
The situation
The UK government plans to introduce a Seasonal Worker Permit in 2019 for a trial period running until December 2020.
A closer look
- Eligible workers. The permit is available to seasonal agricultural workers over the age of 18 from outside the European Union. Up to 2,500 permits will be issued under the pilot program.
- Process. Eligible foreign workers can apply to two authorised UK agencies to be recruited for the pilot. If the worker is selected and the permit is approved, the permit can be issued for up to six months and will allow work on UK fruit and vegetable farms.
- Current permit options. Currently, non-EU seasonal agricultural workers have no tailored permit option.
Impact
The pilot addresses concerns raised over the past months by UK farmers, and should ensure access to seasonal labour during peak periods.
Background
The British Growers Association estimated that in 2016, there were 75,000 foreign seasonal agricultural workers in the United Kingdom.
Looking ahead
Fragomen expects the UK government to publish further details on the eligibility criteria and application process in the coming months.
The new permit will be introduced as a two-year pilot starting in the second quarter of 2019, running until the end of December 2020. The pilot will be reviewed after this period.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
Explore more at Fragomen

Media mentions
Partner Haider Hussain underlines the role of talent mobility in shaping future growth sectors in the Kingdom.

Fragomen news
Fragomen is recognised by the Financial Times for its innovative work in workforce mobility and cross-sector collaboration.

Awards
Fragomen has been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Law Firms™ in Germany, earning a Regional Tier 1 ranking in Hessen for Labor and Employment Law.

Media mentions
Partner Shayan Sultan discusses a rise in inquiries about UAE residency and remote work programmes amid global talent mobility trends.

Media mentions
Partner Rajiv Naik, Senior Manager Thomas Kingsmill and Manager Ko Ito highlight rising UK sponsor licence revocations and how HR and mobility leaders can manage the impact.

Media mentions
Partner Bo Cooper discusses the $100,000 H-1B fee and its impact on financial, banking and technology firms relying on international talent.

Media mentions

Media mentions
Partner Audrea Golding explains how the $100,000 H-1B fee could affect hiring across the tech industry.

Blog post
Immigration Supervisor Nathalie Pimenta and Immigration Programme Manager Frida Sakaj discuss the importance of planning visa applications and document services early to avoid delays and ensure compliance with UK regulations.

Media mentions
Partner Karolina Schiffter discusses how new regulations have led Polish companies to adjust their use of work permits.

Media mentions

Media mentions
Partner Haider Hussain underlines the role of talent mobility in shaping future growth sectors in the Kingdom.

Fragomen news
Fragomen is recognised by the Financial Times for its innovative work in workforce mobility and cross-sector collaboration.

Awards
Fragomen has been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Law Firms™ in Germany, earning a Regional Tier 1 ranking in Hessen for Labor and Employment Law.

Media mentions
Partner Shayan Sultan discusses a rise in inquiries about UAE residency and remote work programmes amid global talent mobility trends.

Media mentions
Partner Rajiv Naik, Senior Manager Thomas Kingsmill and Manager Ko Ito highlight rising UK sponsor licence revocations and how HR and mobility leaders can manage the impact.

Media mentions
Partner Bo Cooper discusses the $100,000 H-1B fee and its impact on financial, banking and technology firms relying on international talent.

Media mentions

Media mentions
Partner Audrea Golding explains how the $100,000 H-1B fee could affect hiring across the tech industry.

Blog post
Immigration Supervisor Nathalie Pimenta and Immigration Programme Manager Frida Sakaj discuss the importance of planning visa applications and document services early to avoid delays and ensure compliance with UK regulations.

Media mentions
Partner Karolina Schiffter discusses how new regulations have led Polish companies to adjust their use of work permits.

Media mentions