The number of UK work visas sponsored by the Church of Scientology has quadrupled over the last 3 years, new figures released by the Home Office show.
Following a 2023 court ruling in which Scientology buildings were designated ‘places of public worship’ by HM Revenue and Customs, the controversial church was awarded powers by the government to sponsor Religious Worker and Minister of Religion visas. We reported in 2024 that within 12 months, Scientology had issued 21 certificates of sponsorship for overseas workers coming to the UK – a number that has since quadrupled.
According to Home Office figures obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOI), the Church of Scientology Religious Education College, Inc. (CORESCI) have now assigned a total of 83 certificates of sponsorship for applications in the Minister of Religion and Religious Worker visa categories.
The Charity Commission rejected Scientology’s application for charity status in 1999 after it determined the organisation was not established for the public benefit, a ruling they confirmed in 2023 cannot be overturned. Instead, the church funnels its UK operations through COSRECI, an Australian-registered non-profit which does business exclusively overseas.
Workers in the United Kingdom have the right to be paid a minimum hourly rate under The National Minimum Wage Act 1998, with current rate set at £12.21 per hour for workers over the age of 21. Volunteers are exempt, according to the government’s website, which explains “you’re classed as doing voluntary work if you can only get certain limited benefits (for example reasonable travel or lunch expenses) and you’re working for a charity, voluntary organisation or associated fundraising body or a statutory body”.
Guidelines state that “a person’s employment status is governed largely by his contractual relations, or absence thereof, with an employer” and that “volunteers who receive expenses, benefits in kind, and/or subsistence payments” are considered workers. It continues, “if a “volunteer” is under an obligation to work, then he is, in fact, a “worker” and entitled to the National Minimum Wage”.
According to Scientology, its workers are considered ‘religious volunteers’ and as such do not receive a salary or payment for their contributions. Instead, staff members receive a weekly allowance described as “pocket money” in the employment contract. However unlike volunteers at a food bank or homeless shelter, staff are given job titles and responsibilities and are expected to work full time, which presents more than a minor a problem for the group when it comes to UK labour laws.
Senior positions at their UK headquarters near East Grinstead, Sussex are filled by members of the Sea Organisation – a religious order that requires parishioners to sign one billion year contracts and work 14-16 hour days, 7 days a week with no time off. In return, they are provided communal berthing, food and a weekly stipend of just £50.
COSRECI is considered an “A-rate” visa sponsor by the Home Office and has the power to sponsor both Religious Worker and Minister of Religion visas. Since obtaining this status in 2023, they have assigned 53 Minister of Religion and 30 Religious Worker certificates of sponsorship totalling 83, up from 21 in their first year.
Under the Minister of Religion visa, UK government guidelines state “work must be of a mainly pastoral nature, such as leading a congregation in performing rites and rituals, and preaching the essentials of the creed. This includes, but is not limited to, religious leaders such as priests, imams, rabbis, and other ministers of religion.” However, to qualify for a Religious Worker visa “work can involve performing religious duties to support the activities of religious institutions and can be either pastoral or non-pastoral. It can include working in a religious order.”
In order to obtain visa sponsorship status, organisations must supply the Home Office the reason they are applying for a sponsor licence as well as information relating to vacancies such as job titles, main duties, normal weekly hours, how much the worker will be paid and the skills, experience and qualifications required for the job. Our request for copies of the information provided by the Church of Scientology was denied under Section 41 of the Freedom of Information Act with UK Visas and Immigration telling us it “exempts information that was provided in confidence. Section 41(1) provides that information is exempt if disclosure to the public (otherwise than under this Act) by the public authority holding if it would constitute a breach of confidence actionable by that or any other person. This is an absolute exemption which does not require us to consider the public interest balance in disclosure.”
Greenfields School, which is closely tied to Scientology, lost its visa-granting status following an inspection by the Home Office in 2024. The church itself however remains listed as an A-rated sponsor on the government’s register of sponsors.
Meanwhile in the United States, where Scientology’s worldwide headquarters is located, the church issued 1,803 religious worker visas in the period spanning 2019-2023 according to Underground Bunker journalist Tony Ortega. That accounted for more than 10% of all R-1 visas issued in the country during that time frame.
