UK invites Foreign Truck Drivers, Poultry Workers for short term visas

The United Kingdom (UK) has said it would grant 10,500 short-term work visas to foreign truck drivers and poultry workers until Christmas 2021.

According to a statement issued by the Department for Transport over the weekend, 5,000 heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers would be able to come to work in the UK for 3 months in the run-up to Christmas to provide “short-term relief for the haulage industry”.

Some 4,700 poultry workers would also be added to the visa scheme to “avoid any potential further pressures on the food industry during this exceptional period.

Guidance

How to apply to the temporary visa scheme for poultry workers and heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers to transport food.

Who can apply

As an employer, you can apply for workers with a temporary visa if you need:

Poultry workers

heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers to transport food goods – large goods vehicle (occupation code 8211)

A poultry worker with an on-farm or off-farm poultry role includes a:

butcher (occupation code 5431)

bird or game dresser (occupation code 5433)

killer and plucker (occupation code 5433)
plucker (occupation code 5433)

poulterer (occupation code 5433)

poultry processor (occupation code 5433)

poultry sticker (occupation code 5433)

trusser (occupation code 5433)

food operative (occupation code 8111)

poultry catcher or handler (occupation code 9111)

poultry vaccinator (occupation code 9119)

poultry meat packer (occupation code 9134)

How to apply

To recruit temporary workers, you need to contact any of the four scheme operators. According to the publication on UK website, the application process varies for each operator.

Ask them about their temporary visa scheme, how much the process costs and how to apply:

1) AG Recruitment
2) Concordia
3)Fruitful Jobs
4)Pro-Force

HGV food drivers allocated through the scheme must have an HGV licence recognised for use in the UK. The scheme applies to EU, EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) or Swiss licence holders only. They must hold a HGV (category C or C+E) licence.

Apply for poultry workers

You must apply for poultry workers under the temporary visa scheme by 15 November 2021.

All temporary visas for poultry workers will expire on 31 December 2021.

Apply for HGV food drivers
You must apply for HGV food drivers under the temporary visa scheme by 1 December 2021.

All temporary visas for HGV food drivers will expire on 28 February 2022.

Get help

To get help applying for workers on a temporary visa, email accesstolabourfoodchain@defra.gov.uk