In a recent meeting with NFU President Tom Bradshaw and Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle, it was confirmed the number of visas allocated for the 2026 SWS (Seasonal Worker Scheme) had been finalised, with 41,000 visas for horticulture and 1,900 for poultry workers.
This is positive news for the horticulture and poultry sectors that now have the certainty needed to plan for the year ahead.
“While there has been a small reduction in numbers, we are hopeful it will still be sufficient for the year ahead.”
NFU President Tom Bradshaw
The news follows Dame Angela's visit to NFU member Marion Regan's soft fruit farm in Kent, where she was accompanied by NFU President Tom Bradshaw and NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board Chair Martin Emmett.
It was on this visit that the Minister heard about the vital importance of the 2026 SWS visa allocation for growers and farmers.
Certainty is critical
NFU President Tom Bradshaw welcomed the news, acknowledging that “while there has been a small reduction in numbers, we are hopeful it will still be sufficient for the year ahead”.
He said seasonal workers play a “vital role”, adding that, “without them, the horticulture and seasonal poultry sectors could not function”.
“Certainty is critical for these sectors, which plan in years, not months. Looking ahead, it’s essential that we have clarity on visa allocations through to 2029. The number of SWS visas needs to remain sufficient to allow our members to continue producing food, plants and flowers for the nation.”
Access to labour is one of the key priorities for the NFU's national poultry, and horticulture and potatoes boards, and is also one of ten key building blocks identified by the NFU as necessary to deliver long-term growth for the industry under our growth strategy for horticulture.
From 11 November, horticulture workers will also be able to work in the UK for up to six months within any 10-month period. This change to the rules follows several years of NFU campaigning and is expected to significantly increase the availability of seasonal workers.
The SWS is a short-term temporary visa scheme to allow workers to come to the UK and work in horticulture and seasonal poultry for a limited period. These visas are excluded from the government’s net migration figures.
