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Minister of Religion visa (T2)

Work PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa. Dependents Allowed

At a Glance

Processing Time

1 day – 2 months

Varies by processing route

Estimated Cost

£2,673–£4,421 GBP

Varies by filing options

Stay Duration

38 months

Renewable

Renewal

Renewable

Family

Dependents allowed

PR Pathway

Yes

Sponsor

Job offer required

Work

Remote not required

Apply Now Official Information

Living in United Kingdom

Cost of Living

2% cheaper than United States

Avg Salary£31,200

Quality of Life

176/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

Work visa for ordained ministers and religious leaders with key roles in faith organisations. Longer-term than Religious Worker visa, path to settlement.

The T2 Minister of Religion visa lets ordained ministers and religious leaders take up key roles at UKVI-licensed faith organisations in the UK. It requires a valid Certificate of Sponsorship, age 18 or over, and English at B2 CEFR level.

Initial stay is up to 3 years and 1 month, extendable in 3-year blocks. After 5 continuous years holders can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Dependants may join and are permitted to work. The visa costs £819 outside the UK or £943 to extend in-country, plus the £1,035-per-year Immigration Health Surcharge.

This visa is ideal for ordained ministers, imams, rabbis, or pastors offered a substantive long-term religious leadership role by a UKVI-licensed UK faith community, with ILR as the end goal.

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Cost Breakdown

Principal applicant (outside UK)£819 GBP

Principal applicant (extend/switch in UK)£943 GBP

Each dependant (outside UK)£819 GBP

Each dependant (extend/switch in UK)£943 GBP

Immigration Health Surcharge£1,035 GBP

Priority service£500 GBP

optional

Super priority service£1,000 GBP

optional

Total£2,673–£4,421 GBP

Processing Time

Standard (outside UK)	1–21 days
Standard (extend/switch in UK)	1 day – 2 months
Priority	5 days
Super priority	1–2 days

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant

3.1 years

Conversion Paths

Visas you can typically switch to from this status.

United Kingdom

Skilled Worker Visa

Validity5 years per grant (renewable indefinitely)

Processing5 days – 2 months

View Visa Details

United Kingdom

Spouse/Partner Visa

Validity33 months

Processing2 months – 1 year

View Visa Details

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Job offer from a UK Visas and Immigration licensed sponsoring faith community employer

Valid certificate of sponsorship (must be used within 3 months of receipt)

Age 18 or over

English language proficiency at B2 level minimum (SELT or degree taught in English)

£1,270 in personal savings (waived if held valid UK visa 12+ months or employer covers first-month costs)

TB test certificate if from a listed country

5 years of travel history documentation

KEY CRITERIA

Min. Savings

1,270 EUR

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport or travel document

Certificate of sponsorship reference number

English language qualification evidence (SELT certificate or degree certificate taught in English)

Bank statements showing £1,270 held for 28 consecutive days (unless exempt)

TB test certificate (if applicable)

5 years of travel history documentation

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Qualifying for settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) after 5 years
Can bring partner and dependent children under 18
Permitted to take a second job up to 20 hours per week in the same profession or a Skilled Worker list role
Can volunteer and study during stay
Can travel abroad freely
Extendable up to a 6-year maximum stay

Worth Knowing

No recourse to public funds
Cannot switch from a visit visa, short-term student visa, Seasonal Worker visa, Domestic Worker visa, immigration bail, or leave outside the rules
Cannot travel outside UK, Ireland, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man while an in-UK extension is pending
Certificate of sponsorship must be used within 3 months of receipt
Healthcare surcharge is mandatory and payable in addition to the visa fee
Savings requirement waived if employer covers first-month costs or applicant has held a valid UK visa for 12+ months

Application Process

Obtain a certificate of sponsorship from a UKVI-licensed sponsor

Complete the online visa application via the UKVI website

Pay the visa application fee and healthcare surcharge

Provide biometric information if required

Attend a visa application centre appointment if applying from outside the UK

Await decision (approximately 3 weeks outside UK or 8 weeks for in-UK extensions)

Verified Claims (23)

Last verified May 31, 2026

Application Steps

Obtain a certificate of sponsorship from a UKVI-licensed sponsor; Complete the online visa applicati…

gov.uk

Dependent Visa

Dependents allowed

gov.uk

Fee Breakdown

Principal applicant (outside UK): 819 GBP; Principal applicant (extend/switch in UK): 943 GBP; Each …

gov.uk

Fees

£819 outside UK; £943 to extend/switch in UK. Healthcare surcharge required. Priority +£500; Super p…

gov.uk

Forms

—

gov.uk

Included Nationalities

—

gov.uk

Job Offer Required

true

gov.uk

Application Portal

https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/apply-visa-type/tier2-minister-of-religion-ooc

gov.uk

Apply Now Official Information

Living in United Kingdom

Cost of Living

2% cheaper than United States

Avg Salary£31,200

Quality of Life

176/200

Full Country Guide

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Overview

Work visa for ordained ministers and religious leaders with key roles in faith organisations. Longer-term than Religious Worker visa, path to settlement.

This visa is ideal for ordained ministers, imams, rabbis, or pastors offered a substantive long-term religious leadership role by a UKVI-licensed UK faith community, with ILR as the end goal.

Cost Breakdown

Principal applicant (outside UK)£819 GBP

Principal applicant (extend/switch in UK)£943 GBP

Each dependant (outside UK)£819 GBP

Each dependant (extend/switch in UK)£943 GBP

Immigration Health Surcharge£1,035 GBP

Priority service£500 GBP

optional

Super priority service£1,000 GBP

optional

Total£2,673–£4,421 GBP

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Job offer from a UK Visas and Immigration licensed sponsoring faith community employer

Valid certificate of sponsorship (must be used within 3 months of receipt)

Age 18 or over

English language proficiency at B2 level minimum (SELT or degree taught in English)

£1,270 in personal savings (waived if held valid UK visa 12+ months or employer covers first-month costs)

TB test certificate if from a listed country

5 years of travel history documentation

KEY CRITERIA

Min. Savings

1,270 EUR

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport or travel document

Certificate of sponsorship reference number

English language qualification evidence (SELT certificate or degree certificate taught in English)

Bank statements showing £1,270 held for 28 consecutive days (unless exempt)

TB test certificate (if applicable)

5 years of travel history documentation

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Qualifying for settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) after 5 years
Can bring partner and dependent children under 18
Permitted to take a second job up to 20 hours per week in the same profession or a Skilled Worker list role
Can volunteer and study during stay
Can travel abroad freely
Extendable up to a 6-year maximum stay

Worth Knowing

No recourse to public funds
Cannot switch from a visit visa, short-term student visa, Seasonal Worker visa, Domestic Worker visa, immigration bail, or leave outside the rules
Cannot travel outside UK, Ireland, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man while an in-UK extension is pending
Certificate of sponsorship must be used within 3 months of receipt
Healthcare surcharge is mandatory and payable in addition to the visa fee
Savings requirement waived if employer covers first-month costs or applicant has held a valid UK visa for 12+ months

Application Process