Ministers of Religion Visa (T2)

The Minister of Religion visa is categorized within the UK’s five work visa routes, tailored specifically for individuals intending to undertake work with a faith community or religious order in the UK. This could be in the capacity of a religious order member or a missionary. Applicants must secure a job offer and obtain sponsorship from an organization that possesses a valid sponsor licence.

Key duties of Ministers of Religion 

Holders of the Minister of Religion visa are permitted to perform a broad range of functions. Their responsibilities may encompass leading worship services, imparting religious teachings, presiding over events like weddings and funerals, offering counseling and welfare support, and managing human resources tasks including the coordination of volunteers and training for preachers. Additionally, they might oversee missionary initiatives or assume senior positions managing operational aspects such as information technology, accounting, or finance. In some instances, they may also engage in the interpretation of sacred texts.

Validity and Advantages of the Visa

The Minister of Religion visa is typically issued with a validity of up to 3 years and 1 month, with the possibility of renewal. Once you have resided in the UK for 5 years on this visa, you may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Subsequently, after an additional year, you could qualify for UK citizenship.

As a visa holder, your privileges include:

• Employment in a full-time capacity with your UK sponsoring entity.
• Undertaking a supplementary job within certain limitations.
• Participating in voluntary services and pursuing part-time education, as long as these do not conflict with your primary sponsored role.
• Freedom to travel into and out of the UK.
• The ability to bring your spouse/partner and children to the UK as dependants.

It’s important to be aware that if your intention is to study at an academic institution that is not faith-based or to work as a full-time educator in a school administered by a religious body, you should seek the appropriate student or Skilled Worker visa pathways.

Minister of Religion Visa Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a Minister of Religion visa, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have an offer for a Minister of Religion role from a UK licensed sponsor
• Possess a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for your role in the UK
• Meet English language requirements
• Have sufficient funds to support yourself in the UK
• Provide a record of your travel history for the last 5 years
• Produce a negative tuberculosis test result if required
• Not own more than 10% of your sponsor’s shares unless you earn over £159,600 per year

Certificate of Sponsorship Requirements

You need a job offer and CoS from a religious organization with a T2 Minister of Religion Visa sponsor licence. The CoS is an online document containing your personal details and role information, including job confirmation, qualifications, and details of your religious order membership.

Salary and Financial Requirements

According to Home Office guidelines, you must receive a salary that:

• Matches or exceeds that paid to settled workers in the same role
• Complies with UK minimum wage laws

You must demonstrate financial stability by either:

• Having lived in the UK for 12 months or more
• Having a sponsor who will provide maintenance and accommodation for the first month if needed
• Possessing at least £1,270 in savings for 28 days before applying, with additional funds for dependants (£285 for your partner, £315 for one child, and £200 for each additional child)

English Language Requirement

To meet the language requirement, you must:

• Prove English proficiency at CEFR level B2
• Hold a degree taught in English
• Be from an exempt English-speaking country

Minister of Religion Visa Extension

Your initial visa may be extended for up to 3 years or for the duration of your sponsorship, not exceeding a total of 6 years. For extension, you need:

• To fulfill the original eligibility criteria
• A new CoS for the extended employment period

To apply for an extension, complete the online form, provide identity proof, pay the fee of £719 per applicant, and submit any required documents. Processing typically takes 8 weeks, but you can continue your Minister of Religion duties while awaiting the decision.

Minister of Region visa vs Religious Worker Visa

The Minister of Religion visa and the Religious Worker visa share certain characteristics, yet they also have distinct differences. Here’s a breakdown of how they compare:

Differences	Minister of Religion visa	Religious Worker Visa
Type of work visa	Long-term > 2 years	Short-term < 2 years
Route to permanent settlement?	Yes	No
Type of work permitted	Mainly pastoral with some non-pastoral	Either religious or non-pastoral work
Job offered required	Yes	Yes
Sponsorship required	Yes	Yes
Financial requirement	£1,270	£1,270
Application fee	£719 (if applying outside the UK)	£298 per person

Minister of Religion Visa to ILR

Holders of the Minister of Religion visa are eligible for a direct route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK, offering various benefits including the elimination of recurrent visa applications, more freedom in employment and study pursuits, and exemption from the immigration healthcare surcharge.

ILR Eligibility for Minister of Religion Visa Holders

To qualify for ILR, you must:

• Complete a continuous five-year residency in the UK on a Minister of Religion visa, potentially including time on other eligible visas such as Tier 1 (excluding the ICT Graduate Trainee visa), Skilled Worker, Innovator, or Representative of an Overseas Business visa.
• Pass the Life in the UK test.
• Meet English language requirements with a qualifying English language qualification at B1, B2, C1, or C2 level, or hold a degree taught or researched in English.
• Show proof of your employer’s ongoing sponsorship and adherence to sponsorship requirements.

Dependents of Minister of Religion Visa Holder

As a Minister of Religion visa holder, you may bring your partner and dependent children to the UK. They must apply online separately.

A dependent can be:

• Your spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner.
• Your child under 18.
• Your child over 18, if currently in the UK as a dependent.

Dependents must not lead independent lives, be unmarried, and be financially reliant on you. They will receive visas that match the duration of your visa.

Visa Duration of Minister of Religion Visa

The Minister of Religion visa is granted for up to 3 years and 1 month or per your Certificate of Sponsorship, whichever is less. You can extend this visa for another 3 years, with a total maximum stay of 6 years. After five years in the UK, you can apply for ILR.

Visa Costs of Minister of Religion Visa

Visa fees vary based on the application’s location:

• Inside the UK: £827 for the main applicant.
• Outside the UK: £719 for the main applicant.
• Dependents pay the same fee.

Additional costs include a £19.20 biometric fee, and a healthcare surcharge of £1,035 per adult or £776 per child per year. Applicants must have at least £1,270 in savings for 28 days prior to applying. Additional funds are needed for dependents: £285 for a partner, £315 for the first child, and £200 for each additional child.

Second Job Conditions

Visa holders may take a second job up to 20 hours per week in the same profession as their main role, listed on the Skilled Worker shortage occupation list, or in voluntary work.

Switching Visas

You may switch to a Minister of Religion visa from visas such as the Skilled Worker, Family, Student, Innovator, Investor, or Global Talent visas, provided eligibility requirements are met, allowing you to stay in the UK while your application is processed.