UK Minister of Religion visa – UK Visa & Immigration & Study, Visit, Work Permit

What is the UK Department of Religion (T2) visa?

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

They have been offered a job within a religious community (for example as a minister of religion, missionary or member of a religious order) in the UK.
The applicant must be employed by an authorized sponsor to apply to live in the UK.
The sponsor checks whether the applicant can carry out the work he is carrying out and whether he is eligible for this visa.
The sponsor provides you with a sponsorship certificate to prove this.
The sponsor also provides the applicant with other information, such as how much they will be paid.

What are the eligibility criteria for applying for a UK Minister of Religion (T2) visa?

The applicant must:

Have a certificate of sponsorship for your work.
Demonstrate knowledge of the English language.
Have personal savings to support your stay in the UK after arriving in the country.
The applicant must demonstrate that they are able to travel and have traveled within the last 5 years.
Have tuberculosis test results (usually required of applicants from countries listed on the government website)
Be at least 18 years old when the applicant submits the application.

What are the eligibility criteria for applying for a UK Department of Religion (T2) visa?

The applicant must:

Have a certificate of sponsorship for your work.
Demonstrate knowledge of the English language.
Have personal savings to support your stay in the UK after you arrive in the country.
The applicant must demonstrate that they are able to travel and have traveled within the last 5 years.
Have tuberculosis test results (usually required of applicants from countries listed on the government website)
Be at least 18 years old at the time of submitting your application.

What is the English language requirement for a UK Department of Religion (T2) visa?

The applicant may be required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language when submitting the application. This can be demonstrated by:

Passing an approved English language test with at least B2 CEFR level in reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Have an academic qualification taught in English recognized by Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) as equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD.

What documents will I need to apply for a UK Minister of Religion (T2) visa?

While applying for this visa, the applicant must provide:

A certificate of sponsorship reference number, provided by your UK-based employer.
A valid passport to prove identity. Your passport must have a blank page.
Expired passports or travel documents, if necessary, to show travel history.
Evidence that the applicant has sufficient personal savings to support their stay in the UK. For example, bank statements.
Proof of knowledge of the English language.
If the documents are not in English or Welsh you must provide a certified translation.
Tuberculosis test results (if required).

How do I extend my UK Department of Religion (T2) visa?

The applicant may be able to apply to extend their stay in the UK with a Ministry of Religion (T2) visa. For this, the applicant should apply before the current visa expires.

How do I switch to a UK Department of Religion (T2) visa?

The applicant may be able to apply to change to a UK Minister of Religion (T2) visa if they are already in the UK on a different type of visa. However, eligibility requirements must be met.

Who cannot apply for the switch?

Individuals currently in the UK:

With a visit visa,
With a short-term student visa,
On the student visa as a parent of a child,
With a seasonal worker visa,
On a domestic worker with a private domestic visa,
On immigration bail,
Allowed to remain outside immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds.

The applicant is required to leave the UK and apply for a UK Minister of Religion (T2) visa from abroad if they fall into one of these categories.

Can my partner and children join me on a UK Department of Religion (T2) visa?

The applicant’s partner and children can apply to remain in the UK as ‘dependants’ if they qualify.
If their request is successful, their visa will expire on the same date as the applicants.
Proof of kinship

A dependent partner or child is one of the following:

Husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner.
Under 18, even if born in the UK during your stay.
Minors over the age of 18 if they are currently in the UK as a dependent.
The applicant must provide proof of the relationship during the application.

Can I take a second job in the UK whilst on a UK Minister of Religion (T2) visa?

The applicant can accept a second job with this visa if he works up to 20 hours per week in:

The same profession as the main job.
A profession included in the list of occupations in shortage of skilled workers.
The applicant can also carry out unpaid volunteer work.
Otherwise, the applicant will be required to apply for a new visa and will need to be sponsored by the second employer and obtain a new certificate of sponsorship.

How long does it take to get a decision on a UK Minister of Religion (T2) visa?

The applicant should get a decision on their visa application within 3 weeks if applying from outside the UK.

How long can I stay in the UK on the UK Minister for Religion (T2) visa?

The applicant can come to the UK on a Ministry of Religion (T2) visa for a maximum of 3 years and 1 month, or the time shown on the Certificate of Sponsorship, plus 14 days, whichever is shorter.

What is/is not allowed in the UK on a UK Minister of Religion (T2) visa?

The applicant can:

Work for the sponsor in the job described in the Certificate of Sponsorship.
Taking a second job – under certain circumstances.
Do voluntary work.
Study as long as it doesn’t interfere with sponsored work.
I travel abroad and return to the UK.
Bring a partner and dependent children, if eligible.
The applicant cannot:
You own more than 10% of the sponsor’s shares (unless the applicant earns more than £159,600 per year).
Get public funds.

How much money do I need to support my stay in the UK on a UK Minister of Religion (T2) visa?

The applicant must have at least £1,270 in their bank account to demonstrate they can support themselves in the UK.

The applicant must have had the money available for at least 28 consecutive days.
The applicant usually has to show proof of this when applying, unless:
I have been in the UK on a valid visa for at least 12 months.
The employer can cover the applicant’s costs during the first month in the UK, up to £1,270.

How can SmartMove2UK help you with your UK Minister of Religion visa application?

SmartMove2UK is a UK immigration law firm, founded in 2009.
As a UK Minister of Religion (T2) visa consultant in India, our company has a team of UK immigration lawyers and experts.
Our law firm was announced as the winner of the IAE Corporate Immigration Law (India) award in 2016.
We are recognized by Who’s Who Legal (WWL) as a 2016 Corporate Immigration Firm.
We are proud to be members of prominent institutions like The Law Society and Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa.