Farm jobs in the UK, and agricultural work more widely, are one of the few areas where workers from outside the country can still be recruited for manual roles in 2026. The “work permit support” in the title has a specific meaning: the Seasonal Worker visa, a temporary route for horticulture and poultry work that runs through a small number of government-licensed scheme operators.
It helps to be clear about the limits from the start. The visa lasts up to six months, you cannot bring family, it does not lead to settlement, and farms do not sponsor you directly. Long-term sponsored careers in agriculture exist, but mainly for graduate-level roles such as vets, agronomists and agricultural engineers. This guide covers both routes across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
How Does the Seasonal Worker Visa Work?
The Seasonal Worker visa sits within the UK’s Temporary Work routes. The Home Office sets an annual quota, which has been a little over 40,000 places for horticulture plus a smaller allocation for poultry in recent years. The government has confirmed the route will continue for several years, with quotas reviewed annually.
| Feature | Horticulture | Poultry |
|---|---|---|
| Type of work | Picking, planting, packing and grading fruit, vegetables, flowers and plants | Processing and catching ahead of the Christmas season |
| Maximum stay | Up to 6 months in any 12-month period | A fixed window from early October to 31 December |
| Sponsor | Licensed scheme operator | Licensed scheme operator |
| Minimum pay | At least the National Living Wage, £12.71 an hour from April 2026 | At least the National Living Wage, with higher minimums for some skilled poultry roles |
| Guaranteed hours | At least 32 paid hours a week | At least 32 paid hours a week |
| Dependants | Not permitted | Not permitted |
| Switching to another visa in the UK | Not permitted | Not permitted |
Because the visa is for six months or less, you do not pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. You must be 18 or over and hold a Certificate of Sponsorship from a scheme operator before you apply.
Who Are the Licensed Scheme Operators?
Individual farms cannot issue Certificates of Sponsorship for seasonal work. Instead, the Home Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs approve a handful of operators that recruit workers abroad, sponsor them and place them on farms.
At the time of writing, the horticulture operators include AGRI-HR, Concordia, Fruitful Jobs, HOPS Labour Solutions and Pro-Force, with separate operators approved for poultry. The list changes, and operators have lost their licences in the past. Always confirm the current list on GOV.UK before you apply, and apply only through the operator’s own website or its officially named local partner in your country.
Operators recruit from a wide range of countries, with many workers in recent years coming from Central Asia, Eastern Europe and parts of Asia and Africa. Recruitment opens at different times for each country, so check operators’ sites regularly.
What Jobs and Pay Can You Expect?
Most seasonal work is physically demanding, outdoors or in polytunnels and packhouses, and starts early. Typical roles include:
- Soft fruit picking: strawberries, raspberries and blueberries in Kent, Herefordshire, the West Midlands and eastern Scotland
- Top fruit harvesting: apples and pears in Kent and Worcestershire
- Field vegetables and salads in Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk
- Daffodil and flower picking in Cornwall and Lincolnshire
- Packhouse grading, packing and quality control
- Nursery and ornamental plant production
You must be paid at least the National Living Wage for every hour. Many farms use piece rates on top, so fast pickers earn more, but your pay can never fall below the hourly minimum. At 32 to 48 hours a week, gross weekly pay is usually between about £400 and £600. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own agricultural wages rules, which can set higher minimums and overtime rates. England does not.
For role-by-role pay and the Scottish wage rules, see our separate guide to farm jobs in Scotland.
What Will It Cost You?
You should never pay a fee for the job itself. You do have to cover some genuine costs, and you should work out whether the season will still leave you with savings.
- Visa application fee: roughly £300 at the time of writing. Check the current fee on GOV.UK.
- Travel to the visa application centre for biometrics, and any tuberculosis test if required for your country.
- Flights to and from the UK. Some operators and retailers now run schemes where the employer pays or refunds travel and visa costs, but this is not universal. Ask before you accept.
- Maintenance funds: you need £1,270 in savings held for 28 days, unless your sponsor certifies on your Certificate of Sponsorship that it will cover your first month’s costs. Most operators do.
- Accommodation: most farms provide caravans or shared housing. The amount that can be deducted is capped by the accommodation offset rules, at roughly £75 to £80 a week, where the charge would otherwise take pay below the minimum wage.
- Food, work clothing and phone costs.
When sending money home, compare specialist money transfer services with bank transfers, as exchange-rate margins vary widely. Travel insurance for the journey is sensible, and NHS emergency treatment is available if you are injured.
How to Apply for a Seasonal Farm Job
- Check the operator list on GOV.UK. Note which operators recruit from your country.
- Apply directly. Complete the operator’s online form or attend an official recruitment event. Do not pay intermediaries.
- Pass the selection process. This usually includes an interview, basic English assessment and information about the work.
- Receive your Certificate of Sponsorship. This is a reference number, not a paper document. Check the farm placement, dates and pay.
- Apply for the visa online. Pay the fee and book your biometrics appointment. You can apply up to three months before your start date.
- Wait for the decision. Most applications are decided within about three weeks.
- Travel and attend induction. You should receive a written contract in a language you understand, health and safety training and information about your rights.
What Rights Do Seasonal Workers Have?
You have the same basic employment rights as any UK worker. These include itemised payslips, paid holiday, rest breaks, a safe workplace and protection from unlawful deductions. Your employer cannot keep your passport.
Several bodies protect farm workers:
- The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) licenses labour providers in agriculture and investigates exploitation. Its functions are being brought into the new Fair Work Agency, so check which body is handling complaints when you arrive.
- ACAS gives free advice on pay and contracts.
- The Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline takes confidential reports in many languages.
- Your scheme operator has a duty to monitor your welfare and should move you to another farm if there is no work or conditions are poor.
If a farm cannot offer the guaranteed hours, tell the operator’s welfare contact in writing. Transfers between farms are a normal part of the scheme.
What Are the Long-Term Skilled Careers in Farming?
The Seasonal Worker visa cannot be extended or switched, but agriculture also employs graduates who can be sponsored under the Skilled Worker route. Since July 2025, new sponsorship generally requires an occupation at RQF level 6 and a salary of at least £41,700 or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher, with lower thresholds for new entrants.
- Veterinary surgeons: must register with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Farm animal vets are in short supply.
- Agronomists and crop scientists: usually need a degree and BASIS or FACTS qualifications.
- Agricultural and precision farming engineers: work with machinery manufacturers, dealers and agri-tech firms.
- Farm business and production managers on large estates and in fresh produce companies, where the role and salary meet the rules.
- Food technologists and quality managers in packing and processing.
Some technician-level occupations remain sponsorable for a limited period through the Temporary Shortage List, without the right to bring dependants for new applicants. The list is scheduled to run to the end of 2026 and is under review, so check the current tables on GOV.UK. Related technical trades are covered in our guides to skilled mechanic jobs in the UK and bricklayer jobs in the UK.
Questions to ask before you commit
Seasonal farm work is heavily targeted by unofficial agents and illegal recruiters, and workers have arrived in the UK in debt after paying thousands to agents.
- Licensed operators do not charge recruitment fees. Charging a worker for finding a job is illegal under UK law.
- Only an approved scheme operator can sponsor a Seasonal Worker visa. A letter from a “farm” is not enough.
- Verify the operator on GOV.UK and any labour provider on the GLAA public register.
- Do not borrow money to pay an agent. If you have been charged, report it to the operator and the GLAA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I come back for another season?
Yes. You can apply again once you have spent enough time outside the UK to stay within the six-months-in-twelve limit. Many farms ask good workers to return, and operators often prioritise returnees.
Can I take a second job while on the Seasonal Worker visa?
No. You may only do the work described on your Certificate of Sponsorship, for employers arranged through your scheme operator. Working elsewhere breaches your visa conditions.
Do I need to speak English?
There is no formal English test for this visa. Operators usually check that you can understand safety instructions, and basic English makes daily life and any complaint much easier.
Will I pay tax on my wages?
Your employer deducts income tax and National Insurance through PAYE. Because you work only part of the tax year, you may be owed a refund when you leave, which you can claim from HM Revenue and Customs using form P85. You do not need to pay an agent to do this.
Are dairy and livestock jobs covered?
No. The seasonal route covers horticulture and the pre-Christmas poultry sector only. Dairy, sheep and general livestock roles are filled by workers who already have the right to work in the UK.
Bottom Line
The Seasonal Worker visa is a legitimate, temporary way to earn UK wages on a farm, provided you apply through a licensed scheme operator and pay no recruitment fees. Work out your costs before you travel, keep records of your hours, and use the welfare channels if something goes wrong. For a permanent future in British agriculture, the realistic route is a graduate-level profession that meets the Skilled Worker rules.