Most of the activities which a foreign artist would be engaged for are actually permissible under the terms of a visit visa to the UK. There is no restriction on amateur or professional artist doing permitted activities. Personal or technical staff who are attending the same event can accompany the artist, entertainer or musician to the UK, provided they are employed to work for them overseas.

 

 

Who is considered to be a visiting ‘Creative Artist’?

The definition of ‘artist’ is wide on the immigration rules as ‘An artist can include anyone coming to the UK to undertake an activity that is connected to the arts (literature, performing arts, visual arts, culinary arts).” It can also include dancers, comedians, members of circus performances, and anyone who comes for performing arts-related activities such as production.


What kind of visa do ‘artists’ need?

In order to visit and engage in art activities in the UK, the scope of permission varies depending on the conditions of the visa to visit the UK. If entertainers or artists visit for unpaid engagement, they can enter the country with a ‘standard’ visitor visa, and if they enter for short paid engagement, they may apply for “Permitted Paid Engagement’ visitor visa.
 
Non-visa nationals apply to enter the UK as visitors when they arrive at the border. Some non-visa nationals may enter the UK as ‘standard’ visitors using the e-gates, being nationals of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United States of America. Visa nationals do require a visiting visa to come to the UK in advance.


What permitted activities can artists do on a ‘Standard’ visitor visa?

Artists entering the UK as ‘Standard’ visitors should not be paid for their engagements. They may, however, be compensated for their reasonable expenses, which would include ‘per diem’ expense payments. Payments for expenses should be ‘reasonable’, both in scope and in respect of the amounts paid.

An artist, entertainer, or musician may give performance as an individual or as part of a group; and take part in competitions or auditions, and take part in promotional activities and participate one or more cultural events, festivals. They can also visit the UK and film the location of movies, programs, dramas, and media contents that are funded overseas.

What are the conditions for ‘Permitted Paid Engagement’ visitor visa?

For performances and art activities under a paid contract, the artist must require ‘Permitted Paid Engagement’ visitor visa in advance to enter the UK. The requirements are as follows.







What if creatives require to stay more than a month?

Engagements which will require presence in the UK for longer than 1 month in the case of paid work will require a Sponsor (i.e. the UK entity employing or sponsoring the artist or entertainer during their stay in the UK). The Sponsor will need a specific Sponsor’s Licence in order to be able to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship to the foreign artist for the engagement. The conditions for the issuing of such visas vary, and depend on whether the engagement is for more than one year.

Inviting entertainers, musicians, and art performers for small festivals or exhibitions is not a complicated process. It needs proper invitations or proof of the visit. However, activities under paid contracts require professional and technical proof of evidence.