- The National Farmers’ Union helped secure 42,900 places overall for the UK Seasonal Worker Scheme in 2027.
- The allocation includes 41,000 visas for horticulture and 1,900 for poultry workers, keeping the same split as 2026.
- The union is still pushing government to release an extra 10,000 visas for peak harvest shortages.
The National Farmers’ Union said on 28 August 2026 that it had helped secure the UK Seasonal Worker Scheme allocation for 2027. The package gives growers 41,000 visas for horticulture and 1,900 for poultry workers, or 42,900 places overall. Seasonal Worker visas are the UK’s main route for temporary agricultural work. Farmers and labour providers will use the allocation to plan recruitment for the 2027 season. Planning starts now.
The union said the confirmation came after engagement with government and industry partners. The 2027 split matches the 2026 figures in the material, with horticulture again taking the larger share and poultry holding its separate line. That gives growers and labour providers a familiar starting point. The structure stayed the same.
A separate NFU statement dated 24 August 2026 showed the union was still pressing for more room. It wanted the government to release an additional 10,000 visas already available under the scheme. The request focused on peak harvest shortages. Harvest pressure remained.
Government immigration statistics show 41,766 grants of those visas in the year ending June 2026. Earlier annual quotas had risen to 47,000 for 2024 and 45,000 for 2025. The route sits inside an annual quota. Those figures show the scheme moving within a fairly tight band. The ceiling changes, but slowly.
Separate visa statistics published on 13 August 2026 recorded 42,300 applications in the year ending July 2026. That was 10% more than the year ending July 2025. Applications kept coming in. The latest figures sat close to the grants total.
The 2027 allocation keeps horticulture ahead
The pattern is easy to see. The 2027 total lands below the 47,000 level for 2024 and the 45,000 level for 2025. It still repeats the same split that appears in the 2026 material. Employers now have a number to work from. The line is set.
| Period | Figure | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 47,000 | Annual quota |
| 2025 | 45,000 | Annual quota |
| Year ending June 2026 | 41,766 | Grants of those visas |
| Year ending July 2026 | 42,300 | Applications, 10% more than the year ending July 2025 |
| 2027 | 42,900 | 41,000 horticulture and 1,900 poultry |
The union still wants the extra 10,000 released
The 24 August 2026 ask shows the union is still looking for more capacity. It asked government to release the additional 10,000 visas already available under the scheme. Harvest shortages drove it. That issue remained live.
The route stays temporary and does not lead to settlement
Seasonal Worker visas cover temporary farm jobs. Horticulture stays within a 6-month window, and poultry follows a separate season. The route does not lead to settlement. Settlement is off the table.
Current 2026 guidance lists a pay floor of £12.71 per hour and a minimum of 32 paid hours per week for eligible horticulture seasonal workers. The visa application fee is £340. Those are the numbers applicants see.
