The UK Creative Worker route which replaced the Temporary Worker - Creative and Sporting visa (T5) is for foreign nationals who want to come to the UK to work within the creative sector.
A Creative Worker is a person who works in the creative industry and can uniquely contribute to the rich cultural life of the United Kingdom, for example, as an artist, entertainer, a film crew member, dancer, or musician, or as a model contributing to the fashion industry of the UK.
The applicant can be granted an initial permission for up to 12 months, and they can also apply to extend their permission to stay up to 2 years as long as they are still working for the same sponsor.
A partner and/or children of the Creative Worker can apply as dependants on this route.
The Creative Worker visa is not a route to ILR or settlement in the UK.
The applicant applying to obtain entry clearance to the UK or permission to stay here as a Creative Worker must apply online on gov.uk using the specified application form.
EEA (European Economic Area) nationals with a chipped passport (also called an e-passport or biometric passport) will have to apply as a temporary worker using the "UK Immigration: ID Check” app or the “Temporary Worker visa” form, if they apply from outside the UK, or “Temporary Worker’ form, if they apply from inside the UK.
Other applicants applying from outside the UK will have to apply using the “Temporary Worker visa” form, and applicants applying from inside the UK will have to apply using the form “Temporary Worker”.
An application for obtaining entry clearance or permission to stay as a Creative Worker must meet all the following requirements:
(a) Any visa application fee and IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) must have been paid;
(b) The applicant must have enrolled their biometric information when required;
(c) The applicant must have given a valid passport/other travel document to establish their nationality and identity;
(d) The applicant must have a CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) issued to them no more than 3 months before the date of their application;
Those applying for permission to stay must fulfil the above conditions plus the following:
(a) They must be in the UK at the time of application.
(b) They must have, or have last had, permission as a Creative Worker.
An application that fails to fulfil all the validity requirements for the Creative Worker route (mentioned above) may be rejected as invalid and not considered.
The applicant must not fall for refusal under the Immigration Rules - Part Suitability.
Those applying for permission to stay must not be:
(a) in breach of UK immigration laws, except that where the section called “Exceptions for overstayers” under the Immigration Rules - Part Suitability applies; or
(b) on immigration bail.
The applicant will need to have all of the following in order to be eligible for the Creative Worker category:
make a unique contribution to the creative life/labour market in the UK,
have a CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) reference number
be paid the minimum salary as set by approved UK creative-sector bodies called Equity, PACT, or BECTU (except for musicians, models, or circuses)
unless exempt, they must have sufficient money (at least £1,270) available to support themselves in the UK
The applicant must not be filling a permanent position, including on a temporary basis.
The applicant must have got CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship) from their employer, who must be an approved A- rated sponsor, unless they were last granted permission as a Creative Worker in the UK and are applying to continue working for the same sponsor as in their last permission.
CoS is a reference number that holds information about the job offered to the applicant (for example, job start date and the salary) and their personal details.
The applicant will need their CoS reference number from their employer. This reference number needs to be added to the Creative Worker visa application form. The applicant can only use it once.
A CoS stays valid for 3 months from the date of being assigned to the applicant.
Changing sponsor
The applicant must apply again and fulfil all the eligibility conditions in order to change their sponsor either within the same organisation or move to a new organisation.
Changing the sponsor does not change the length of time the applicant can stay in the UK, which means they can only stay the maximum length of time allowed by the Creative Worker visa.
Multiple jobs as a creative worker
The applicant’s sponsor can give them a CoS that covers the applicant's entire length of stay in the UK, even if they are required to perform at more than one engagement. Those working for more than one sponsor can get a CoS from each of their sponsors.
Between each job, there must not be a gap of more than 14 days. If the applicant leaves the UK and comes back, their time outside the UK will not count towards those 14 days.
The applicant must have £1,270 or more (held for a 28-day period) on the date of application, or their sponsor must confirm on the CoS that they will, if it is necessary, maintain and accommodate the applicant for the first month of their employment for at least £1,270.
Those who, on the date of their application, have been residing in the UK with a valid UK visa for 12 months or more are not required to show proof of this fund.
The applicant’s sponsor must ensure they are sponsoring the applicant to do a job that complies with the National Minimum Wage Regulations and follow the UK rules for how many hours a week the applicant works (as per the Working Time Regulations). If the applicant’s employer is unable to satisfy the decision maker on this, the applicant will have their application refused.
Applicants must get entry clearance before coming to the UK. However, the applicant can enter the UK without an entry clearance if they are a non-visa national, in which case they will usually need an ETA to travel to the UK and are seeking entry to work in the UK for a period of 3 months or less under the Creative Worker route visa concession.
Applicants must fulfil all the eligibility criteria listed above, including having a previously arranged CoS from an approved sponsor, which is then activated at the border.
The applicant will be required to provide:
Their CoS reference number – this will be given by their sponsor
Their valid passport (with a blank page in it) or other travel document showing their identity and nationality
Evidence such as bank statements that shows the applicant has sufficient savings to support themselves in the UK (unless their CoS shows their employer/sponsor can support them)
Proof of their TB (Tuberculosis) test results if they are from a country where they have to take this test
The applicant may be asked to submit extra documents by the UKVI.
Any documents that are not in English or Welsh must be submitted with a certified translation.
The applicant must apply online, and no more than 3 months before the day they are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on their CoS (Certificate of Sponsorship).
They will have to prove their identity as part of their Creative Worker visa application. Depending on where they are from and what type of passport they hold they will have their biometric information (fingerprints and facial photograph) taken at a VAC (Visa Application Centre) or they can use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan their identity document – they will also create their UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) account or sign into their existing UKVI account.
On the appointment date, the applicant will need to carry their passport to the VAC. They will be able to collect it the same day.
The applicant will need to pay the visa application fee of £319 and an immigration health charge, which is usually £1,035 per year.
The applicant can upload their documents along with their online application or have them scanned at the VAC (if attending an appointment to enrol their biometrics).
The applicant must apply online from within the UK before their current Creative Worker visa expires.
They will have to prove their identity as part of their Creative Worker visa application. Depending on where they are from and what type of passport they hold, they will have their biometric information (fingerprints and facial photograph) taken at a UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service) service point or they can use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan their identity document – they will also create their UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) account or sign into their existing UKVI account.
The applicant will need to pay the visa application fee of £319 and an immigration health charge, which is usually £1,035 per year.
The applicant can upload their documents along with their online application or have them scanned at the UKVCAS (if attending an appointment to enrol their biometrics).
After having applied online, proving identity, and providing the documents, the applicant will normally get a decision on their application for entry clearance within 3 weeks, and those who have applied for their Creative Worker visa extension will normally get a decision within 8 weeks.
If the decision maker is completely satisfied that the applicant has fulfilled all the suitability and eligibility criteria for a Creative Worker route, the application will be approved; otherwise, the application will be refused.
The applicant can come to the UK for up to 12 months, or the time stated in their CoS plus up to 28 days, whichever is shorter.
If the applicant is applying for an extension where they are changing their sponsor, they can extend their visa for the time on their CoS plus 14 days or the time needed to extend their stay to a maximum of 12 months, whichever is shorter.
If the applicant is staying with the same sponsor, they can extend their visa 12 months, the time mentioned on their CoS plus 14 days, or the time required to extend their stay to a maximum of 24 months, whichever is shorter.
The applicant’s stay in the UK must start up to 14 days prior to their job’s start date stated on their CoS
Those intending to work in the UK for 3 months or less may be able to use the Creative Worker Visa concession instead of applying for the Creative Worker visa.
A Creative Worker's partner (spouse or civil partner) and children can also apply to join them (entry clearance) or stay (permission to stay) in the UK as their ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible.
In this situation, the Creative Worker will be required to give documentary evidence of their relationship with their dependent partner and dependent children. For example, a marriage/civil partnership certificate for the partner and a birth certificate for a child.
If the visa of the dependent partner and child of a Creative Worker is successful, it will usually end on the same date as the primary applicant (the Creative Worker). A child’s visa will end on the earlier date if their parents' visa expiry dates are different.
The partner and children applying as dependents must also have a required amount of money to support themselves in the UK.
The applicant - or their partner or child - will need:
£285 for their partner
£315 for one child
£200 for each additional child
Business immigration lawyers at Visa and Migration have expertise and experience in assisting UK-based employers and migrant creative workers across a variety of creative industries and in companies of all sizes in the UK. If you are an employer, we can help you with applying for and obtaining a Temporary Worker sponsor licence for the purpose of sponsoring a Creative Worker, and if you are already an approved sponsor, we make sure that you fulfil your sponsor duties before, during, and after sponsoring a creative worker.
On the other hand, if you are a Creative Worker, we help in assessing and ensuring you fulfil the eligibility requirements for this visa, meet your job’s start date, and ensure that your career progression aligns smoothly with your immigration goals.
For expert advice and queries, you can call us at +44 (0)20 3411 1261 or write at info@visaandmigration.com
This is a temporary UK visa allowing overseas workers to work in the creative industries in the UK.
A creative person, such as an artist, entertainer, or musician, with an eligible job offer and sponsorship from an approved sponsor in the UK.
You can come to the UK for up to 12 months, or the time mentioned in your CoS plus up to 28 days, whichever is shorter.
No, you cannot switch to this route from within the UK.
Yes, you can, if they are eligible.
Yes, but you must have a new CoS from the same or a new approved sponsor.
Yes, you are allowed to bring your partner and child on this route.
Usually, it takes about 3 weeks after the application submission from outside the UK and 8 weeks after the submission from within the UK.
You can apply for an administrative review.
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