Voluntary workers

Voluntary workers from outside the EU may be granted the right to enter the UK to undertake charitable work and youth mobility work. But you should know that there are strict conditions:

These are the requirements:

The work you intend to do is entirely voluntary;
You must work for certain approved organization or for a UK-registered charity;
You will be able to support yourself during your stay in the UK without claiming help from public funds;
You will be expected to depart the UK after a maximum stay of 1 year.

Voluntary workers are allowed to remain in the UK for a maximum of 1 year. You can apply more than once for this visa but you cannot stay in the UK eternally.

You must be genuinely of use to the persons the charity assigned you to (elderly, disabled, vulnerable or homeless people etc…)

The charity cannot employ you if the same post could be fulfill by a paid resident worker.

You cannot receive a formal wage for your work but you could get expenses or subsistence pay.

If you have entered the UK under a different immigration category you can switch to voluntary worker as long as you comply with the Immigration regulations.

Note that if you come from a country form which a visa is required to enter the UK even on a simple visit, you will have to apply for the entry clearance before traveling to the UK.