The number of visas allocated for the 2026 Seasonal Worker Scheme (SWS) has been announced following a meeting between NFU president Tom Bradshaw and Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle.

Defra confirmed on 30th October that there will be 41,000 visas for horticulture workers and 1,900 visas for poultry workers. The NFU has said this is “positive news” for the horticulture and poultry sectors, which now have the certainty needed to plan for the year ahead and follows news from the NFU that it has secured additional flexibility for the SWS, which allows workers to re-enter the country sooner than had previously been allowed.

The news has come after the Farming Minister attended an NFU member’s soft fruit farm in Kent, accompanied by Tom Bradshaw and NFU Horticulture and Potatoes Board chair Martin Emmett, where she heard about the importance of the visa allocation for growers and farmers, according to the NFU.

NFU president Tom Bradshaw commented: “We’re pleased that the Minister has listened and confirmed the SWS 2026 visa allocation. While there has been a small reduction in numbers, we are hopeful it will still be sufficient for the year ahead.

“Seasonal workers play a vital role in ensuring the nation’s fresh fruit and vegetables reach supermarket shelves, that British plants and flowers feature in celebrations across the country, and that turkeys remain the centrepiece of the Christmas table. 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 WSW visas needs to remain sufficient to allow our members to continue producing food, plants and flowers for the nation.”