In a bid to address labour shortages in its agricultural and poultry sectors, the UK government has announced plans to issue 45,000 Seasonal Worker visas in 2025.
This initiative aims to support the nation’s food production by ensuring sufficient workforce availability during peak demand periods.
The visa allocation includes 43,000 slots for horticultural roles, encompassing tasks like fruit picking, vegetable harvesting, and flower cultivation, while 2,000 visas are designated for poultry sector positions focused on processing tasks between October and December.
The Seasonal Worker visa scheme is intended to provide a temporary labour force for essential roles in food production.
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To be eligible for these visas, applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a valid sponsorship from a licensed UK employer, and meet health and safety standards for their respective roles.
Applicants are also required to provide evidence of adequate funds for their stay and must secure health insurance coverage.
Visa holders must return home once their employment period ends and cannot convert their visa type while in the UK.
Application Process and Sector-Specific Roles
The Seasonal Worker visa covers various tasks within the horticulture and poultry industries. In horticulture, seasonal workers perform duties such as planting, pruning, weeding, harvesting, and packing. Poultry workers, in contrast, handle responsibilities including bird care, egg collection, and processing.
Candidates interested in these roles must first obtain a sponsorship certificate from a licensed UK employer. Once sponsored, applicants can complete their visa application through the UK’s online immigration portal. Applications for poultry roles close by November 15 each year, while horticulture applications are accepted year-round.
Balancing Seasonal Labor with Technological Advancements
In addition to expanding the Seasonal Worker visa program, the UK government is investing in technological solutions to reduce its reliance on seasonal labor. Planned investments include automation, such as robotic harvesters, to improve agricultural efficiency and sustainability.
The government has pledged up to £50 million to support innovations in agriculture, including robotics and automation technologies.
This extension of the Seasonal Worker visa scheme, renewed in May 2024 for an additional five years, will be in effect until 2029. The extended timeline aims to give businesses the opportunity to gradually adopt technology-based solutions, ultimately creating a more sustainable workforce model in the UK’s agricultural sector.
