UK Artist Visa process for international artists, entertainers and performers

Festival season is right around the corner with acts such as Coldplay, Dua Lipa and Shania Twain preparing to take to the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury; but how easy is it for international artists and performers to perform in the UK?

In this blog, we discuss the various visa routes available. For how this applies to artists and entertainers performing at the Edinburgh Festivals, click here.

There are several routes for artists and musicians coming to perform at UK festivals or gigs. You will normally need to be sponsored by an employer or have endorsement, however if you are going to be in the UK for a single event such as a music festival like our very own TRNSMT held here in Scotland, one of the visitor visa categories may be more appropriate.

The main immigration routes available to artists and performers looking to perform in the UK are:

• Creative Visitor
• Standard Visitor visa / Permitted Paid Engagement
• Temporary Work – Creative Worker
• Skilled Worker
• Global Talent

Creative Visit Visa

The Creative Visit visa is a UK artist visa intended for amateur or professional artists, entertainers, and musicians (and their entourage) who wish to visit the UK for unpaid permitted activities for up to six months. Permitted activities include performing as an individual or as a group; taking part in competitions or auditions; making personal appearances and carrying out promotional activities.

Some of the key points to note if you are looking to obtain a Creative Visit Visa include:

• Visa nationals must apply up to three months before visiting the UK (non-visa nationals do not need to apply and can seek entry on arrival at the Border);
• This UK artist visa is valid for up to six months (£115), two years (£400), five years (£771) or 10 years (£963);
• It is not a route to settlement/indefinite leave to remain (i.e., permanent residence);
• Separate applications will need to be made if travelling as a group;
• You must be genuinely seeking entry for the purpose of undertaking a permitted activity;
• You will leave the UK at the end of the visit and will not make the UK your main home through frequent or successive visits;
• You will not undertake any prohibited activities such as work, study, access medical treatment and get married or form a civil partnership in the UK;
• Paid work is not permitted under the terms of this UK artist visa, unless you are performing at a festival listed on Permit Free Festivals such as Glastonbury, or Reading and Leeds;
• You must have sufficient funds to cover the cost of the visit including outward travel, accommodation and maintenance;
• You must not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal e.g., criminal convictions, breach of immigration laws, false representations etc.

Standard Visitor Visa / Permitted Paid Engagement

Following Government changes, the former Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE) route has now merged with the Standard Visitor visa. This means that an exclusive visa is no longer required for a PPE, and instead, you will enter as a ‘standard visitor’ and declare the PPE when you submit the visit visa application.

The Standard Visitor Visa allows professional artists, entertainers or musicians to enter the UK for up to 6 months, as opposed to one month on the former PPE route, to undertake a paid activity that is directly related to their profession. For example, a paid performance at a festival.

However, the rules have not changed regarding when the engagement must be carried out - it must still be completed within 30 days of arriving in the UK.

Further changes were introduced to the minimum age requirement. You must be aged 18 or over when you enter the UK; previously you had to be aged 18 on the date of application. This means that you can apply if you are 17 years old and will turn 18 years old when you enter the UK.

You must intend to do one or more of the PPE set out in the Immigration Rules and this must be:

• arranged before you travel to the UK;
• declared as part of the application for entry clearance or permission to enter the UK;
• evidenced by a formal invitation from a UK-based creative organisation, agent/agency, or broadcaster;
• related to your area of expertise and occupation overseas, which is evidenced through published work, publicity material for recent performances, screenings, concerts, talks, readings or exhibitions, media coverage and reviews, or awards you’ve received.

Other key requirements of the Standard Visitor visa include:

• You must not fall under the general grounds for refusal;
• You must be able to support yourself during your trip and your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else to support you);
• You will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home;
• You will leave the UK at the end of your visit (ideally evidenced by a return or onward travel ticket);
• The Standard Visitor visa costs £115.

Creative Worker Visa - Temporary Work

If you need to be in the UK for a longer period, you may apply for the Temporary Work – Creative Worker visa. This UK artist visa allows individuals who work in the creative sector to work in the UK for up to 12 months.

Some of the key points to note if you are looking to obtain a Temporary Work – Creative Worker visa include:

• You must make a unique contribution to the UK’s creative labour market to be eligible for this UK artist visa;
• You must have a Certificate of Sponsorship from a Home Office approved sponsor operating in the creative sector;
• A minimum salary must be paid, unless you are a musician, model, or circus performer;
• You must have funds of at least £1,270 to support yourself;
• Your ‘entourage’ can also apply for this UK artist visa;
• The visa can be extended by a further 24 months if you remain with the same sponsor;
• You can switch to a Skilled Worker visa which allows you to stay in the UK for up to five years and then you can apply for settlement / indefinite leave to remain;
• The Creative Worker Visa costs £298 plus an immigration health surcharge of £1035.

Skilled Worker Visa

If you are looking to visit the UK longer term, then the Skilled Worker visa may be a more suitable option. It allows artists to come and work in the UK for up to five years. Whilst this route generally suits individuals in the business sector, it does support singers, producers, studio managers, sound engineers to name a few.

Some of the criteria that must be met in order to obtain a Skilled Worker visa include:

• You must have an eligible job offer in the creative sector from a Home Office approved sponsor;
• You must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship to apply for this UK artist visa;
• The job must be above a minimum skill level, at least RQF Level 3;
• You must be paid a minimum salary which equals or exceeds £38,700 per year or the ‘going rate’ for the eligible job, whichever is higher;
• You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to support yourself (your employer can cover costs for your first month);
• Applicants must be proficient in the English language at Level B1;
• You must have a TB test unless exempt;
• Applicants can apply for a route to settlement / indefinite leave to remain after five years;
• This can be a route to apply for British citizenship (normally 12 months after ILR);
• The Creative Worker Visa costs £298 plus an immigration health surcharge of £1035 per year.

Global Talent Visa

The Global Talent UK artist visa allows for talented and promising individuals in the fields of art and culture to come and work in the UK for up to five years. You must be a leader (‘exceptional talent’) or have the potential to be a leader (‘exceptional promise’) in combined arts, dance, literature, music, theatre or visual arts.

Some of the key points to note if you are looking to obtain a Global Talent visa include:

• It is a two-stage process: you must first secure endorsement from the Arts Council of England to prove you’re a leader or potential leader in your field or have won an eligible prestigious prize;
• Once you have endorsement or eligible prize, you can then apply online for the Global Talent UK artist visa;
• You do not require a job offer like a Skilled Worker visa, instead you must show that you are producing ‘outstanding’ work that is published or performed internationally;
• You must produce three letters of recommendation, up to 10 pieces of evidence showing your exceptional talent or promise, CV and evidence of international media recognition, awards, or appearances or exhibitions;
• There are no language or minimum salary requirements for the Global Talent UK artist visa;
• Applicants must not fall for refusal under the general grounds of refusal;
• Applicants must have a TB test unless exempt;
• It can be a route to settlement / indefinite leave to remain after three years (exceptional talent) or five years (exceptional promise);
• Applicants can apply for British citizenship (normally 12 months after ILR);
• The Global Talent UK artist visa costs £716 plus an immigration health surcharge of £1035 per year.

How can we help?

Please contact our market leading team of immigration lawyers at immigration@burnesspaull.com for expert advice and assistance on any of the above visa routes.

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