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Tier 2 Minister of Religion Visa UK

A Tier 2 Minister of Religion Visa UK allows ministers and religious workers in pastoral positions to remain in the country for a maximum of three years and one month. Up to three-year extensions are possible. With this visa, you may be able to get established status and eventually citizenship.

For experienced guidance on your tier 2 minister of religion visa application, speak with our immigration solicitors. If you need immediate support contact us at 02033844389 right now.

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What is a Tier 2 Minister of Religion Visa UK?

The Tier 2 Minister of Religion visa does provide a potential path to settlement (‘indefinite leave to remain’) in the UK.

Individuals who have been sponsored to perform a primarily pastoral leading role within a bona fide faith-based organisation or religious order in the United Kingdom may apply for the Minister of Religion Visa (Tier 2).  

It is possible to settle in the UK as a Minister of Religion using the (Tier 2) route and applicants can be accompanied or joined by a spouse and children under the age of 18.

The Temporary Work-Religious Worker Visa is a better option if you want to help out a UK religious organisation for up to two years by doing religious work, such as joining a religious order or doing non-pastoral work for them.

Call us at 02033844389 for further information.

What are the Requirements for a Minister of Religion Visa UK?

UK Visas & Immigration requires the following requirements in order to grant you a Minister of Religion using the (Tier 2) Visa:

  • You are at least 18 years old
  • An approved sponsor has offered you a position as a minister of religion (which requires you to obtain a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the role you wish to undertake)
  • There is a genuine desire and capability to undertake the role for which you have been sponsored
  • An English language requirement has been met
  • You have personal savings to support yourself while in the UK
  • No general ground for refusal applies to your application
  • An official TB certificate has been provided if required.

You may have to meet different requirements depending on your situation. To ensure that any mistakes can be identified, and a solid strategy can be developed and implemented, you must seek professional advice and guidance as soon as possible.

What are the Main Roles and Responsibilities of a Tier 2 Minister of Religion?

Individuals who are qualified to perform the job of a Minister of Religion are eligible for the (Tier 2) Minister of Religion Visa.

You will hold a major role within your religious establishment or organization in the UK, such as a minister, missionary, member of a religious order, or another religious worker with a pastoral role.

Ministers of Religion are expected to fulfil religious duties either within their sponsor’s organisation or as directed by their sponsors in the UK. The duties you perform here may include preaching, pastoral work, and non-pastoral work. The majority of your duties should be pastoral. For example, you should lead a congregation in performing rites and rituals and preach the essentials of the creed. Religious leaders such as priests, imams, rabbis, and other ministers of religion would fall under this category but are not limited to them.

The main duties of a Minister of Religion do not include school teaching, media production, domestic work, administrative work, or clerical duties unless you hold a senior position within your sponsor’s organization (like a financial controller). In these cases, applicants should consider other routes, such as the skilled worker route, to be sponsored.

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Requirement

For a Minister of Religion Visa (Tier 2), you must hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from a sponsor approved by the Home Office for the role you wish to perform in the UK. Ensure that your sponsor holds a valid Tier 2 Minister of Religion sponsor license.

You will be sponsored by a genuine religious organization that:

  • It is an organisation with charitable status
  • Is made up of a group of people who share common beliefs and spiritual goals, codes of behavior, and religious practices, and whose role it is to sustain and/or propagate those beliefs and practices
  • Holds a belief in something transcendental, metaphysical, or ultimate.
  • Any philosophical or political beliefs concerning man must be excluded unless those beliefs are similar to religious beliefs.
  • A community that does not discriminate based on gender, nationality, or ethnicity.
  • Obtains financial and material support voluntarily for its core religious ministry from its congregation or community, without promise or coercion.
  • Complies with UK laws and encourages others to do so
  • Has no detrimental impact on personal or family life as understood in the United Kingdom and does not work against the public interest.
Requirements for a Minister of Religion Visa UK
Our experienced UK immigration Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.