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Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme

Fruit picker

Can I extend my stay in the United Kingdom when my work card expires?

This page explains whether you can extend your stay in the United Kingdom as a seasonal agricultural worker from Bulgaria or Romania when your work card expires.

Extending your stay as a seasonal worker

When you are accepted onto the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) you will be given a work card that will allow you to work for a fixed period of time. The card will be valid for between 5 weeks and 6 months.

You will only be allowed to be employed as a seasonal worker for a maximum of 6 months. If your original work card was issued for less than 6 months you will need to apply for a new work card when the first one expires. Any new work card will take into account any time you have already spent as a seasonal worker. For example, if your original work card was valid for four months you will be issued with a work card for no more than 2 months.

If you have already been working as a seasonal worker for 6 months you will not be able to extend your work card. You will be able to reapply to the SAWS after a 3 month gap.

To apply to join the SAWS again you will need to contact a SAWS operators and follow their application process.

Extending your stay for other employment

You will not have to leave the United Kingdom when you have finished your SAWS employment. But you will need our permission to obtain other work in the United Kingdom. For more information for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals wanting to work in the United Kingdom see the Bulgarian and Romanian nationals section of this site.

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