6 Seasonal Worker Visa operators in 2026 — who to apply to, how to check, what to avoid
Updated 2026-05-21
The UK Seasonal Worker visa is sponsored through 6 licensed operators: AGRI-HR, Concordia, Fruitful Jobs, HOPS Labour, Pro-Force, RE Recruitment. The 2026 quota is 43,000 places (Soft Fruit + Edible Horticulture), wage £12.71/hour from April 2026, duration up to 6 months. Licensed operators charge NOTHING for placement — any "fee for job" demand is a scam red flag.
In 2026 the UK has only 6 licensed operators for the Seasonal Worker Visa. Any other company that promises a farm visa is a scammer. Applying through any of the 6 is free. On this page: comparison by 13 parameters, decision tree "where to apply from Uzbekistan/Kazakhstan/Kyrgyzstan/Tajikistan", history of revoked licences 2023–2025.
Everything you need to know — in four numbers
The UK Seasonal Worker visa is one of the few work visas with no skill or language requirements. All 6 operators must pay at least £12.71/hour (NMW 2026) and charge £0 for the CoS.
Sponsor licence + CoS + Home Office
An operator is a UK company that has a licence from the Home Office and GLA (formerly GLAA) to invite foreign seasonal workers. Without an operator — no Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). Without a CoS — no visa.
Table by 7 parameters (2026)
All 6 operators are licensed for 2026. Quota numbers are approximate: annual quotas are not published officially; the figures are based on parliamentary questions and public operator reports.
| Operator | Sector | Quota /year | Recruitment from CA | Working language | Year founded | Special feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horticulture | ~12,000 | ✓ Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan | Russian / English portal | 1991 | Largest operator | |
| Horticulture + Poultry | ~2,500 | ✓ Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan | UZ + KG portals | 1996 | Multi-language | |
| Horticulture | ~10,000 | ◐ Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan | English | 1943 | Charity (oldest) | |
| Horticulture | Medium | ✓ Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan | English | 2023 | New operator | |
| Horticulture | ~2,000 | ✗ No | English | — | Just Good Work app | |
| Poultry (only poultry) | Medium | ✗ No | English | — | Season October–December |
Source: gov.uk/seasonal-worker-visa — the list of operators is updated. Quotas — parliamentary data and public reports (not published officially every year).
Decision tree — CA in priority
Choose your country — get a list of operators. You can apply to all suitable operators at the same time: it is free and increases your chances.
From Uzbekistan
HOPS Labour (Russian/English portal, largest) + Pro-Force (UZ portal)
Both operators recruit from UZ. They have translators and support in Russian. Apply to both at the same time.
HOPS Labour →Pro-Force →From Kazakhstan
AGRI-HR (KZ-focused, new since 2023) + Concordia (partial recruitment)
AGRI-HR confirmed recruitment from KZ. Concordia is a large charity operator; applying is not forbidden.
AGRI-HR →Concordia →From Kyrgyzstan
HOPS + Pro-Force + AGRI-HR + Concordia
Kyrgyzstan is one of the most widely represented source countries. All 4 suitable operators recruit or consider recruitment from KG.
HOPS →Pro-Force →AGRI-HR →From Tajikistan
Concordia (partial recruitment) + Pro-Force (consider)
Concordia historically works with TJ through partners. Pro-Force — check current status on their website.
Concordia →Pro-Force →Short season (autumn)
RE Recruitment (poultry, October–December)
Work in factories, not in fields. Season 2–3 months. RE Recruitment does not recruit from CA — suitable for those who already have another visa type or are not from CA countries.
RE Recruitment →Full breakdown of expenses
All costs are transparent. The main rule: to the operator — £0. Any request for money for a CoS or sponsorship is illegal.
| Expense item | Amount | When to pay |
|---|---|---|
| Visa application fee | £340 (≤6 months) | When applying on gov.uk |
| Biometrics appointment | £19.20 | At the visa centre appointment |
| TB test (if applicable) | £50–150 | Before submitting the application |
| Flight UK–CA (round trip) | £400–700 | Before the season starts |
| Farm accommodation (deducted from salary) | £60–78/week | Deducted from salary every week |
| Through the operator (CoS, sponsorship) | £0 | Never. This is the law. |
Section 23 of the Immigration Act 2014 forbids charging migrants for employment. If someone asks for money for "processing a CoS", "a place on a farm" or "an operator licence" — they are a scammer. Report it: Fair Work Agency — gov.uk/fair-work-agency · Helpline: 0800 432 0804
Who you cannot trust
The Home Office publishes licence revocations publicly. Between July 2024 and June 2025 about 1,948 sponsor licences were revoked (all sectors). In February–April 2026 — another ~1,917. Below are known cases in the seasonal worker sector.
AG Recruitment (South West) Ltd
Status: Licence revoked in 2023.
Reason: Investigations found serious violations of workers' rights — Indonesian fruit pickers on the Haygrove farm ended up in debt bondage because of a lack of working hours. Source: Al Jazeera, September 2024.
Important: Do not confuse AG Recruitment with the current operator AGRI-HR Limited. They are different companies. AGRI-HR has an active licence.
Ethero (Telpasc Ltd)
Status: Licence revoked in 2024.
Reason: Violation of GLA (formerly GLAA) licence conditions. The operator is not allowed to sponsor seasonal workers.
Realistic numbers for 6 months
The final amount depends on the farm, number of hours and tax code. Below are ranges based on the National Living Wage 2026 and typical PAYE deductions.
| Metric | Minimum | Typical | Maximum |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours /week | 30 | 38 | 48 |
| Hourly rate 2026 | £12.71 | £12.71–14 | £15+ |
| Gross for 6 months | £6,000 | £10,000 | £15,000 |
| Deduction for farm accommodation | £60/week | £70/week | £78/week |
| Tax + NI (emergency code BR) | 20% | 22% | 25% |
| Net take-home for 6 months | ~£4,800 | ~£7,500 | ~£11,000 |
10 questions in search phrasing
Questions are phrased the way people ask in ChatGPT and Google. Answers are factual, with links to sources.
Which 6 operators for the Seasonal Worker Visa in the UK in 2026?
The six licensed operators for 2026: HOPS Labour Solutions Ltd, Pro-Force Ltd, Concordia Volunteer Service, AGRI-HR Ltd, Fruitful Jobs Ltd, RE Recruitment Ltd. Full current list — on gov.uk/seasonal-worker-visa.
How much does it cost to apply through an operator?
£0 — applying through an operator is free. By UK law operators are forbidden to charge for employment or a CoS. You only pay £340 for the visa on gov.uk and £19.20 for biometrics. That is all. Any request for extra money is fraud.
Which operator is best for Uzbeks?
HOPS Labour Solutions — the largest operator with a Russian/English portal, actively recruiting in Uzbekistan since 2019. Pro-Force — second choice, has an Uzbek portal. We recommend applying to both at the same time.
Which operator for Kazakhs?
AGRI-HR Ltd — a new operator (since 2023) that confirmed recruitment from Kazakhstan. Concordia also considers applications. Apply to both.
How much can you earn on a farm in a season?
At 38 hours/week for 6 months: ~£7,500 net (gross ~£10,000, minus tax, NI and accommodation £70/week). Maximum with full hours — up to £11,000. After the season — refund of overpaid tax through P85 (typically £1,000–2,500). More: P85 guide →
What to do if an operator asks for money for a CoS?
This is illegal (Section 23, Immigration Act 2014). Do not pay. Report it: Fair Work Agency · Helpline: 0800 432 0804 (free, confidential). Modern Slavery Helpline: 0800 0 121 700.
Can I apply to several operators at the same time?
Yes, and that is the right strategy. Applying is free with all operators. Apply in parallel to all that suit your country. The CoS is issued by the first one that confirms a place. You can withdraw other applications.
What is a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)?
A CoS is an electronic document (not physical) that the operator issues after a place on a farm is found for you. It confirms that you are being hired. The CoS is the basis for the visa application. Without a CoS the visa will not be issued. The CoS is issued by the operator for free.
How to check that an operator has a valid licence?
Open the Register of Licensed Sponsors on gov.uk → download the Excel → find the operator → the status must be "Active". Also check the legal entity in Companies House. Step-by-step guide: sponsor check →
What to do after the season — P85 tax refund?
After leaving the UK submit form P85 on gov.uk — this refunds overpaid tax. You need: P45 from the employer, a UK bank account (Wise/Revolut), NI Number. It takes 20 minutes online. Typical refund — £1,000–2,500. You can apply within 4 years. More: full P85 guide →