Can UK seasonal visa be extended to work visa?

No, the UK Seasonal Worker Visa (Temporary Worker – Seasonal Worker route) cannot be extended or converted into a full work visa while inside the UK. It is a short-term, non-extendable visa meant only for temporary, seasonal jobs—mostly in agriculture and horticulture, such as fruit picking, farm work, or poultry processing.

Key Points to Understand:

1. Seasonal Worker Visa Duration

• The visa is valid for a maximum of 6 months per year.

• You must leave the UK when your visa expires.

• It does not lead to settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) or long-term residency.

2. No In-Country Switching Allowed

• The UK immigration rules do not allow you to switch from a Seasonal Worker visa to:

o Skilled Worker visa

o Health and Care Worker visa

o Student visa

o Any other visa type

• If you wish to apply for a different UK visa, you must leave the UK and apply from your home country.

3. New Job Offers Require Reapplication from Abroad

• If you receive a job offer for a long-term role while in the UK on a seasonal visa, you must:

o Return to your home country

o Have the employer sponsor you under the appropriate visa (e.g., Skilled Worker)

o Submit a new visa application through the UKVI process

4. Skilled Worker Visa Is a Separate Pathway

• The Skilled Worker visa requires:

o A licensed UK employer sponsor

o A job that meets the salary and skill threshold

o An English language test

o Proof of qualifications and work experience

• This pathway can lead to permanent residency after 5 years, unlike the seasonal route.

5. Seasonal Worker Visa Conditions

• You cannot bring dependents (spouse or children)

• You cannot take non-seasonal work or a second job

• You must work only for the sponsor mentioned in your visa

Summary:

You cannot extend or switch a UK Seasonal Worker visa into a longer-term work visa while in the UK. If you want to stay and work long-term, you must return to your country, get a job offer from a licensed UK sponsor, and apply for a new work visa under a different category, such as the Skilled Worker visa.