Immigration Rules Appendix T2 Minister of Religion

This route is for a person who has a key leading role within their faith-based organisation or a religious order in the UK.

A dependent partner and dependent children of a T2 Minister of Religion can apply on this route.

T2 Minister of Religion is a route to settlement.

Validity requirements for a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 1.1. A person applying for entry clearance or permission to stay as a T2 Minister of Religion must apply online on the gov.uk website on the specified form as follows:
1. (a) for applicants outside the UK, form “Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) visa”; or
2. (b) for applicants inside the UK, form “Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) leave to remain”.

MOR 1.2. An application for entry clearance or permission to stay as a T2 Minister of Religion must meet all the following requirements:
1. (a) any fee and Immigration Health Charge must have been paid; and
2. (b) the applicant must have provided any required biometrics; and
3. (c) the applicant must have provided a passport or other travel document which satisfactorily establishes their identity and nationality; and
4. (d) the applicant must have a Certificate of Sponsorship that was issued to them by their sponsor no more than 3 months before the date of application.

MOR 1.3. The applicant must be aged 18 or over on the date of application.

MOR 1.4. If the applicant has, in the last 12 months before the date of application, received an award from a Government or international scholarship agency covering both fees and living costs for study in the UK, they must provide written consent to the application from that Government or agency.

MOR 1.5. A person applying for permission to stay must be in the UK on the date of application and must not have, or have last been granted, permission:
1. (a) as a Visitor; or
2. (b) as a Short-term Student; or
3. (c) as a Parent of a Child Student; or
4. (d) as a Seasonal worker; or
5. (e) as a Domestic worker in a private household: or
6. (f) outside the Immigration Rules.
MOR 1.6. An application which does not meet all the validity requirements for a T2 Minister of Religion is invalid and may be rejected and not considered.

Suitability Requirement for a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 2.1. The applicant must not fall for refusal under Part 9: grounds for refusal.

MOR 2.2. If applying for permission to stay the applicant must not be:
1. (a) in breach of immigration laws, except that where paragraph 39E applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded; or
2. (b) on immigration bail.
  
  Eligibilty Requirement for a T2 Minister of Religion

Entry requirement for a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 3.1. A person seeking to come to the UK as a T2 Minister of Religion must apply for and obtain entry clearance as a T2 Minister of Religion before they arrive in the UK.

MOR 3.2. A person applying for entry clearance as a T2 Minister of Religion must, if paragraph A39 and Appendix T of these rules apply, provide a valid medical certificate confirming that they have undergone screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis and that this tuberculosis is not present in them.

Points Requirement for a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 4.1. An applicant must be awarded 70 points from the table below.

Points requirements (all mandatory)	Points
Certificate of Sponsorship	50
Financial requirement	10
English language skills at level B2 (intermediate)	10

Sponsorship requirements for a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 5.1. The applicant must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the job they are planning to do, which to be valid, must:
1. (a) confirm the applicant’s name, that they are being sponsored as a T2 Minister of Religion and details of the job and salary the sponsor is offering them, as well as any other remuneration; and
2. (b) include a start date, stated by the sponsor, which must be no more than three months after the date of application; and
3. (c) not have been used in a previous application which was either granted or refused (but can have been used in a previous application which was rejected as invalid, made void or withdrawn); and
4. (d) not have been withdrawn by the sponsor or cancelled by the Home Office; and
5. (e) confirm that the applicant is qualified to do the job of a T2 Minister of Religion; and
6. (f) confirm that the applicant is a member of the sponsor’s religious order (if the sponsor’s organisation is a religious order); and
7. (g) confirm that the applicant will perform religious duties within the sponsor’s organisation or directed by the sponsor’s organisation in the UK (which may include preaching, pastoral and non-pastoral work); and
8. (h) confirm that the applicant’s role will not involve mainly non-pastoral duties, such as school teaching, media production, domestic work or administrative and clerical work, unless the role is a senior position within the sponsor’s organisation; and
9. (i) confirm that the applicant will receive pay and conditions at least equal to those given to settled workers in the same role and compliant with, or exempt from, the national minimum wage.

MOR 5.2. The sponsor must be authorised by the Home Office to sponsor the job in question under the T2 Minister of Religion route.

MOR 5.3. The sponsor must be listed as A-rated on the Home Office’s register of licensed sponsors, unless the applicant was last granted permission as a T2 Minister of Religion and is applying to continue working for the same sponsor as in their last permission.

MOR 5.4. The decision maker must not have reasonable grounds to believe the job the applicant is being sponsored to do does not comply with the National Minimum Wage Regulations or the Working Time Regulations.

Genuineness requirement for a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 6.1. The applicant must:
1. (a) genuinely intend, and be able, to undertake the role for which they are being sponsored; and
2. (b) not intend to undertake employment other than in the role for which they are being sponsored, or as otherwise permitted at MOR 10.3.

Financial requirement for a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 7.1. If the applicant is applying for permission to stay and has been living in the UK with permission for 12 months or longer on the date of application, they will meet the financial requirement and do not need to show funds.

MOR 7.2. If the applicant is applying for entry clearance, or is applying for permission to stay and has been living in the UK for less than 12 months on the date of application, either:
1. (a) the applicant must have funds of at least £1,270; or
2. (b) the applicant’s A-rated sponsor must confirm on the Certificate of Sponsorship that they will, if it is necessary, maintain and accommodate the applicant up to the end of the first month of their employment for an amount of at least £1,270.

MOR 7.3. If MOR 7.2.(a) applies, the applicant must have held the required level of funds for a 28-day period and must show funds as specified in Appendix Finance.

English language requirement for a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 8.1. Unless an exemption applies, the applicant must show English language ability on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in all 4 components (reading, writing, speaking and listening) of at least level B2.
MOR 8.2. The applicant must show they meet the English language requirement as specified in Appendix English Language.

Decision on an application as a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 9.1. If the decision maker is satisfied all the suitability and eligibility requirements for a T2 Minister of Religion are met the application will be granted, otherwise the application will be refused.

MOR 9.2. If the application is refused the person can apply for an Administrative Review under Appendix AR: Administrative Review.

Period and conditions of grant as a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 10.1. If the applicant is applying for entry clearance, permission will be granted for whichever is the shorter of:
1. (a) up to 14 days after the period of employment stated on their Certificate of Sponsorship; or
2. (b) 3 years and 1 month.

MOR 10.2. If the applicant is applying for permission to stay, it will be granted for whichever is the shorter of:
1. (a) up to 14 days after the period of employment stated on their Certificate of Sponsorship; or
2. (b) 3 years; or
3. (c) the difference between 6 years and the period they have already been granted permission as a T2 Minister of Religion, International Sportsperson, or Skilled Worker (or any combination of these routes).

MOR 10.3. The grant will be subject to all the following conditions:
1. (a) no access to public funds; and
2. (b) the only work permitted is:
  1. (i) work in the job the applicant is being sponsored for; and
  2. (ii) supplementary employment, provided the applicant is still doing the job they were sponsored for; and
  3. (iii) voluntary work; and
  4. (iv) working out a contractual notice for a job the person was lawfully working in on the date of application; and
3. (c) study is permitted, subject to the ATAS condition in Appendix ATAS.
4. (d) DELETED
  
  Settelement as a T2 Minister of Religion

Validity requirements for settlement as a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 11.1. A person who is applying for settlement as a T2 Minister of Religion must apply online on the gov.uk website on the specified form “Settle in the UK in various immigration categories: form SET(O)”.

MOR 11.2. An application for settlement must meet all the following requirements:
1. (a) any fee must have been paid; and
2. (b) the applicant must have provided any required biometrics; and
3. (c) the applicant must have provided a passport or other travel document which satisfactorily establishes their identity and nationality; and
4. (d) the applicant must be in the UK on the date of application.

MOR 11.3. The applicant must have, or have last been granted, permission as a T2 Minister of Religion.

MOR 11.4. An application which does not meet all the validity requirements for settlement for a T2 Minister of Religion is invalid and may be rejected and not considered.

Suitability Requirements for settlement as a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 12.1. The applicant must not fall for refusal under Part 9: grounds for refusal.

MOR 12.2. The applicant must not be:
1. (a) in breach of immigration laws, except that where paragraph 39E applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded; or
2. (b) on immigration bail.

Eligibility requirements for settlement as a T2 Minister of Religion

Sponsorship requirement for settlement as a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 13.1. The sponsor in the applicant’s most recent permission must still be approved by the Home Office to sponsor a T2 Minister of Religion.

MOR 13.2. The sponsor must confirm that they still require the applicant to work for them for the foreseeable future, and that the applicant is paid, and will be paid for the foreseeable future, the appropriate salary under MOR 5.1.(i).

Qualifying period requirement for settlement as a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 14.1. The applicant must have spent a continuous period of 5 years in the UK, and that period must consist of time with permission on any (or a combination) of the following routes:
1. (a) T2 Minister of Religion; or
2. (b) International Sportsperson; or
3. (c) Skilled Worker; or
4. (d) Tier 1 Migrant, other than as a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur); or
5. (e) Representative of an Overseas Business; or
6. (f) Innovator Founder; or
7. (g) Global Talent; or
8. (h) Scale-up.

Continuous residence requirement for settlement as a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 15.1. The applicant must meet the continuous residence requirement as specified in Appendix Continuous residence for the period in MOR 14.1.

Knowledge of Life in the UK requirement for settlement as a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 16.1. Unless an exemption applies, the applicant must meet the Knowledge of Life in the UK requirement as specified in Appendix KOL UK.

Decision on an application for settlement as a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 17.1. If the decision maker is satisfied all the suitability and eligibility requirements for settlement as a T2 Minister of Religion are met the applicant will be granted settlement, otherwise the application will be refused.

MOR 17.2. If the application is refused the person can apply for an Administrative Review under Appendix AR: Administrative Review.

Dependants of a T2 Minister of Religion

Validity requirements for a dependent partner (“partner”) or dependent child (“child”) of a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 18.1. A person applying for entry clearance or permission to stay as a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion must apply online on the gov.uk website on the specified form as follows:

Location of partner or child	Specified form
Outside the UK	Dependant partner visa Dependant child visa
Inside the UK	If applying at the same time as the T2 Minister of Religion, they can be added to the Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) leave to remain form. If applying separately from the T2 Minister of Religion: • Dependant partner • Dependant child

MOR 18.2. An application for entry clearance or permission to stay as a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion must meet all the following requirements:
1. (a) any fee and Immigration Health Charge must have been paid; and
2. (b) the applicant must have provided any required biometrics; and
3. (c) the applicant must have provided a passport or other travel document which satisfactorily establishes their identity and nationality; and
  1. (i) has made a valid application for entry clearance or permission to stay on the T2 Minister of Religion route that has not been decided; or
  2. (ii) has permission on the T2 Minister of Religion route; or
  3. (iii) is settled or has become a British citizen, providing that P had permission on the T2 Minister of Religion route when they settled and the applicant either had permission as their partner or child at that time, or the applicant is applying as a child of P and the applicant was born in the UK before P settled.

MOR 18.3. An applicant applying as a partner must be aged 18 or over on the date of application.

MOR 18.4. An applicant who is applying for permission to stay as a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion must be in the UK on the date of application and must not have, or have last been granted, permission:
1. (a) as a Visitor; or
2. (b) as a Short-term student; or
3. (c) as a Parent of a Child Student; or
4. (d) as a Seasonal worker; or
5. (e) as a Domestic worker in a private household: or
6. (f) outside the Immigration Rules.

MOR 18.5. An application which does not meet all the validity requirements for a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion is invalid and may be rejected and not considered.

Suitability requirements for a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 19.1. The applicant must not fall for refusal under Part 9: grounds for refusal.

MOR 19.2. If applying for permission to stay the applicant must not be:
1. (a) in breach of immigration laws, except that where paragraph 39E applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded; or
2. (b) on immigration bail.

Eligibility requirements for partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion

Entry requirements for a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 20.1. A person seeking to come to the UK as a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion must apply for and obtain an entry clearance as a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion before they arrive in the UK.

MOR 20.2. A person applying for entry clearance as a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion must, if paragraph A39 and Appendix T of these rules apply, provide a valid medical certificate confirming that they have undergone screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis and that this tuberculosis is not present in them.

Relationship requirement for a partner of a T2 Minister or Religion

MOR 21.1. The applicant must be the partner of a person (P) where one of the following applies:
1. (a) P has permission as a T2 Minister of Religion; or
2. (b) P is, at the same time, applying for (and is granted) entry clearance or permission as a T2 Minister of Religion; or
3. (c) P is settled or has become a British citizen, providing P had permission as a T2 Minister of Religion when they settled, and the applicant had permission as P’s partner at that time.

MOR 21.2. If the applicant and their T2 Minister of Religion partner are not married or in a civil partnership, all of the following requirements must be met:
1. (a) they must have been living together in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least the two years before the date of application; and
2. (b) any previous relationship of the applicant or their T2 Minister of Religion partner with another person must have permanently broken down; and
3. (c) the applicant and their T2 Minister of Religion partner must not be so closely related that they would not be allowed to marry or form a civil partnership in the UK.

MOR 21.3. The relationship between the applicant and their T2 Minister of Religion partner must be genuine and subsisting.

MOR 21.4. The applicant and their T2 Minister of Religion partner must intend to live together throughout the applicant’s stay in the UK.

Relationship requirement for a child of a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 22.1. The applicant must be the child of a parent (P) where one of the following applies:
1. (a) P has permission on the T2 Minister of Religion route; or
2. (b) P is, at the same time, applying for (and is granted) entry clearance or permission on the T2 Minister of Religion route;
3. (c) P is settled or has become a British citizen, providing P had permission on the T2 Minister of Religion route when they settled, and the applicant had permission as P’s child at that time.

MOR 22.2. The applicant’s parents must each be either applying at the same time as the applicant or have permission to be in the UK (other than as a visitor) unless:
1. a) the parent applying for or with entry clearance or permission to stay as a T2 Minister of Religion is the sole surviving parent; or
2. (b) the parent applying for or with entry clearance or permission to stay as a T2 Minister of Religion has sole responsibility for the child’s upbringing; or
3. (c) the parent who does not have permission as a Minister of Religion –
  1. (i) is a British citizen or a person who has a right to enter or stay in the UK without restriction; and
  2. (ii) is or will be ordinarily resident in the UK; or
4. (d) the decision maker is satisfied that there are serious and compelling reasons to grant the child entry clearance or permission to stay with the parent who is applying for or has entry clearance or permission to stay on the T2 Minister of Religion route.

MOR 22.3. If the applicant is a child born in the UK to a T2 Minister of Religion or their partner, the applicant must provide a full UK birth certificate showing the names of both parents.

Age requirement for a child of a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 23.1 The applicant must be under the age of 18 on the date of application, unless they were last granted permission as the dependent child of their parent or parents.

MOR 23.2. If the applicant is aged 16 or over on the date of application, they must not be leading an independent life.

Care requirement for a child of a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 24.1. If the applicant is aged under 18 on the date of application, there must be suitable arrangements for the applicant’s care and accommodation in the UK, which must comply with relevant UK laws.

Financial requirement for a partner or child on the T2 Minister of Religion route

MOR 25.1. If the applicant is applying for permission to stay and has been living in the UK with permission for 12 months or longer on the date of application, they will meet the financial requirement and do not need to show funds.

MOR 25.2. If an applicant is applying for entry clearance, or has been in the UK for less than 12 months on the date of application, either:
1. (a) funds of at least the amount required in MOR 25.3. must be held collectively by one or more of the following:
  1. (i) the applicant; and
  2. (ii) the T2 Minister of Religion; and
  3. (iii) if the applicant is applying as a dependent child, their parent who is lawfully present in the UK or being granted entry clearance, or permission to stay, at the same time; or
2. (b) the T2 Minister of Religion’s A-rated sponsor must certify that they will, if necessary, maintain and accommodate the partner and/or any dependent child as well as the T2 Minister of Religion, up to the end of the first month of each of their grants of permission, to at least the amounts required in MOR 25.3.

MOR 25.3. The level of funds required are:
1. (a) £285 for a partner in the UK, or applying for entry clearance; and
2. (b) £315 for the first dependent child in the UK, or applying for entry clearance; and
3. (c) £200 for any other dependent child in the UK, or applying for entry clearance.

MOR 25.4. If MOR 25.2(a) applies, the funds held for the applicant must be held in addition to any funds required for the T2 Minister of Religion to meet the financial requirement and any other dependents in the UK or applying at the same time.

MOR 25.5. If MOR 25.2.(a) applies, the funds must have been held for a 28- day period and as specified in Appendix Finance.

Decision on an application as a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 26.1. If the decision maker is satisfied that all the suitability and eligibility requirements for a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion are met, the application will be granted, otherwise the application will be refused.

MOR 26.2. If the application is refused, the person can apply for an Administrative Review under Appendix AR: Administrative Review.

Period and conditions of grant for a partner or a child of a T2 Minister of Religion route

MOR 27.1. A partner will be granted:
1. (a) permission which ends on the same date as their partner’s permission as a T2 Minister of Religion; or
2. (b) 3 years’ permission if the T2 Minister of Religion was (or is being) granted settlement as a T2 Minister of Religion.

MOR 27.2. A child will be granted permission which ends on the same date as whichever of their parents’ permission ends first, unless both parents have (or are being granted) settlement or British Citizenship, in which case the child will be granted permission for 3 years.

MOR 27.3. The grant will be subject to all the following conditions:
1. (a) no access to public funds; and
2. (b) work (including self-employment and voluntary work) is permitted; except for employment as a professional sportsperson (including as a sports coach); and
3. (c) study is permitted, subject to the ATAs condition in Appendix ATAS if the applicant is over the age of 18.
4. (d) DELETED

Settlement as a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion

Validity requirements for settlement as a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 28.1. person applying for settlement as a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion must apply online on the gov.uk website on the specified form “Settle in the UK in various immigration categories: form SET(O)”.

MOR 28.2. An application for settlement as a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion must meet all the following requirements:
1. (a) any fee must have been paid; and
2. (b) the applicant must have provided any required biometrics; and
3. (c) the applicant must have provided a passport or other travel document which satisfactorily establishes their identity and nationality; and
4. (d) the applicant must be in the UK on the date of application; and
5. (e) the applicant must be applying as a partner or child of a person (P) who:
  1. (i) has made a valid application for settlement in the UK on the T2 Minister of Religion route and that application has not been decided; or
  2. (ii) is settled or has become a British citizen, provided that P had permission on the T2 Minister of Religion route when they settled and the applicant either had permission as their partner or child at that time, or the applicant is applying as a child of P and the applicant was born in the UK before P settled.

MOR 28.3. An application which does not meet all the validity requirements for a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion is invalid and may be rejected and not considered.

Suitability requirements for settlement as a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 29.1. The applicant must not fall for refusal under Part 9: grounds for refusal.

MOR 29.2. The applicant must not be:
1. (a) in breach of immigration laws, except that where paragraph 39E applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded; or
2. (b) on immigration bail.

Eligibility requirements for settlement as a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion

Relationship requirement for settlement as a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 30.1. The applicant must be the partner or child of a person (P) where one of the following applies:
1. (a) P is, at the same time, being granted settlement as a T2 Minister of Religion; or
2. (b) P is settled or has become a British citizen, providing P had permission as a T2 Minister of Religion when they settled and the applicant either:
  1. (i) had permission as P’s partner or child at that time; or
  2. (ii) is applying as a child of P and was born in the UK before P settled.

MOR 30.2. If applying as a partner, the applicant and the person (P) in MOR 30.1. must meet the relationship requirement in MOR 21.2. to MOR 21.4. and must have met those requirements throughout the 5 years ending on the date of application.

MOR 30.3. If applying as a child, the applicant’s other parent (who is not the person (P) in MOR 30.1.) must be being granted settlement at the same time, or be settled or a British citizen, unless:
1. (a) P in MOR 30.1. is the applicant’s sole surviving parent; or
2. (b) P in MOR 30.1. has sole responsibility for the applicant’s upbringing; or
3. (c) the decision maker is satisfied that there are serious and compelling reasons to grant the applicant settlement.

Age requirement for settlement as a child of a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 31.1. The applicant must be under the age of 18 on the date of application, unless they were last granted permission as the dependent child of their parent or parents.

MOR 31.2. If the child is aged 16 or over at the date of application, they must not be leading an independent life.

Care requirement for settlement as a child of a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 32.1. If the applicant is under the age of 18 on the date of application there must be suitable arrangements for the child’s care and accommodation in the UK, which must comply with relevant UK laws.

Qualifying period requirement for settlement by a partner of a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 33.1. The applicant must have spent a continuous period of 5 years in the UK with permission as a dependent partner of the person (P) in MOR 30.1.

Continuous residence requirement for settlement as a partner of a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 34.1. The applicant must meet the continuous resident requirement as set out in Appendix Continuous residence during the period in MOR 33.1.

English language requirement for settlement as a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 35.1. Unless an exemption applies, the applicant must show English language ability on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in speaking and listening to at least level B1.

MOR 35.2. The applicant must show they meet the English language requirement as specified in Appendix English Language.

Knowledge of life in the UK requirement for settlement as a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 36.1. Unless an exemption applies, the applicant must meet the Knowledge of Life in the UK requirement as set out in Appendix KOL UK.

Decision on an application for settlement as a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion

MOR 37.1. If the decision maker is satisfied all the suitability and eligibility requirements are met for settlement as a partner or child of a T2 Minister of Religion, the application will be granted, otherwise the application will be refused.

MOR 37.2. If the application is refused the person can apply for an Administrative Review under Appendix AR: Administrative Review. Source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-t2-minister-of-religion