Working Holidaymaker Visas

 
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The United Kingdom welcomes nationals of Commonwealth countries who wish to come to the United Kingdom as working holidaymakers. The purpose of the working holidaymaker scheme is to allow young Commonwealth citizens, who do not have commitments which require them to earn a regular wage, to come to the UK for up to a maximum period of two years.
Rules

  • To qualify as a working holidaymaker under the Immigration Rules you must:
  • be a Commonwealth citizen
  • be aged 17 to 27 inclusive
  • be unmarried or be married to a person who meets the requirements as a working holidaymaker in their own right and the parties to the marriage intend to take a working holiday together
  • have the means to pay for your return or onward journey
  • be able to and intend to maintain and accommodate yourself without recourse to public funds
  • intend to take employment incidental to a working holiday, but not engage in business, provide services as a professional sportsperson or entertainer or pursue a career in the UK
  • not have dependant children, any of whom are 5 years of age or over or will reach 5 years of age before you complete your working holiday, or commitments which would require you to earn a regular income
  • intend to leave the UK at the end of your working holiday
  • hold a valid visa for entry in this capacity

If you have previously spent time in the UK as a working holidaymaker, you cannot seek to he re-admitted to the UK for a period which would exceed 2 years from the date you were first given leave to enter the UK as a working holidaymaker. You will still need to meet the above requirements.

Employment

A working holidaymaker should be coming to the UK with the intention of taking work as part of his/her holiday. A person whose specific purpose in coming to the UK to take full-time work will not qualify under the Immigration Rules as a working holidaymaker. The work should not represent a continuation of his/her career.

A person established or qualified in a profession or vocation overseas and who intends to take a post or appointment in the same field in the UK will normally require a work permit for this purpose. A working holidaymaker cannot take up managerial positions or act as a locum hospital doctor, GP, solicitor, barrister etc., nor as a professional sportsperson or entertainer.

Study

It is acceptable for a working holidaymaker to engage in some part-time study and short periods of full-time study whilst he/she is in the UK. A working holidaymaker may not engage in full-time study for the whole period of his/her stay since he/she cannot be accepted as intending to take employment incidental to a holiday.
It is not possible to switch to working holidaymaker status if you already in the UK in another capacity (for example as a visitor or student)

How to apply

You need to complete the steps below to apply for entry clearance as a working holidaymaker:

1. Completed and signed application form IM2A and form,WHQ (Additional Questionnaire)

1. Your valid passport (preferably with at least 6 month's validity, plus your previous passport if the current one was issued in the past year.)

1. Two passport-sized photographs

1. Evidence of funds (i.e. your recent and current bank statements) to show the amount available to you and under your control in the United Kingdom

1. If you are in employment please provide written evidence

1. If you are a student please provide written evidence

1. Your contact address and telephone number in this country

1. Application fee. (Check with the BHC as to the current costs). Payment must be made in cash or postal orders. Cheques are not accepted. Fees are not refundable and applications will not be processed until the correct fee has been received

1. If married, full original unabridged marriage certificate (B1-36)

You should not buy a ticket if delay or refusal of your visa application will result in financial loss. The visa officer may ask you for other documents : production of those listed above does not guarantee that entry clearance will be issued.

Note : Temporary passports are not acceptable for visa purposes by the British High Commission.

Additional Information

  • You must be unmarried or married to a person who meets the requirements as a working holidaymaker in his/her own right and the parties to the marriage must intend taking a working holiday together.
  • The entry clearance officer may want to interview you in connection with your application.
  • The maximum period permitted for entry in this category is 2 years. If you are originally granted entry for less than that period, you may be allowed to extend your stay, but the extention will not take your stay beyond 2 years from the date of your first entry.
  • For the purposes of working holidaymakers full-time work is more than 25 hours a week. Please note that part time employment is permissable for the holiday period, but that full-time has to be restricted to no more than part of the holiday. An entry clearance (which is like a visa and endorsed in the passport) must be obtained prior to travelling to the United Kingdom for this purpose.
  • You may not engage in business, provide services as a professional sportsperson or entertainer or pursue a career. Also, you must not have commitments which require you to earn a regular income.

Customs and Excise

Advice on importing personal effects and goods into the UK may be obtained from:

HM Customs and Excise
Dorset House
Stamford Street
London
SEI 9PY

Immigration Advisory Service (IAS)

The IAS is an independent charity that gives free and confidential
advice, assistance and representation to persons who are applying
for entry clearance for the UK. Their address is:

Count House
190 Great Dover Street
London
SEI 4YB
Phone : 0944 207 357 6917
Duty Office (24hrs) : 0944 208 814 1559
Fax : 0944 207 378 0665

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