The route does not lead to settlement in the UK and all visitors must make a separate application, even when travelling as part of a group.
Requirements for a Religious Visit Visa
In order to qualify for a Religious Visit Visa you will need to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration that:
- You are a visa national (a non-visa national can normally seek entry as a Visitor on arrival at the UK border);
- You are genuinely seeking entry to the UK for a purpose that is permitted by the visitor routes;
- You will not undertake any prohibited activities;
- You have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs in relation to your visit (including travel, maintenance and accommodation costs) without working or accessing public funds;
- You will leave the UK at the end of your visit;
- You will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home;
- Your application does not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal.
Religious Visit Visa Permitted Activities
In order to qualify for a Religious Visit Visa you will need to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration that you are genuinely seeking entry to the UK for a purpose that is permitted by the visitor routes and will not undertake any prohibited activities.
Religious Workers may undertake pastoral duties which can include one-off engagements such as conducting wedding ceremonies or funerals, provided these are one-off engagements for which they are not receiving payment and they continue to be in employment overseas.
You should not be seeking to take up an office, post or appointment in the UK.
If you wish to work in the UK you should consider applying for a Temporary Work – Religious Worker Visa or a Minister of Religion Visa (T2) instead.
Because the Religious Visit Visa is a sub-category of the Standard Visitor route, Religious Visitors may also undertake other activities that are permitted under the Standard Visitor route.
Intention to Leave the UK Requirement for a Religious Visit Visa
In addition to satisfying the Home Office that you are genuinely seeking to enter the UK for a permitted purpose and that you satisfy the additional eligibility requirements, as part of your application for a Religious Visit Visa you will also need to satisfy the Home Office that you will leave the UK at the end of your visit and will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home.
In assessing your application, the Home Office will consider a range of factors including:
- Your previous immigration history, including visits to the UK and other countries;
- Your financial circumstances as well as your family, social and economic background;
- Your personal and economic ties to your country of residence.
Factors which may cause the Home Office to doubt that you are a genuine visitor include having few or no family and economic ties to your country of residence, whilst having several family members in the UK, previous attempts to deceive the Home Office in an immigration application and discrepancies between statements made by yourself and your sponsor.
Religious Visit Visa Financial Requirement
You will need to have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs in relation to your visit (including travel, maintenance and accommodation costs) without working or accessing public funds.
Your funds will need to be held in a permitted financial institution.
Your travel, maintenance and accommodation costs may be met by a third party if the third party has a genuine professional or personal relationship with you, they are not, and will not be, in breach of immigration laws and they can support you throughout the duration of your stay as a Visitor.
Religious Visit Visa Validity Period
If you wish to enter the UK for the purpose of a Religious Visit you may apply for a Visit Visa that is valid for either 6 months, 2 years, 5 years or 10 years.
You may enter and leave the UK multiple times during the validity period of your Visit Visa, unless your Visit Visa is endorsed for a single or dual entry.
Each visit to the UK must not exceed 6 months.
Religious Visit Visa Right to Work
Religious Visitors are not permitted to work in the UK or, with few exceptions, receive payment from a UK source for any activities undertaken in the UK.
This means that Religious Visitors cannot take employment, establish or run a business as a self-employed person, work for an organisation or business in the UK, undertake a work placement or internship in the UK or otherwise provide or sell goods or services in the UK.
Religious Visitors are permitted to undertake activities relating to their employment overseas remotely whilst they are in the UK, such as responding to emails or answering phone calls. However, the main purpose of your visit to the UK should be to undertake a permitted activity, rather than specifically to work remotely from the UK.
Religious Visitors are also permitted to come to the UK to seek employment and attend job interviews. However, if successful in obtaining employment, you will be expected to leave the UK and seek the appropriate entry clearance prior to commencing work.
How Our Immigration Advisers Can Help
Our immigration advisers are experienced in assisting religious workers to secure visas to visit the UK for the purpose of preaching or doing pastoral work.
Whether you are seeking advice on the merits of applying for a Religious Visit Visa, or assistance with preparing a Religious Visit Visa application, our immigration advisers can assist.
We pride ourselves on being approachable and proactive in understanding and meeting our client’s needs. We are a highly driven team, dedicated to providing clear and reliable immigration advice to our clients as part of a professional and friendly service.
