As speculation mounts about the line-ups for UK summer festivals like TRNSMT and Glastonbury, there’s no doubt that artists from all over the world will be heading to the UK for festival season.
The UK is home to some of the biggest and most loved festivals in the world – Glastonbury, Reading, Leeds and TRNSMT to name a few; but what is the visa process for international artists and performers coming here to take to the stage?
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, one of the visitor visa categories may be more appropriate.
The main immigration routes available to artists and performers looking for a UK artist visa are:
- Creative Visitor
- 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 6 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 3 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 6 months (£115), 2 years (£400), 5 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.
Permitted Paid Engagement Visit Visa
The Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE) Visit Visa allows professional artists, entertainers or musicians to enter the UK for up to 1 month to undertake a paid activity that is directly related to their profession. For example, this UK artist visa allows for paid performances at a festival.
Some of the key points to note if you are looking to obtain a PPE Visit Visa include:
- You must have a written invitation from a UK-based creative organisation, agent or broadcaster;
- You must demonstrate that the engagement relates directly to your full-time profession;
- You must prove that you’re an established artist, entertainer or musician in your home country, for example, through recent performances, publicity materials, media coverage and reviews, awards you’ve received;
- You can stay for up to 1 month and must leave at the end of your visit;
- 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;
- Your ‘entourage’ will not qualify, and they must enter on the Creative Visit Visa or the Temporary Work Creative Worker Visa;
- The PPE UK artist 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 5 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 5 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 £26,200 per year (increasing to £38,700 on 4 April 2024) 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 (employer can cover costs for your first month);
- Applicants must be proficient in the English language at level B1;
- Have a TB test unless exempt;
- Applicants can apply for a route to settlement / indefinite leave to remain after 5 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 5 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 2-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 3 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;
- 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 3 years (exceptional talent) or 5 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 award-winning team at immigration@burnesspaull.com for expert advice and assistance on any of the above visa routes.
