IMPORTANT: FOR NON-EU/EEA APPLICANTS

This is an important message to anyone interested in joining one of our schools whose nationality is outside of the EU/EEA area. We would begin by saying that we would love to have you apply and join us for a school. One of the most exciting aspects of living and studying at The King's Lodge is the international nature of the staff and body of trainees. We love it when our home is filled with people from all over the world.

As you consider joining us for a school, you must be aware of recent changes in the way that visas are issued for ‘trainees’ in our schools. It has to do with that word, ‘trainees’. Beginning early this year, YWAM’s schools are no longer considered by the UK Borders Agency to be educational institutions. They are considered to be like in-house training programs, and our students are considered to be trainees – training for work associated with the organisation. This does not change anything about the way our schools work from our perspective.

It changes everything about the way visas are issued for our people, however. Before this year, when people came for one of our schools, they were considered students, and applied for a student visa. As stated earlier, now those same people are considered trainees, and MUST APPLY FOR A TIER 5 RELIGIOUS WORKER’S VISA. Just in the last year more than one person has been turned back at the border and denied entry to the United Kingdom when coming to work or study at The King's Lodge because of not having the correct visa!

Besides being all new and a bit difficult to understand, the new visa system for the UK is also more time-consuming. PLEASE BEGIN THE APPLICATION PROCESS EARLY, as we will simply not be able to process applications from people outside the EU/EEA area that arrive later than 6 weeks prior to the beginning of any school.

Please understand that we are not attempting to scare you away if you believe that God is calling you to join one of our schools. Don’t be put off if it sounds like the process is overwhelming. We will be delighted to help you through it as best we can. We want you here! God is continually doing amazing things in and through the participants in all of our schools.

More information is supplied in our General Information Sheet on our website.  Click on Schools, DTS / SBS, Documents:  “Info about The King’s Lodge”.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at:

schools@thekingslodge.com or tkltraining@googlemail.com