The Minister of Religion visa (T2) allows you to come to or stay in the UK if you've 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.

If you or your family are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

If you or your close family member started living in the UK before 1 January 2021, you may be able to apply to the free EU Settlement Scheme. Otherwise, you need a visa to work in the UK. Irish citizens do not need to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Minister of Religion (T2) visa requirements

You need to:

  • have a certificate of sponsorship for your job
  • prove your knowledge of English
  • have personal savings so you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK
  • show you can travel and your travel history over the last 5 years
  • have tuberculosis test results if you're from a listed country

You need to have an eligible qualification if you're switching from a Tier 4 visa.

You must also meet all the other eligibility requirements. Please contact us for initial assessment to determine your eligibility, and to discuss the options.

Certificate of sponsorship

A certificate of sponsorship holds your personal details and information about the job you've been offered. It's 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.

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 they're hiring you for and if it qualifies you for a visa. They'll 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 you'll be paid.