Seasonal work visas: schemes, conditions and procedures country by country
A seasonal work visa is a temporary entry and work authorisation granted to a foreign national to fill a specific job during a farming or tourism peak, for an identified employer and for a capped period of time.
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What is a seasonal work visa for?
A seasonal visa allows a foreign national to enter a country to fill a specific job, for an identified employer, for a limited period. It grants neither permanent residence nor, in most cases, the right to bring family members along during the stay.
Almost all these schemes follow the same logic: the employer first proves it cannot find local labour, obtains an authorisation, then the worker applies for a visa at the consulate. The right to work remains attached to the authorised job only.
Which sectors and periods are covered?
Seasonal visas mainly target agriculture, from strawberry picking in spring to the September grape harvest, and tourism, with summer hotels and winter ski resorts. Some countries also include seafood processing and landscaping in their eligible activities.
A duration that is always capped
Maximum length varies: six months a year in France, five to nine months in any twelve in the European Union, six months in the UK for horticulture, eight months in Canada under SAWP, up to three cumulative years in the US under H-2B.
The obligation to return home
Most programmes require workers to keep their main residence in their home country and leave at the end of the contract. Respecting this rule often determines renewal the following year and the trust of employers who rehire the same people.
Overview of the main seasonal visas
Each country has given its scheme its own name. Knowing that name helps you find the right official page and avoid intermediaries who resell free public information or charge for forms that are available at no cost.
- France: long-stay seasonal worker visa, then a multi-year card valid three years, six months of work per year.
- European Union: Directive 2014/36/EU transposed by each state, with quotas in Italy and recruitment in origin countries by Spain.
- United Kingdom: Seasonal Worker visa, horticulture up to six months, poultry from 2 October to 31 December.
- United States: H-2A for agriculture, H-2B for non-farm jobs, capped at 66,000 visas a year.
- Canada: SAWP for Mexico and eleven Caribbean countries, plus the agricultural stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
- Australia and New Zealand: PALM and RSE for Pacific countries, working holiday visas for young people.
France: the seasonal worker card
In France, the employer files an online work authorisation request, advertises the job for three weeks unless it is a shortage occupation, proves decent housing and pays a tax of €50 per month of activity. The worker then obtains a three-month visa.
The multi-year card, valid for up to three years, costs €150 for a first issue since 1 May 2026 and €100 for renewal. It only covers the job named in the authorisation and does not allow family reunification in France.
United Kingdom: mandatory sponsorship
The UK Seasonal Worker visa requires a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed operator, valid for three months. Applicants must be at least 18, pay £340 and hold £1,270 in savings, unless the sponsor certifies that it covers initial costs.
North America: petitions and certification
In the United States, the employer obtains certification from the Department of Labor, then files a petition with immigration services. In Canada, SAWP requires at least 240 hours of work within six weeks or less, and employment between 1 January and 15 December.
What pay and conditions are guaranteed?
A worker on a seasonal visa must be paid at least as much as a local employee: France's SMIC of €12.31 gross per hour from June 2026, the UK minimum wage for Seasonal Workers, and for US H-2B the higher of the prevailing or applicable minimum wage.
Hours, leave and workplace safety fall under the law of the host country. Housing is often provided or required: France demands decent living conditions, and any deductions must appear in the contract signed before departure from the home country.
Documents and fees to plan for
Lists vary by country, but some documents appear everywhere. The table below summarises the most common items and the official amounts verified for 2026, which should still be confirmed before submitting any application to the authorities.
| Item | Where required | Amount or detail |
|---|---|---|
| Approved job offer or contract | All programmes | Required before any application |
| Employer work authorisation | France | Employer tax €50 per month of activity |
| Seasonal worker card | France | €150 (first), €100 (renewal) |
| Certificate of sponsorship | United Kingdom | Valid 3 months, single use |
| Seasonal Worker visa fee | United Kingdom | £340 |
| Proof of savings | United Kingdom | £1,270 held for 28 days |
| Valid passport | All | At least the length of stay |
Getting a seasonal visa in six steps
- Identify the official programme matching the country, sector and your nationality.
- Find an employer or licensed operator through the public employment service or the scheme portal.
- Let the employer obtain the required authorisation, certification or sponsorship.
- Gather passport, contract, proof of funds and requested supporting documents.
- Apply at the consulate or online and attend the biometrics appointment.
- Travel only once the visa is issued, then complete arrival formalities.
Fraud and mistakes to avoid
- Paying a recruiter for a place in a free official programme.
- Working on a tourist visa or a short-stay visa waiver.
- Changing employer without a new authorisation, which makes the stay unlawful.
- Overstaying the authorised period and jeopardising any future return.
- Trusting websites that imitate official portals and charge for forms.
Frequently asked questions about seasonal visas
The following answers cover principles shared by the main programmes. They do not replace official information, which changes regularly and should be checked on the website of the competent authority in the destination country before applying.
Can a seasonal visa lead to long-term residence?
Rarely in a direct way. These visas are designed around a return home. Some countries do allow a later change of status, for example through a skilled job, but that procedure is separate and subject to its own conditions.
Is a seasonal visa free for the worker?
No, consular or permit fees often remain payable by the worker, such as the UK's £340 or the €150 French card. In the United States, however, H-2B employers must cover the worker's visa fees and certain travel costs.
Can I apply for a seasonal visa without an employer?
No. All seasonal visas rely on a prior job offer. Only working holiday visas, reserved for young people of certain nationalities, allow arrival without a contract and a search for seasonal work once in the country.
How long does the procedure take?
Allow several weeks to several months, because the employer's authorisation comes before the visa application. For a European summer season, files are usually started early in the year; for H-2B jobs, even earlier because of the cap.
Where to find these jobs
- GOV.UK – Seasonal Worker visa — Official UK seasonal horticulture and poultry work route, accessed through licensed scheme operators.
- Canada – Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program — Canadian federal programme recruiting seasonal farmworkers from Mexico and participating Caribbean countries.
- SeasonalJobs.dol.gov — Official US registry of H-2A and H-2B job orders that candidates can browse, with employer contact details.
- International Experience Canada — Canadian working holiday permits allowing young people of eligible nationalities to find seasonal work on arrival.
Official and legal references
- Service-Public.fr – Seasonal worker card — Conditions, validity, price and renewal of France's multi-year residence card for non-EU seasonal workers.
- Service-Public.fr – Work authorisation — Employer procedure in France, €50 monthly tax and housing obligation for foreign seasonal staff.
- GOV.UK – Seasonal Worker visa eligibility — Minimum age, certificate of sponsorship, required savings and pay obligations of the UK seasonal visa.
- Justice.fr – Seasonal residence card — French Ministry of Justice page on the seasonal worker card, appeals and links to online procedures.