Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme
What requirements do I need to meet to come to the United Kingdom as a seasonal worker?
This page explains the requirements you need to meet to come to the United Kingdom as a seasonal worker under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS).
From the 1 January 2008, the SAWS has only been open to nationals of Bulgaria and Romania.
The SAWS is a short-term immigration category. If you come to the United Kingdom as a seasonal agricultural worker you will be given permission to work for a maximum of six months.
To qualify to work in the United Kingdom under the SAWS you must:
- be either a Romanian or Bulgarian national; and
- be over 18 years of age; and
- have been issued with a work card by a UK Border Agency approved SAWS operator.
You will carry out low-skilled work including activities such as:
- planting and gathering crops;
- on-farm processing and packing of crops.