Going to a UK farm — full guide
Seasonal Worker Visa: 42,900 places in 2026. Pay £12.71/hour. After 6 months you take home: £4,800–11,000. Do not pay middlemen — it is a scam. Below is everything you need to know.
Choose your stage
What is the Seasonal Worker Visa + Where to apply6 operators, 42,900 places, application is free42,900 places
Seasonal Worker Visa is a work visa for 6 months for agricultural jobs. You come to the UK, work on a farm (picking strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes, apples, flowers), get paid in pounds, and go back home. You can apply again for the next season.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Quota 2026 | 42,900 places |
| Visa length | Up to 6 months |
| Sector | Agriculture (horticulture) + poultry |
| Minimum wage | £12.71/hour (National Minimum Wage 2026) |
| Working hours | 30–48 hours/week (depends on farm and season) |
| Can I extend? | No. You must leave and apply again |
| Bring family? | No |
| Switch to another visa? | No (from inside the UK) |
Where to apply — status by country for 2026
You cannot apply for the visa yourself. You need an operator — a licensed company that finds a farm and issues a CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship). Application is free — you only pay the visa (£340).
| Nationality | HOPS | Pro-Force | AGRI-HR | Concordia | Fruitful Jobs | RE Recruit. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇿 Uzbekistan | via xorijdaish.uz | via migration.uz | RU portal | channel closed | do not accept | do not accept |
| 🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan | via migrant.kg | via migrant.kg | hub in Bishkek | channel closed | do not accept | do not accept |
| 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | returnees only | returnees only | hub in Almaty | via CSPA (UA) | do not accept | do not accept |
| 🇹🇯 Tajikistan | returnees only | closed for 2026 | limited | channel closed | do not accept | do not accept |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | channel reset | do not accept | paused | channel reset | do not accept | do not accept |
| 🇧🇾 Belarus | do not accept | do not accept | limited | channel reset | do not accept | do not accept |
| 🇺🇦 Ukraine | limited | returnees only | via BG hub | via IIC / CSPA | via Ośrodek HR (PL) | do not accept |
HOPS Labour Solutions
Largest UK operator- ~12,000 workers/year
- Recruits through state migration portals, not directly from the website
- 🇺🇿 UZ: xorijdaish.uz (Migration Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers)
- 🇰🇬 KG: migrant.kg + Telegram @info.migrant.kg
- 🇹🇯 TJ + 🇰🇿 KZ: returning workers only in 2026
- ⚠️ Registration windows 4 hours long — they open and close in minutes
- Website hopslaboursolutions.com — English only, no RU version
Pro-Force
Actively recruiting UZ + KG- Awarded «Best Employer» in the industry, 99% want to return
- Apply through state portals, not from the Pro-Force website
- 🇺🇿 UZ: migration.uz, tel +998 71 202 33 55, Telegram @migratsiyaagentligi
- 🇰🇬 KG: migrant.kg, hotline 1899, +996 559 189 900
- 🇰🇿 KZ + 🇺🇦 UA: returnees only · 🇹🇯 TJ: closed for 2026
- Website pro-force.co.uk — English only, no language switch
- 📍 Farms across the UK · 🏠 Accommodation on the farm, usually separate (male/female)
AGRI-HR
Only operator with RU portal- Direct registration on the Russian-language portal of the operator (no state portals)
- Recruitment hubs in Almaty, Bishkek and Bulgaria
- Telegram @agrihrkz (~8,500 subscribers), WhatsApp +44 7440 097980
- 🇺🇿 UZ + 🇰🇬 KG + 🇰🇿 KZ: accepting new applications via RU portal
- 🇷🇺 RU: not accepting new applications, only returnees via direct contact
- No age limit (the myth «up to 46» is an outdated 2022 publication)
- ⚠️ AGRI-HR ≠ AG Recruitment. AG Recruitment lost its GLAA licence in 2024
Concordia
Charity · 1943- Charity (not a business), no fees from the worker
- Does not accept applications directly — only through local agents in the candidate's country
- 🇺🇦 UA: infoworld.com.ua (brand IIC) and cspa.com.ua (CSPA)
- 🇰🇿 KZ: via CSPA
- 🇺🇿 UZ + 🇰🇬 KG + 🇹🇯 TJ + 🇧🇾 BY + 🇷🇺 RU: no channels. Any «Concordia from RU/UZ» are scammers
- ⚠️ On concordia.org.uk the «Apply now» button leads to volunteering, not to SWS — this is not the same programme
- Old domain concordiavolunteers.org.uk redirects to concordia.org.uk
Fruitful Jobs
Does not accept directly from CA- Legal operator. Website: fruitfuljobs.com (one L)
- No application form on the website — recruitment through two partners
- 🇺🇦 UA + 🇪🇺 EU: Ośrodek HR (Polish agency, RU form) — but UZ/KG/TJ/KZ are excluded
- 🇺🇿 UZ + 🇰🇬 KG + 🇰🇿 KZ: only through AGRI-HR (as approved recruiter of Fruitful Jobs)
- In February 2024 Fruitful Jobs' licence was temporarily suspended by the Home Office, restored with a lower B-rating
- 🚨 Scam lookalike: domain fruitfulljobs.com (two L) — phishing. If you received an offer from «Fruitful Jobs» via WhatsApp — it is scammers
RE Recruitment
Turkey only · 3 months- Season 2 October – 31 December (3 months, mainly for Christmas — Bernard Matthews, 2 Sisters)
- Legal entity: R E People Limited (Companies House 05506226), Cheltenham
- «Predominantly recruits through teams based in Romania» (direct quote from their website)
- No representatives or Telegram in UZ/KG/TJ/KZ
- Website English only · form — simple «Express your interest» (name/email/phone)
- 📞 +44 1242 896 019 · ✉️ [email protected]
- ⚠️ If someone in UZ/KG offers «work through RE Recruitment» — it is almost certainly a scam. Go to HOPS
🚨 5 signs of a scammer — recognise in one minute
In January 2025, 3 million Uzbek citizens tried to access the HOPS portal in 4 hours. Systems crashed. Scammers used this — they collected hundreds of millions of sums from those who did not wait for the real window. If someone promises you anything from the list below — it is a scam.
- «100% visa guarantee» or «closed quota», «work without selection and English». Licensed operators never promise this — they apply for the quota together with you and do not control the Home Office decision.
- They ask you to send money to a personal Click / Payme / Hummo / Beeline kassa / Western Union / crypto card. Applying through all 6 operators and state portals is free. The only payment is £340 for the visa directly on gov.uk with a bank card.
- «Queue booking» on the portal for £20-50. You cannot book queues — windows open and close for everyone at the same time. Bot services at best do not work, at worst lead to cancellation of your application. In 2025 HOPS cancelled all 12,331 successful registrations exactly for this reason.
- WhatsApp/Telegram from a +44 number and letters from «Home Office» / «Barclays Bank» / «UKVI». UKVI only writes through your account on gov.uk. Barclays never opens an account for a seasonal worker before arrival. Documents with Home Office logos generated by AI — a typical 2025-2026 scheme.
- «We sign the contract for you», «pay the insurance account to activate the contract», «buy the return ticket through us». You sign the contract personally with the farm, insurance is not needed (IHS = £0 for visas ≤6 months), you buy tickets yourself after receiving the visa.
Real cost of the season: visa £340 + flight ~£400-700 + first salary arrives 2-4 weeks after start. No other payments.
📋 Full fact pages for each of the 6 operators — Companies House, sponsor licence, GLAA, worker rights, how to check: → All Seasonal Worker Visa operators (hub)
Notify me when the registration window opens
HOPS and Pro-Force windows open for 4 hours without warning. Subscribe — we will send an alert as soon as real registration opens on xorijdaish.uz, migrant.kg or at the operator. Free, no ads.
No commissions, middlemen or payments — only public signals about window openings. Full unsubscribe in one tap.
How much you will actually earn — calculationHonest calculation with all costs£4.8–11K
Honest calculation. No exaggerations, with all costs included.
| Minimum | Good season | Great season | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours per week | 30 | 40 | 48 |
| Rate/hour | £12.71 | £12.71 | £12.71 + bonus |
| Salary/week (before tax) | £381 | £508 | £610+ |
| Salary/month (before tax) | £1,650 | £2,200 | £2,641+ |
| For 6 months (before tax) | £9,900 | £13,200 | £15,846+ |
Costs for 6 months
| Cost | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Visa | £340 | One-time payment |
| IHS (health surcharge) | £0 (not charged for visas up to 6 months) | £940/year, proportional |
| Flight (return) | £400–700 | From Tashkent/Almaty |
| Accommodation on farm | £900–1,800 | £35–70/week, deducted from salary |
| Food | £600–1,200 | £25–50/week |
| SIM card | £60–96 | £10–16/month (SMARTY or VOXI) |
| Local transport | £0–200 | Usually the farm provides transport |
| Total costs | £2,728–4,564 |
How much you will actually take home
| Minimum | Good | Great | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earnings for 6 months | £9,900 | £13,200 | £14,275 |
| Tax (~20% after £12,570) | ~£0 | ~£0 | ~£650 |
| NI (~8%) | ~£500 | ~£800 | ~£1,050 |
| Costs | £4,564 | £3,500 | £3,000 |
| Take home | ~£4,836 | ~£8,900 | ~£11,146 |
£4,836–11,146 for 6 months — these are real numbers. Converted to sums (Uzbekistan) at the current rate: 61–141 million UZS. The average salary in Uzbekistan is ~4 million UZS/month. One season in the UK = 1–2.5 years of average salary at home.
What to do before you leave — checklist7 steps: visa, ticket, eSIM, documents, cashChecklist
- Get CoS from the operator — this is the main document for the visa. You cannot apply without CoS.
- Apply for the visa — online on gov.uk. Pay £340 (visa) + £0 (not charged for visas up to 6 months) (IHS). Biometrics at the visa centre.
- Buy a flight ticket — after the visa is approved. Do not buy earlier!
- Order an eSIM — activate VOXI or SMARTY eSIM before departure. Land in the UK with working internet.
- Download apps — WhatsApp, Wise, Google Maps, Google Translate. You will need all of them from day one.
- Prepare documents — passport, visa (vignette), letter from the operator, farm address, manager contact.
- Take cash — £50–100 for the first days (bus, food until the first salary). In the UK almost everywhere cards are accepted, but cash is useful for the first days.
No raincoat or boots? Order them to the farm
Amazon delivers to any address in the UK in 1–2 days. Order on the first day — it will arrive while you sort out documents.
* Links to Amazon UK. Delivery 1–5 days to the farm address.
First week on the farm + moneyArrival, bank, SIM, NI Number, transfers homeWeek 1
First week in the UK — step by step
- Day 1: Arrival — go through passport control (Border Force). Show your passport with visa. They may ask where you are going and who your sponsor is — answer honestly, show the letter from the operator.
- Day 1–2: SIM and connectivity — if you did not activate an eSIM in advance, buy a SIM at the airport or the nearest shop. SMARTY £10 = 30 GB.
- Day 1–3: Open a bank account — Revolut in 5 minutes through the app. You need it for your salary. If you do not have your passport with you — Suits Me accepts a Visa letter.
- Day 3–7: Activate eVisa — get your eVisa — digital immigration status. Check on gov.uk. Some people receive a BRP card at a Post Office. The address is in the visa. eVisa is needed for everything: work, bank, GP.
- Week 1: Register with a GP — doctor (General Practitioner). Free through the NHS. Ask the farm manager for the address of the nearest GP.
- Week 1: Apply for NI Number — National Insurance Number is needed for correct taxation. Without NI you may be charged emergency tax. Apply online on gov.uk or by phone 0800 141 2075.
- Week 1: Set up Wise — open Wise for transfers home. First transfer: verification 1–2 days, then instant.
Money: bank, transfers, taxes
Bank account
Your salary is paid into a UK bank account. They cannot pay you in cash (this is against the law). Open Revolut (5 minutes, passport) or Monzo (10 minutes). More details in our bank guide.
Transfers home
Wise — best rate for transfers to Uzbekistan (Uzcard, Humo), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan. Fee ~£3.50 for £500. Money arrives in 1–2 hours. Detailed comparison in the transfer guide.
Taxes
| Tax | Rate | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Income Tax | 0% up to £12,570/year, 20% above | For 6 months most people do not pay Income Tax |
| National Insurance | 8% above £242/week | Deducted automatically |
| Emergency Tax | ~40% | If you do not have an NI Number — apply ASAP! |
Important: If they deduct Emergency Tax (you can see it on your payslip — the tax amount is very large), apply for an NI Number as soon as possible. After you get the NI — write to HMRC and ask for a recalculation (tax refund). They will return the overpayment. Full tax guide →
Your rights + what to do if there are problemsMinimum wage, accommodation, passport, GLAAKnow your rights
Your rights as a seasonal worker
Seasonal workers in the UK have the same employment rights as British citizens:
- Minimum wage £12.71/hour — the farm cannot pay less. This is the law.
- Payslip every week/month — a written breakdown of your salary. No payslip is a violation.
- Maximum 48 hours/week — if more, you must sign an opt-out voluntarily. No one can force you.
- 20-minute break — for shifts of 6+ hours. Mandatory.
- Safe working conditions — protective equipment, clean water, toilets in the field.
- Accommodation must meet standards — heating, hot water, separate bed, no more than 2–4 people per room.
- They cannot take your passport — if someone takes your passport, it is a criminal offence (modern slavery).
- Sick pay — SSP (Statutory Sick Pay) £123.25/week from the first day of illness (no waiting period).
- NHS free — you paid IHS, so doctor, ambulance, hospital are free.
If your rights are violated:
- Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA): 0800 432 0804
- Modern Slavery Helpline: 08000 121 700
- ACAS (employment disputes): 0300 123 1100
- Your sponsor operator — they must help
Problems and how to solve them
Few hours — nothing to do
At the beginning and end of the season hours may be low (20–25/week). This is normal — it depends on the harvest. Peak is summer (June–August) when there are the most hours. Ask the manager to move you to another crop or another farm if hours are consistently low.
Bad accommodation
Take photos of the problems. Write to the farm manager in writing (email). If they do not solve it — complain to the sponsor operator. If they also do not help — GLAA (0800 432 0804). The farm must provide accommodation that meets standards.
They do not pay / delay salary
By law, salary must arrive on the agreed day. A delay of more than 7 days is a violation. Contact the operator. If it does not help — ACAS (0300 123 1100) free and confidential.
They took your passport
This is a criminal offence (Modern Slavery Act 2015). Call immediately: Modern Slavery Helpline 08000 121 700 (free, 24/7, interpreters available). Or police: 999.
I want to change farm
You can, but only through the sponsor operator. Write to them with the reason. You cannot go to another farm on your own — you will lose your visa.
I got sick
NHS is free (you paid IHS). Register with a GP. Emergency: 999 (ambulance), 111 (advice). After 3 days of illness — SSP £116.75/week from the employer.
After the season — what next + get your tax backLeave, apply again, tax refund freeFree
After the season: what next
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Go home | Mandatory. The visa expires — you must leave. Overstay = ban on future visas. |
| Apply for the next season | Through the same or another operator. There is no limit on the number of seasons. |
| Tax refund | Get back overpaid taxes — free and by yourself. Detailed instructions below. |
| Change visa (from your country) | Skilled Worker Visa, if you find a sponsor employer. You apply from your country, not from the UK. |
Before you leave: (1) Get P45 from the employer — without it the tax refund will be more difficult. (2) Download all payslips — you need them for the tax refund and future visas. (3) DO NOT close your UK bank account until you receive the tax refund (6–12 weeks). (4) Transfer most of your money home via Wise, but keep the account open.
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Get your tax back — step by step and free
Almost every seasonal worker overpays taxes. Here is why:
- Tax-free allowance in the UK = £12,570 per year. If you earned less in the season — they must return all Income Tax that was deducted
- Even if you earned more than £12,570, the first £12,570 is not taxed. And if they charged Emergency Tax — they deducted 20–40% from the whole amount
- National Insurance (NI) — not refundable, it is a separate contribution
How much they will return — examples
| Earned in the season | Tax deducted (Emergency) | Should have been deducted | Will be returned |
|---|---|---|---|
| £9,900 (30h/week) | ~£1,980 | £0 | ~£1,980 |
| £13,200 (40h/week) | ~£2,640 | ~£126 | ~£2,500 |
| £15,846 (48h/week) | ~£3,170 | ~£655 | ~£2,500 |
* Approximate calculation, for Emergency Tax Code BR (20% on the whole amount). The real amount depends on your tax code and months of work.
Do not pay middlemen! Companies called «tax refund agents» take 25–50% of the refund. If they owe you £2,000 — they will take £500–1,000. You can do everything yourself, free, in 20 minutes. Instructions below.
Important: are you leaving or staying?
| Situation | What to do | Form |
|---|---|---|
| I am leaving the UK | Submit form P85 — HMRC will return the overpayment | P85 |
| I am staying in the UK and working | You cannot submit form P85 — it is only for those leaving. HMRC will recalculate the tax automatically through the new employer | — |
| I am staying in the UK, not working | Submit form P50 — for those who are in the UK but stopped working | P50 |
If you stay in the UK and start working at a new place — you CANNOT submit P85 for a tax refund. This form is only for those who leave. Your new employer will send data to HMRC, and the tax will be recalculated automatically. The overpayment will come back through your salary within 1–3 months.
Step 1: Get P45 from the farm (before you leave!)
P45 is a document from the employer when you leave. It shows how much you earned and how much tax you paid. Without P45 a refund is possible, but it takes longer and is more difficult.
- Ask for P45 from the manager or HR department on your last working day
- If they do not give it — write an email: «Please issue my P45 form as I am leaving employment». The employer is legally required to give it
- Check the data: name, NI Number, total earnings (Total Pay), total tax (Total Tax). If something is wrong — ask them to correct it
- Keep Part 1A for yourself. Parts 2 and 3 are for the new employer or for submitting P85
Step 2: Submit P85 online (after you leave)
Form P85 can be filled in online on the HMRC website. It is free and takes 15–20 minutes. We have a detailed step-by-step guide for tax refund →
- Go to gov.uk — search for «P85» or «Get your Income Tax right if you're leaving the UK»
- Fill in your details:
- Name and NI Number
- Address in the UK (where you lived) and address at home (where you moved)
- Date you left the UK
- Employer details (from P45): name, PAYE reference
- How much you earned and how much tax you paid (from P45)
- UK bank account details for the refund
- Submit the form. You will receive a confirmation by email
- Wait 6–12 weeks. HMRC will check and send the money to your UK account
No P45? Still submit P85. Use the amounts from your payslips (the last payslip contains cumulative totals for the year — Total Pay to Date, Total Tax to Date). HMRC will check against their database. It will just take longer.
Step 3: Receive the money
- HMRC will transfer the refund to your UK bank account (Revolut, Monzo, etc.)
- Transfer it home via Wise — best rate for transfers
- After you receive the refund you can close the UK bank account (if you do not plan to return)
What if I did not apply immediately?
You can submit P85 within 4 years after the end of the tax year. For example, for the 2025/2026 season you can apply until 5 April 2030. But it is better not to delay — apply right after you leave, while all the data is fresh.
Checklist before you leave
- Got P45 from the farm
- Downloaded / photographed all payslips
- Wrote down NI Number, employer PAYE reference
- Wrote down UK bank account details
- DID NOT close UK bank account
- Submitted P85 (you can do it from home, online)
Frequently asked questions
How much can I actually earn in a season?
£4,836–11,146 take home for 6 months, depending on hours and costs. Converted to sums — 61–141 million UZS. Detailed calculation in the table above.
Do I need to pay for the job placement?
No. The sponsor operator cannot charge money for finding a job and issuing CoS. The only legal costs: visa £340 + IHS £0 (not charged for visas up to 6 months). If someone asks for money for a place — it is fraud.
Can I bring my family?
No. The Seasonal Worker Visa does not allow dependants (spouse, children).
Can I stay in the UK after the season?
No. You must leave before the visa expires. Overstay = ban on future UK visas. If you want to work in the UK long-term — find a sponsor for a Skilled Worker Visa and apply from your country.
Which SIM card should I get?
SMARTY £10/month (30 GB) or VOXI £10/month (15 GB + unlimited WhatsApp/Telegram). eSIM can be activated before departure. More details in the SIM card guide.
Which bank should I open?
Revolut (5 minutes, passport) for salary and Wise for transfers home. If you do not have a passport — Suits Me (accepts Visa letter). More details in the bank guide.
What if the season is bad and there are few hours?
Ask the manager to move you to another crop or another farm through the operator. The farm must provide a minimum of 32 hours/week (in most contracts).
How do I get back overpaid taxes?
Get P45 from the farm, after you leave fill in form P85 on gov.uk (free, 20 minutes). The money will be returned to your UK bank account in 6–12 weeks. Do not close the account until you receive it! Do not pay middlemen — they take 25–50% of your refund. Detailed instructions ↑
I am staying in the UK — can I get a tax refund through P85?
No. Form P85 is only for those who left the UK. If you stay and work — the new employer will send data to HMRC, and the tax will be recalculated automatically through your salary. If you stay but do NOT work — use form P50.
Having problems with unpaid wages? → Help with unpaid wages →