Minister of Religion Visa

The Minister of Religion visa (Tier 2) is for religious workers who have been offered a job within a faith community in the UK. This includes ministers of religion, missionaries, and members of religious orders. You must have a job offer from a licensed sponsor and meet the English language and maintenance requirements.

Qualifying roles include ministers of religion (such as priests, rabbis, imams), missionaries, and members of religious orders. The role must be within a genuine faith community and involve religious duties such as leading worship, pastoral work, or religious teaching. The role must be at RQF Level 3 or above.

There is no specific minimum salary threshold for the Minister of Religion visa, but you must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage. The salary must be appropriate for the role and sufficient to support yourself and any dependants. Your sponsor will need to confirm this in the Certificate of Sponsorship.

Yes, you must have a job offer from a UK employer that holds a valid sponsor licence. The employer must assign you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) before you can apply for the visa. The role must be genuine and within a faith community.

Yes, you can bring your spouse or partner and children under 18 as dependants. Each dependant must apply separately and pay the application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge. Dependants can work and study in the UK.

The Minister of Religion visa can be granted for up to 3 years and 1 month, or the time given on your Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter. You can extend it for another 3 years, up to a maximum total stay of 6 years. After 5 years, you may be eligible for settlement.

You need to demonstrate English language ability at CEFR Level B2 (upper-intermediate) in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. You can prove this through an approved English language test, a degree taught in English, or being a national of a majority English-speaking country.

Yes, after 5 years on the Minister of Religion visa (or a combination of qualifying visas), you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (settlement). You must meet the salary threshold, pass the Life in the UK test, meet English language requirements, and satisfy the absence requirements.

The application fee depends on where you apply. If you apply from outside the UK, the fee is £769 per person. If you extend or switch to this visa from inside the UK, the fee is £885 per person. Each dependant (spouse, partner, or child under 18) pays the same fee: £769 if applying from outside the UK, or £885 if extending or switching from inside the UK. In addition, you must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge at the standard rate of £1,035 per year per person for the duration of your visa (typically £3,105 for a 3-year visa).