Who needs to have a Creative Visit visa?  

Artists, entertainers, and musicians who wish to perform, and take part in competitions, auditions, promotional activities, or cultural events or festivals for less than 6 months, need to consider applying for a creative visit visa. Even though non-visa nationals are not required to make an application before coming to the UK as a visitor, they must still meet the requirements of entering the UK as a visitor. 

In order to be granted a Creative Visit visa, the applicants will need to satisfy the requirement of a genuine visitor. This means that they:

• Will leave the UK at the end of their visit;
• Will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK their main home;
• Are genuinely seeking entry for a purpose that is permitted by the visitor routes and will not undertake any prohibited activities; and
• Have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs in relation to their visit without working or accessing public funds. 

Applicants must be able to provide proof that they meet these requirements. Non-visa nationals should be prepared to demonstrate the evidence to satisfy the requirements at the border. Failure to comply may result in refusal of entry to the United Kingdom.

The work or receiving payment from a UK source for any activities in the UK is not allowed under the creative visit visa. They should be very careful to ensure that their activities do not fall within the prohibited activities.

If an artist, entertainer, or musician intends to carry out an activity to receive payment, they need to apply Permitted paid Engagement visa.

Who is eligible for Permitted Paid Engagement Visa?

This visa is only appropriate for a professional artist, entertainer, or musician coming to carry out an activity directly relating to their profession, where they have been invited by a creative (arts or entertainment) organisation, agent, or broadcaster based in the UK.

A creative organisation includes all organisations involved in artistic and entertainment activities. Examples include galleries, arts faculties, or departments in universities, schools, and venues involved in producing or staging events. UK-based agents and broadcasters can also invite individuals to undertake a paid engagement in the UK. 

Artists, entertainers, and musicians are permitted to undertake the following activities as a visitor:

• Giving individual or group performances;
• Taking part in competitions or auditions;
• Making personal appearances and undertaking promotional activities, and
• Taking part in one or more permit-free festivals

The activities must be arranged before the applicant travels to the UK and must not last longer than one month.

Non-visa nationals are not required to submit a formal application prior to entering the United Kingdom, but they must go to an immigration officer at a desk instead of using the e-gates. Similar to the creative visit visa, they must be prepared to travel with a collection of documents proving that they meet the entry requirements for a PPE visa.

If they intend to stay longer for their activities, they need to consider the Creative Worker visa.

Who Is Eligible for a Creative Worker Visa?

A creative worker is ‘someone who can make a unique contribution to the UK’s rich cultural life, for example, as an artist, dancer, musician or entertainer, or as a model contributing to the UK’s fashion industry’. Support staff may also be eligible if their employment is directly related to the creative worker’s work in the UK.

If the application for a Creative Worker visa is approved, the visa holder will be permitted to remain in the United Kingdom for a maximum of 12 months.

The creative workers will be able to work in the job they are being sponsored for and supplementary employment is permitted. 

The dependent spouse and children under the age of 18 can come to the UK together.

Creative Worker Visa Requirements

The Creative Worker route is a sponsored route, so the applicant must have a job offer as creative work from a sponsor with a valid Temporary Work – Creative Worker sponsor licence.

The applicant must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), an electronic document containing information such as the applicant's name, the duties they will be performing, and their salary.

The applicant also must satisfy the requirement below;

• Salary should meet the requirement;
• Should be genuinely able to undertake the role and do not plan to undertake other employment;
• have sufficient funds to support themselves in the UK;
• need to provide a valid TB certificate (national of the listed country)
• there is no English requirement
• must show at least £1,270 for a 28-day period ending no more than 31 days before the date of application

The creative visa route should be carefully applied with what types of activities will carry out, how long will take, and whether the payment Is received. so please take a closer look and get advice before traveling to the UK. Legal advice should be sought where this is not clear.