How much do seasonal jobs in Europe pay — and where a Central Asian citizen can actually earn more (2026)
Updated 5 June 2026 · Rates verified against official sources (gov.uk, EU Immigration Portal, ministries), exchange rate ~£1 = €1.16
Main rule: a high rate means nothing if you can't get in. For a citizen of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan or Turkmenistan the real list is short:
• 🇬🇧 UK — #1. £12.71/hour (≈€14.7), guaranteed minimum 32 hours per week, and the scheme actually recruits from Central Asia (78% of UK seasonal visas go to CA citizens). Per season ~€7,500–9,500 net.
• 🇫🇷 France — #2. €12.31/hour, open to all CA citizens, and since 2024 agriculture is a shortage occupation (employer doesn't need a labour market test). ~€4,400–7,400 per season, health insurance from day one.
• 🇵🇱 Poland — #3. Open to all CA, season up to 9 months, but rate lower (~€7.4/hour) and high risk of fraud.
• 🇮🇹 Italy — only for Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. For Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan — NOT possible (anyone promising it is a scammer).
• 🇩🇪 Germany pays €13.90/hour, but seasonal work for CA is closed. Spain, Greece, Croatia, Netherlands, Portugal — legally open, in practice there is no channel for CA.
• Never pay for a "guaranteed visa" or a job slot. In a legal scheme the employer or operator submits the application for you — you don't buy a job.
How to read the table. All rates are gross (before tax). Seasonal jobs usually pay the legal minimum or slightly above. "Net per season" is an estimate after tax and contributions (accommodation is deducted separately, usually €50–120/week). Compare the total net amount for the whole season, not the €/hour: a long season at a low rate can beat a short season at a high rate. Italy has no single minimum wage — pay in agriculture follows the sectoral collective agreement (CCNL). The key column is "Actually possible for CA?".
Table: 10 countries for seasonal work (2026)
| Country | Rate (gross) | Sector | Season | ≈ Net / season | Actually possible for CA? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | £12.71/h ≈ €14.7 (poultry £15.88) | farm, poultry | up to 6 months | €7,500–9,500 | ✅ all CA · guaranteed 32 h · recruits from CA |
| 🇫🇷 France | €12.31/h (SMIC, June 2026) | grapes, fruit, tourism | up to 6 months/year | €4,400–7,400 | ✅ all CA · agriculture = shortage, no labour market test |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | €8.4–10.8/h (CCNL, no minimum wage) | grapes, fruit, tourism | up to 9 months | €4,300–9,250 | ⚠️ only Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | 31.40 zł/h ≈ €7.4 · 4 806 zł/month | agriculture, warehouses, tourism | up to 9 months | €2,500–5,700 | ✅ all CA (Type S) · but high scam risk |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | €13.90/h (2026) | asparagus, berries | ~3 months | — | ❌ closed for CA (EU/Georgia/Moldova) |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | ≈€14.7/h (2026) | greenhouses | max 24 weeks | — | ⚠️ legally yes, no channel for CA |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | €1,221/month (SMI ×14) | berries, citrus, olives | up to 9 months | — | ⚠️ no agreement with CA (Morocco 81%) |
| 🇭🇷 Croatia | €1,050/month ≈ €6.3/h | tourism, farm | up to 6 months | — | ⚠️ legally yes, in practice rare |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | €920/month ≈ €5.5/h (Apr 2026) | olives, tourism | up to 6 months | — | ⚠️ channels — Egypt/Bangladesh, not CA |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | €920/month ≈ €5.3/h | farm, tourism | up to 9 months | — | ⚠️ E8 open, but huge risk of fake permits |
All figures are official 2026 rates (gross). "—" in net — because the country is practically inaccessible for CA, nothing to calculate. Italy: €8.37 (harvesting) – €10.79/h (experienced) per agricultural CCNL.
Where you actually earn more — ranking for a CA citizen
We rank not by hourly rate, but by net amount × real accessibility.
🥇 #1 — United Kingdom
The only country where a high accessible rate is combined with an open channel that actually recruits in Central Asia. £12.71/hour, guaranteed minimum 32 paid hours per week (you get paid even if weather stops work), season up to 6 months, operators with portals in Russian/Uzbek/Kyrgyz. For a 6-month season at 40 h/week — about €7,500–9,500 net. Income is often below £12,570/year → income tax can be reclaimed (form P85). 78% of all UK seasonal visas go to CA citizens.
🥈 #2 — France (important find)
Often overlooked, but France is open to all five CA countries equally, and since March 2024 agriculture is a shortage occupation, so the employer does not need a labour market test (the main barrier removed). SMIC €12.31/hour, ~€1,478 net per month, more with overtime on grape/fruit picking. Per season ~€4,400–7,400. Pros: health insurance from day one, 3-year renewable permit (no new visa needed for the second season). Con: you need a real French employer; season ≤6 months/year.
🥉 #3 — Poland
The easiest door into the EU: Type S permit open to all CA, no labour market test, and season up to 9 months — because of the length, total earnings can beat short Western seasons (~€2,500–5,700+ per season). Rate ≈€7.4/hour. But this is also the most dangerous destination: according to IOM, 70% of CA migrants paid illegal recruiter fees, wage withholding and passport confiscation are common. Type S is applied for by the employer, fee 100 zł — the employer pays it, not you.
Italy — only Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. In Decreto Flussi 2026 (88,000 seasonal slots) only UZ and KG are eligible for seasonal work (Uzbekistan was allocated 750 slots for 2025). Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are NOT on the list — there is no official seasonal channel to Italy for them. If someone promises an "Italian seasonal visa for a Kazakh/Tajik" — it is fraud. Pay per CCNL €8.4–10.8/h, per season ~€4,300–9,250, but the click-day sells out in hours and Italy has the worst record of violations.
Closed or nearly impossible
- 🇩🇪 Germany — the seasonal scheme is limited by nationality (only EU, Georgia, Moldova). For CA it does not exist. The high rate of €13.90/hour is irrelevant. Any "German farm visa for Uzbek/Kazakh" = scam.
- 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇳🇱 Netherlands — legally open to third countries, but recruitment goes through bilateral agreements with other countries (Spain→Morocco 81%, Greece→Egypt/Bangladesh). No channel for CA.
- 🇭🇷 Croatia — more accessible on paper, but pays the least (€1,050/month) and actually recruits from the Balkans/Asia.
- 🇵🇹 Portugal — E8 visa formally has no nationality restriction, but the destination is plagued by fraud (a network of fake permits uncovered, ~€15,000 each) and pays the least.
🚨 Scammers — one rule will save your money
In all legal schemes the path starts with an official document from the employer and a government procedure. It does not start with a "agent" on Telegram who asks for money.
Remember the name of the channel — a real recruiter will name it: UK Seasonal Worker visa (through a licensed operator), Poland Type S, France travailleur saisonnier, Italy nulla osta under Decreto Flussi. No route name, employer name, contract and permit number — it's a scam.
- Never pay for a job slot / "guaranteed visa". The employer/operator submits for you. Real cases: a Tajik was charged $5,000→$12,000 for a UK slot that didn't exist; in Italy near Naples, out of 11,695 permits only 6 contracts were actually signed.
- Wrong country for your citizenship = red flag: Germany for any CA; Italy for Kazakhstan/Tajikistan/Turkmenistan.
- Rate below the legal minimum of the country — that's a violation, not a "good deal".
- Don't hand over your passport and don't sign a contract you don't understand (in the UK they must provide it in your language).
What to do next
- UK — the clearest path: seasonal visa and operators, breakdown of each operator in the operators Seasonal Worker section.
- Full breakdown of all countries, visas and quotas (what's announced for 2027) — in the article Where from Central Asia to legally work in Europe.
This is reference information, not legal advice. Rates, quotas and rules change — before travelling check official sources (gov.uk, EU Immigration Portal, websites of country authorities). Mendee Digital Ltd is not registered with the IAA and does not provide immigration advice for a specific case.
Frequently asked questions
Which European country pays the most for seasonal work?
By hourly rate, Germany (€13.90/hour) and the UK (£12.71 ≈ €14.7/hour) lead. But the German seasonal scheme is closed to Central Asian citizens. Among countries that are actually accessible from CA, the UK pays the most and gives the most per season, followed by France and Poland (thanks to the long season).
Can I go for seasonal work in Germany from Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan?
No. The German seasonal agricultural scheme is limited by nationality — only EU/EEA, Georgia and Moldova. For citizens of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan there is no legal seasonal channel to Germany. Any such offer is a scam.
Which countries from CA can I actually go to for seasonal work?
The real list: UK (all CA), France (all CA), Poland (all CA), Italy — only Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Spain, Greece, Croatia, Netherlands, Portugal are legally open, but in practice there is no recruitment channel from CA.
How much does seasonal work pay in France and can I go there from CA?
Yes, France is open to all five CA countries. The minimum wage SMIC from June 2026 is €12.31/hour (~€1,478 net per month, more with overtime). Since 2024 agriculture is a shortage occupation, so the employer does not need a labour market test. You need a real French employer.
Does a high hourly rate mean more money in hand?
Not always. The final amount depends on taxes, contributions, accommodation deductions (€50–120/week), season length, guaranteed hours and cost of living. Compare the net amount for the whole season, not the hourly rate.