• VAT14.1 Those who qualify
• VAT14.2 Those who don't qualify
• VAT14.3 Is entry clearance mandatory?
• VAT14.4 EC endorsement
• VAT14.5 Examples of refusal wordings
• VAT14.6 Do visiting religious workers have full rights of appeal?
• VAT14.7 Switching

See other guidance information VAT1 Visitors: General VAT10 Special Visitor: Prospective student VAT11 Business Visitors VAT12 Business Visitor: Academic Visitor VAT13 Business Visitor: Visiting Professors VAT15 Business Visitor: Doctors coming for PLAB test VAT16 Business Visitor: Doctors undertaking clinical attachments VAT17 Sports Visitor VAT18 Entertainer Visitor VAT19 Visitors under the Approved Destinations Status MoU with China VAT2 Visitors: Visiting family; friends; as a tourist VAT20 Foreign armed forces (not NATO/Commonwealth) VAT21 Archaeological excavations VAT22 Appellants seeking admission VAT23 Parents with access rights to children in the UK VAT24 Child minders for relatives VAT25 Visitors seeking visas or settlement visas for other countries VAT26 Persons coming for job interviews VAT27 Court reporters VAT28 Witnesses attending trials in the UK VAT3 Special Visitor: Child visitors VAT3A Special Visitor: Student exchanges VAT4 Special Visitor: Child visitors sponsored by charities VAT5 Special Visitor: Parents with children under 12 at school in UK VAT6 Special Visitor: Marriage/Civil partnership visit (not settlement) VAT7 Special Visitor: Private medical treatment VAT8 Special Visitor: Visitor in transit VAT9 Special Visitor: Student visitor  

VAT14.1 Those who qualify

Religious workers coming to the UK for a business visit (for example to attend a conference) and undertake some preaching or pastoral work during the visit qualify as business visitors.

Visiting religious workers, who come to the UK for a particular event, such as a conference or other similar event, may be asked to give a sermon or otherwise preach or give some pastoral care during the course of their visit.  This is permissible under the definition of a business visitor provided the individual is based abroad and does not intend to take up an office, post or appointment here. 

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VAT14.2 Those who don't qualify

People coming to the United Kingdom to fill a vacancy as a religious worker for a recognised religion, who will be undertaking preaching and pastoral work will need to qualify under Tier 2 – Ministers of Religion – of the Points Based System.

People coming to the UK to work temporarily as a religious worker for a recognised religion will need to qualify under Tier 5 – Religious Workers – of the Points Based System.
 

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VAT14.3 Is entry clearance mandatory?

Entry clearance is only mandatory for visa nationals in this category.

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VAT14.4 EC endorsement

Entry clearance should be endorsed:
C:  Visit –  [add “Religious Worker”].  LTE 6 months.  Code 3

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VAT14.5 Examples of refusal wordings

Wording for refusals: Section 1-5

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VAT14.6 Do visiting religious workers have full rights of appeal?

No. They have limited rights of appeal.

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VAT14.7 Switching

A person who has entered the UK under the Business Visitor Rules as a visiting religious worker may not switch to any non business visitor category.

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