Minister of Religion visa (T2)

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1. Overview

You can apply for a Minister of Religion visa (T2) if:

  • you바카라 사이트檝e been offered a job within a faith community (for example as a minister of religion, missionary, or member of a religious order) in the UK
  • you meet the other eligibility requirements

Getting sponsored

You need to be employed by a licensed sponsor to apply to live in the UK.

Your sponsor checks that you can do the job they바카라 사이트檙e hiring you for and if it qualifies you for a visa. They바카라 사이트檒l give you a certificate of sponsorship to prove this.

They must also give you other information you need when you apply, for example how much you바카라 사이트檒l be paid.

How long it will take

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you바카라 사이트檙e due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

Application fee

How much you pay for a Minister of Religion visa (T2) depends on where you are.

Who you바카라 사이트檙e applying for Apply outside the UK Extend or switch in the UK
You 拢769 拢885
All dependants 拢769 each person 拢885 each person

Healthcare surcharge

You바카라 사이트檒l also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application.

If you바카라 사이트檙e applying to extend or switch in the UK

You바카라 사이트檒l need to have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken - there바카라 사이트檚 no fee for this.

Get a faster decision on your application

If you바카라 사이트檙e applying to extend or switch in the UK you can pay an extra 拢500 for the priority service to get a decision within 5 working days.

You can pay an extra 拢1,000 for the super priority service to get a decision:

  • by the end of the next working day after providing your biometric information if your appointment is on a weekday
  • 2 working days after providing your biometric information if your appointment is at the weekend

Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays.

If your application is successful

You바카라 사이트檒l get an eVisa (an online record of your immigration status).

Your decision email or letter will tell you how to get access to your eVisa. You바카라 사이트檒l need to create a UKVI account.

Find out how to get your biometric residence permit (BRP) if you were told you바카라 사이트檇 get one when you applied.

How long you can stay

You can come to the UK with a Minister of Religion visa (T2) for a maximum of up to 3 years and 1 month, or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter.

You can apply to extend your stay.

After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as 바카라 사이트榠ndefinite leave to remain바카라 사이트�). This gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you바카라 사이트檙e eligible.

You must apply before your visa expires.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

You cannot:

  • own more than 10% of your sponsor바카라 사이트檚 shares (unless you earn more than 拢159,600 a year)
  • get public funds

2. Eligibility

You need to:

Your employer must make sure your job pays at least the minimum wage and follows the UK rules for how many hours a week you work. If your employer does not do this, your application will be refused.

Certificate of sponsorship

A certificate of sponsorship holds your personal details and information about the job you바카라 사이트檝e been offered. It바카라 사이트檚 an electronic record, not a paper document. Your sponsor will give you a certificate of sponsorship reference number to add to your application.

You can only use your certificate of sponsorship reference number once. You must use it within 3 months of getting it.

Money to support yourself

You must have at least 拢1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.

You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.

You바카라 사이트檒l usually need to show proof of this when you apply, unless either:

  • you바카라 사이트檝e been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months
  • your employer can cover your costs during your first month in the UK, up to 拢1,270

Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they바카라 사이트檙e in the UK. Check how much they바카라 사이트檒l need.

Read the guidance on financial evidence for more information about the money you need and how to prove it.

If your employer can support you instead

Your certificate of sponsorship must confirm this. Your employer will need to complete the 바카라 사이트榮ponsor certifies maintenance바카라 사이트� section on your certificate. This is under 바카라 사이트楢dditional data바카라 사이트�.

3. Knowledge of English

You may need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply.

You can prove your knowledge of English by either:

  • passing an approved English language test with at least CEFR level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening
  • having an academic qualification that was taught in English and is recognised by as being equivalent to a UK bachelors degree, master바카라 사이트檚 degree or PhD

You may be able to meet the English language requirement in other ways. Check the full visa guidance for detailed information.

Who does not need to prove their knowledge of English

You will not need to prove your knowledge of English if you바카라 사이트檙e a national of one of the following countries or territories:

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • the Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • the British overseas territories
  • Canada
  • Dominica
  • Grenada
  • Guyana
  • Jamaica
  • Malta
  • New Zealand
  • St Kitts and Nevis
  • St Lucia
  • St Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • USA

You also may not have to prove your knowledge of English in other circumstances - check the full visa guidance.

4. Documents you'll need

When you apply you바카라 사이트檒l need to provide:

If your documents are not in English or Welsh you바카라 사이트檒l also need to provide a certified translation.

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

Read the guidance about the money you바카라 사이트檒l need and how to prove it.

5. Apply from outside the UK

You must apply online for a Minister of Religion visa (T2).

Check which documents you바카라 사이트檒l need to apply.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

You바카라 사이트檒l need to have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a visa application centre as part of your application.

Apply for a Minister of Religion visa (T2)

Once you바카라 사이트檝e started your application you can save your form and complete it later.

Continue your application

You can sign back into your application if you바카라 사이트檝e saved it.

Find out how to sign in to your account.

How long it takes to get a decision

Once you바카라 사이트檝e applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you바카라 사이트檒l usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

After you apply

You can ask to cancel your application. You바카라 사이트檒l only get your fee refunded if the application has not been processed yet.

You바카라 사이트檒l get an email containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

6. Your partner and children

Your partner and children can also apply to join you or stay in the UK as your 바카라 사이트榙ependants바카라 사이트� if they바카라 사이트檙e eligible.

If your partner or child바카라 사이트檚 application is successful, their visa will usually end on the same date as yours. If a child바카라 사이트檚 parents have visas with different expiry dates, the child바카라 사이트檚 visa will end on the earlier date.

Your relationship

A dependant partner or child is any of the following:

  • your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner
  • your child under 18 - including if they were born in the UK during your stay
  • your child over 18 if they currently have permission (바카라 사이트榣eave to enter바카라 사이트� or 바카라 사이트榣eave to remain바카라 사이트�) to be in the UK as your dependant

You바카라 사이트檒l need to provide evidence of your relationship when you apply.

Your partner

You must be able to prove that either:

  • you바카라 사이트檙e in a civil partnership or marriage that바카라 사이트檚 recognised in the UK
  • you바카라 사이트檝e been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply

If your child is 16 or over

They must:

  • live with you (unless they바카라 사이트檙e in full-time education at boarding school, college or university)
  • not be married, in a civil partnership or have any children
  • be financially supported by you

If your child lives with you, you바카라 사이트檒l need to provide evidence of their address such as:

  • a bank statement
  • credit card bills
  • driving licence
  • NHS registration document
  • an official letter from their university or college

Money they need to support themselves

Your partner or children must have a certain amount of money available to support themselves while they바카라 사이트檙e in the UK.

You - or your partner or child - will need:

  • 拢285 for your partner
  • 拢315 for one child
  • 拢200 for each additional child

Example

You - or your partner or child - would need to have 拢600 to bring your partner and one child with you to the UK (拢285 for your partner and 拢315 for your child).

You would also need to have 拢1,270 to support yourself for your own application.

You - or your partner or child - will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of you or them applying for this visa.

You바카라 사이트檒l usually need to show proof of this when they apply, unless either:

  • you have all been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months
  • your employer can cover your family바카라 사이트檚 costs during your first month in the UK - this must be confirmed on your certificate of sponsorship

If your partner or child is applying at a different time to you, they바카라 사이트檒l only need to prove they have enough money to support themselves if they have been in the UK for less than one year.

Apply from outside the UK

Your partner and children must either:

Each family member will need to complete a separate application and pay the visa fee. They must apply before they travel to the UK.

They바카라 사이트檒l also need your application number - you바카라 사이트檒l get this when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You바카라 사이트檒l find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.

Proving their identity

Your partner and children will need to have their fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a visa application centre as part of their application. They may need to travel to get to their nearest centre (this could be in another country).

The visa application centre may need to keep their passport and documents while they process their application.

How long it takes to get a decision

Once they바카라 사이트檝e applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they바카라 사이트檒l usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

They may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

Apply from inside the UK (extend or switch their visa)

If you extend or switch your visa, your partner or child바카라 사이트檚 current visa will still be valid until its original end date. Your partner or child need to apply to extend or switch their visa, either:

  • at the same time as you
  • at any time before their current visa expires

This includes children who have turned 18 during your stay.

Your partner or children cannot apply to switch to your Minister of Religion (T2) visa as your dependants if they are currently in the UK:

If your partner or child is currently in the UK on a Student visa, they can only switch if they have either:

  • completed the course they were sponsored to study
  • studied for a PhD for at least 24 months

How to apply

The application form will tell you if you can include your partner and children in your application or whether they need to apply separately.

If your partner or child apply separately, they바카라 사이트檒l need to either:

They바카라 사이트檒l need your application number - you바카라 사이트檒l get this when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You바카라 사이트檒l find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.

Your partner and children will need to have their fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point as part of their application.

They must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until they get a decision. Their application will be withdrawn if they do.

How long it takes to get a decision

Once they바카라 사이트檝e applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they바카라 사이트檒l usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

They may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

Children born in the UK

If you have a child while you바카라 사이트檙e in the UK, they do not automatically become a British citizen.

You can . You must do this if you want to travel in and out of the UK with your child.

You바카라 사이트檒l need to provide a full UK birth certificate for each child, showing the names of both parents.

You must apply to add them to your visa before they turn 18 if they want to stay in the UK.

What your partner or child can and cannot do

Your partner or child can:

  • work, except as a sportsperson or coach
  • study
  • travel abroad and return to the UK
  • apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as 바카라 사이트榠ndefinite leave to remain바카라 사이트�) if they바카라 사이트檝e lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the other eligibility requirements

They cannot apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension.

If their application is successful, they바카라 사이트檒l get a full list of what they can and cannot do.

7. Extend your visa

You may be able to apply to extend your stay in the UK under a Minister of Religion visa (T2).

You should apply before your current visa expires.

Your partner or child바카라 사이트檚 visa will not automatically extend if you extend yours. If they do not extend their visa, it will be valid until its original end date.

They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.

Eligibility

You바카라 사이트檒l still need to meet the eligibility requirements and provide the right documents.

You바카라 사이트檒l also need a new certificate of sponsorship from your sponsor.

How long you can stay

You can extend a Minister of Religion visa (T2) for up to 3 years, or the time given in your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, or the time required to take your total stay in the UK to a maximum of 6 years, whichever time is shorter.

You may be able to apply to settle in the UK permanently if you바카라 사이트檝e lived in the UK for 5 years on this visa.

Fees

Each person applying will need to pay:

You바카라 사이트檒l also need to have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken - there바카라 사이트檚 no fee for this.

Apply to extend your Minister of Religion visa (T2)

You must apply online before your current visa expires.

Once you바카라 사이트檝e started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Continue your application

You can sign back into your application if you바카라 사이트檝e saved it.

Find out how to sign in to your account.

Providing biometric information and supporting documents

When you apply, you바카라 사이트檒l be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your fingerprints and a photo (biometric information).

You바카라 사이트檒l also need to submit your supporting documents. You can:

  • upload them into the online service
  • have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

How long it takes to get a decision

You바카라 사이트檒l usually get a decision within 8 weeks of your application date.

You바카라 사이트檒l be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because:

  • your supporting documents need to be verified
  • you need to attend an interview
  • of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

After you apply

If you need to change something in your application after you바카라 사이트檝e sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to cancel your application. You바카라 사이트檒l only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

You바카라 사이트檒l get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

8. Switch to this visa

You might be able to apply to change (바카라 사이트榮witch바카라 사이트�) to a Minister of Religion visa (T2) if you바카라 사이트檙e already in the UK on a different type of visa.

Your partner or child바카라 사이트檚 visa will not automatically switch to this visa if you switch yours. If they do not switch their visa, it will be valid until its original end date.

They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.

Eligibility

You must meet the following requirements:

If you바카라 사이트檙e currently in the UK on a Student visa, you must also meet one of the following requirements:

  • you have completed the course you were sponsored to study
  • your job start date is after your course has finished
  • you have studied for a PhD for at least 24 months

Who cannot apply to switch to this visa

You cannot apply to switch to this visa if you바카라 사이트檙e currently in the UK:

You must leave the UK and apply for a Minister of Religion visa (T2) from abroad if you바카라 사이트檙e in one of these categories.

How long you can stay

You can stay up to 3 years after switching to a Minister of Religion visa (T2).

Fees

Each person applying will need to pay:

You바카라 사이트檒l also need to have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken - there바카라 사이트檚 no fee for this.

If you바카라 사이트檝e been in the UK for less than 1 year, you바카라 사이트檒l need to prove you have enough money to support yourself.

Apply to switch to a Minister of Religion visa (T2)

You must apply online before your current visa expires.

Once you바카라 사이트檝e started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Continue your application

You can sign back into your application if you바카라 사이트檝e saved it.

Find out how to sign in to your account.

Providing biometric information and supporting documents

When you apply, you바카라 사이트檒l be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your fingerprints and a photo (biometric information).

You바카라 사이트檒l also need to submit your supporting documents. You can:

  • upload them into the online service
  • have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

How long it takes to get a decision

You바카라 사이트檒l usually get a decision within 8 weeks of your application date.

You바카라 사이트檒l be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because:

  • your supporting documents need to be verified
  • you need to attend an interview
  • of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

After you apply

If you need to change something in your application after you바카라 사이트檝e sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to cancel your application. You바카라 사이트檒l only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

You바카라 사이트檒l get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

9. Taking a second job

You can take a second job on this visa if you바카라 사이트檙e working up to 20 hours a week in either:

You can also do unpaid voluntary work.

Otherwise, you바카라 사이트檒l need to apply for a new visa. You바카라 사이트檒l need to be sponsored by your second employer and get a new certificate of sponsorship.

When to apply for a new visa

You cannot apply for a new visa until you바카라 사이트檝e started work with your first sponsor.

You cannot start work with your second sponsor until your visa application has been approved.

How to apply

Read the guidance before you apply.

You must .

You must be in the UK to apply.

Documents you must provide

You바카라 사이트檒l need to provide some documents with your application.

You must also provide a letter explaining that you want to change your current permission to stay.

Your letter must state:

  • your name
  • your date of birth
  • your current certificate of sponsorship reference number
  • the date when your current permission to stay runs out