lindsey House
40-42 Charterhouse Street
London EC1M 6JN
Phone: (+44) (0)20 7251 8383
Email:info@ilpa.org.uk
Website: www.ilpa.org.uk

Revenue and Customs
For advice on bringing personal belongings and goods into the UK contact:

HM Revenue & Customs
Dorset House
Stamford Street
London SE1 9PY
Phone: (+44) (0)845 010 9000
Website: www.hmrc.gov.uk

Drugs warning
Anyone found smuggling drugs into the UK will face serious penalties. Drug traffickers may try to bribe travellers. If you are travelling to the UK, avoid any involvement with drugs.

False documents
It is better to explain why you do not have a document than to submit a false document with an application. Applicants will be automatically refused and may be banned from coming to the UK for 10 years if they use a false document, lie or withhold relevant information.  They may also be banned if they have breached immigration laws in the UK.

Travellers to the UK who produce a false travel document or passport to the UK immigration authorities for themselves and/or their children are committing an offence. People found guilty of this offence face up to two years in prison or a fine (or both).

Alternative formats
In the UK we also have versions of our guidance notes in Braille, on audio tape and in large print. If you would like any guidance notes in one of these formats, please contact us:

UK Border Agency, Visa Services Directorate
London SW1A 2AH

Further information

 

The official British Government website for visa services

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