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Tier 5 Temporary Worker - Government Authorised Exchange

Isle of ManCulture, faith and volunteering

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

What exact activity, role or purpose qualifies?

The route covers work, volunteering or job shadowing under an approved exchange scheme (work experience, training or research); it must not fill a vacancy and must be skilled to RQF level 3 (unless under Erasmus+).

See recorded sources

What organisation, institution, religious body, charity, teacher or host must support the activity?

A licensed sponsor issues the certificate of sponsorship: an organisation running an approved exchange scheme, a higher education institution (for sponsored researchers, visiting academics or examiners), or a government department or agency.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.gov.im/categories/travel-traffic-and-motoring/immigration/work/workers/tier-5-temporary-workers/
    You need to have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor before you can apply to come to the Isle of Man to work. Your work, training or research in the Isle of Man must relate to the work of your sponsor organisation. Your sponsor can be any of the following: An organisation running an approved exchange scheme A higher education institution (if you are a sponsored researcher, visiting academic or examiner) A government department or agency

What proves the placement, role, affiliation, experience or cultural/religious/voluntary activity?

The activity must meet the requirements of the individual exchange scheme in Appendix N, with evidence that the overarching sponsor body has approved the work experience or training programme in the Isle of Man.

See recorded sources

Can the person receive salary, pocket money, accommodation, meals or reimbursement? Can they undertake other work?

The retained consolidation labelled “Immigration Rules in effect from 24 July 2026” provides the following. Subtype: MIXED/OTHER — Government Authorised Exchange. The sponsored work, volunteering or job shadowing must comply with the approved exchange scheme, not fill a workforce vacancy and comply with Isle of Man legislation including the Minimum Wage Act 2001; the stated skill-level requirement has an Erasmus+ exception. Permission allows the sponsor-authorised activity and qualifying supplementary employment. The latter must be on the specified Shortage Occupation List or in the same profession and at the same professional level, no more than 20 hours a week outside the sponsored working hours, while continuing the main sponsored role. There is no recourse to public funds; study is subject to ATAS where applicable. The official Tier 5 page excludes a permanent job.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The cited provisions do not establish a universal salary amount or independent entitlement to pocket money, meals, accommodation or reimbursement; compliance with minimum-wage legislation is not presented as proof that every volunteering arrangement must pay a salary.
  • The official rules index now links a later upload of the July 2026 consolidation. Whether that upload changes these retained clauses has not been established; they are not presented as confirmed current law.
  • https://www.gov.im/media/1393769/immigration-rules-from-24-july-2026_compressed.pdf — AppendixA GAE activity requirements
    (e) where the Certificate of Sponsorship Checking Service entry shows that the Certificate of Sponsorship has been issued in the Government Authorised Exchange subcategory, if the entry confirms that the work, volunteering or job shadowing the applicant is being sponsored to do: (i) meets the requirements of the individual exchange scheme, as set out in Appendix N. Evidence must be provided to demonstrate the overarching sponsor body has approved the work experience or training programme in the Isle of Man, (ii) does not fill a vacancy in the workforce, (iii) is skilled to Regulated Qualifications Framework level 3, as stated in the codes of practice in Appendix J, unless the applicant is being sponsored under an individual exchange scheme set up as Immigration Rules in effect from 24 July 2026 Appendix A part of the European Commission’s Erasmus+ programme, (iv) conforms with all relevant Isle of Man legislation, such as the Minimum Wage Act 2001 (of Tynwald)
  • https://www.gov.im/media/1393769/immigration-rules-from-24-july-2026_compressed.pdf — Part6A 245ZP(f) work conditions
    (f) Leave to enter and entry clearance will be granted subject to the following conditions: Immigration Rules in effect from 24 July 2026 Part 6A (i) no recourse to public funds, (ii) [Omitted], (iii) no employment except: (1) unless paragraph (2) applies, working for the person who for the time being is the Sponsor in the employment that the Certificate of Sponsorship Checking Service records that the migrant is being sponsored to do for that Sponsor, (2) in the case of a migrant whom the Certificate of Sponsorship Checking Service records as being sponsored in the Government Authorised Exchange subcategory of Tier 5 (Temporary Workers), the work, volunteering or job shadowing authorised by the Sponsor and that the Certificate of Sponsorship Checking Service records that the migrant is being sponsored to do, (3) supplementary employment except in the case of a migrant whom the Certificate of Sponsorship records as being sponsored in the international agreement sub-category, to work as a Contractual service Supplier, or Independent Professional, and (4) in the case of a migrant whom the Certificate of Sponsorship Checking Service records as being sponsored in the creative and sporting subcategory of Tier 5 (Temporary Workers), employment as a sportsperson for his national team while his national team is in the UK, playing in British University and College Sport (BUCS) competitions and Temporary Engagement as a Sports Broadcaster. (iv) Not Used (v) study subject to the condition set out in Appendix ATAS of these Rules where the applicant is 18 years of age or over at the time their leave is granted, or will be aged 18 before their period of limited leave expires.
  • https://www.gov.im/media/1393769/immigration-rules-from-24-july-2026_compressed.pdf — Part6A definition supplementary employment
    Under Part 6A of these Rules, “supplementary employment” means other employment in a job which appears on the Shortage Occupation List in Appendix K, or in the same profession and at the same professional level as that which the migrant is being sponsored to do provided that: (a) the migrant remains working for the Sponsor in the employment that the Certificate of Sponsorship Checking Service records that the migrant is being sponsored to do, (b) the other employment does not exceed 20 hours per week and takes place outside of the hours when the migrant is contracted to work for the Sponsor in the employment the migrant is being sponsored to do.
  • https://www.gov.im/categories/travel-traffic-and-motoring/immigration/work/workers/tier-5-temporary-workers/ — official Tier5 guidance
    Isle of Man Government - Tier 5 – Temporary Workers Our Island Plan Skip to content Terms and Conditions Help Privacy Search For... Home Travel, Traffic and Motoring Immigration Work Workers Tier 5 – Temporary Workers Travel, Traffic and Motoring Abnormal loads Apply for a road closure or traffic restriction Bus and Rail Caravans Drivers and Vehicles Greenlanes (unsurfaced carriageways) Harbours Highway Code Highway drainage and flooding Immigration Border Division Visit Work Workers Worker Migrant Visa Intra-Company Migrant Visa Worker Migrant - Health and Care Visa Tier 5 – Temporary Workers Tier 5 – Youth Mobility Scheme (Temporary Migrants) Employers Settle Study Business Ukraine visas and immigration EU, EEA and Swiss Citizens France to Isle of Man school trips Immigration: Permissions and Conditions Immigration Rules and Associated Policy Immigration and Nationality legislation Immigration offences and prevention of illegal working Immigration in the Isle of Man English language requirement Visa application forms and fees Immigration appeals Travel information Contact us Isle of Man Immigration Service Privacy Notice Germany to Isle of Man School Trips Live traffic & road information Naturalisation and registration as a British citizen Parking and Parking Permits Passports Report a problem Road Transport Licensing Committee RoadWatch Permanent Traffic Order (TRO) Travel vaccines Travelling with pets Visiting coaches Middle East conflict Winter gritting routes Isle of Man food import restrictions Tier 5 – Temporary Workers Notice: From 26 March 2026 The Isle of Man Immigration Service will be introducing 'Visa Brakes' on specific visa routes for specific nationalities in line with changes in the UK From 26 March 2026 applications for entry clearance to the Isle of Man as a Tier 5 Temporary Worker will no longer be accepted from nationals of Afghanistan. This change will not apply to those that already hold a relevant visa and are applying to further their leave to remain. This route is for certain types of temporary workers whose entry helps to satisfy cultural, charitable, religious or international objectives, including volunteering and job shadowing. Temporary Workers – Creative and Sporting A creative worker is someone who works in the creative industry, for example an actor, dancer, musician or film crew member. You must apply for a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - Creative and sporting) visa if: You’ve been offered work in the UK as a sports person or creative worker You meet the other eligibility requirements Temporary Workers– Charity workers You can apply for a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - Charity Worker) visa if: You want to do unpaid voluntary work for a charity You meet the other eligibility requirements You must have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed employer before you can apply to come to the UK to work The work you do in the UK must relate to the work of your sponsor organisation Temporary Workers – Religious Workers You can apply for a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker - Religious Worker) visa if: You want to do religious work, such as preaching or working in a religious order You meet the other eligibility requirements You must have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor before you can apply to come to the UK to work The work you do in the UK must relate to your sponsor organisation’s work Sponsorship You need to have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor before you can apply to come to the Isle of Man to work. Your work, training or research in the Isle of Man must relate to the work of your sponsor organisation. Your sponsor can be any of the following: An organisation running an approved exchange scheme A higher education institution (if you are a sponsored researcher, visiting academic or examiner) A government department or agency How long you can stay You can stay in the Isle of Man for up to 12 or 24 months (depending on the scheme you’re applying for) or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 28 days, whichever is shorter. You can enter the Isle of Man up to 14 days before the start date of your job. Migrants under this visa do not qualify for settlement (ILR). What you can and can’t do You can: Study (for some courses you’ll need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate) Work in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship Do a second job for up to 20 hours per week Do a job on the Tier 2 shortage occupation list for up to 20 hours per week as well as your main job Apply to change (‘switch’) into a Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visa if you’re in the government authorised exchange scheme for sponsored researchers Bring family members with you You can’t: Take a permanent job Get public funds Apply You make an application for entry clearance to the Isle of Man at UK Visas and Immigration. Current sponsor licence holders can be viewed online. Social Media Hub Site Map Switch to Mobile © 2026 Crown Copyright| OGL All content is available under theOpen Government Licence,except where otherwise stated

How long can they stay, can they change host/activity, can family accompany, and can the status be extended?

Stay is up to 12 or 24 months depending on the scheme, or the certificate period plus 28 days if shorter; entry is allowed up to 14 days before the job starts. Sponsored researchers can switch to Tier 1 Exceptional Talent. Partners are covered by the Part 8 dependant rules. The official source does not state whether the host can be changed or whether the stay can be extended.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Whether the host can be changed is not stated.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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