The Creative Visit Visa falls under the Standard Visitor route and is designed for amateur and professional artists, entertainers, musicians, as well as their personal and technical support staff.

This visa allows individuals to engage in permitted unpaid creative activities in the UK for a maximum period of 6 months.

This route does not offer a pathway to settlement in the UK, and each visitor must submit a separate application, even if traveling as part of a group.

Creative Visit Visa Requirements

To be eligible for a Creative Visit Visa, you must demonstrate to UK Visas & Immigration that:

• You hold a visa for entry into the UK (a non-visa national can typically enter as a Visitor upon arrival at the UK border)
• You are genuinely intending to enter the UK for a purpose allowed by the visitor routes
• You will not engage in any prohibited activities
• You have enough funds to cover all reasonable costs related to your visit (including travel, living, and accommodation expenses) without working or using public funds
• You will depart the UK at the conclusion of your visit
• You will not reside in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or establish the UK as your primary residence
• Your application does not meet the criteria for refusal under the general grounds for refusal
• You have obtained an Electronic Travel Authorisation, if necessary.

The specific criteria you must meet may differ based on your individual situation. It may be beneficial to consult with an immigration solicitor for professional guidance.

Requirement for Visa Nationals

A visa national is an individual who, due to their nationality, needs a Visit Visa to enter the UK as a Visitor. Visa nationals are generally required to apply for a Visit Visa before traveling to the UK.

The Home Office has released a list of nationalities that must obtain a Visit Visa before traveling to the UK as a Visitor. This list contains some exceptions, which permit certain visa nationals to apply for entry as a Visitor upon arrival in the UK.

Non-visa nationals can typically apply for entry as a Visitor upon arrival in the UK. However, non-visa nationals must still meet the requirements for entry as a Visitor and should be prepared to explain, for instance, the purpose of their visit, how they will support themselves and find accommodation in the UK, and their return travel plans upon arrival.

EU citizens are considered non-visa nationals and can enter the UK as a Visitor upon arrival without needing to apply for a Visit Visa.

In addition to assisting visa nationals with Visit Visa applications, our barristers regularly help non-visa nationals meet the requirements for entry as a Visitor upon arrival in the UK.

Visa for Artists, Entertainers, and Musicians Visiting

An individual is considered an artist if they come to the UK to engage in an activity related to the arts, such as literature, performing arts, visual arts, or culinary arts. This category encompasses a wide range of professions, including poets, film crew (including those working on online media platforms like YouTube), photographers, designers, artists, musicians, writers, and conductors. Both amateur and professional artists are eligible for a Creative Visit Visa.

An artist is someone who comes to the UK to participate in activities connected to the entertainment industry, including dancers, comedians, circus performers, film crew members, or competitors in e-sport tournaments.

Personnel and Technical Team

Individuals such as choreographers, stage managers, make-up artists, personal bodyguards, and press officers who are part of the artist, entertainer, or musician's personal or technical staff and are accompanying them to an event may be eligible for a Creative Visit Visa if they are employed to work for the artist, entertainer, or musician outside of the UK.

Activities Allowed on Creative Visitor Visa

In order to qualify for a Creative Visit Visa, you are required to show UK Visas & Immigration that you genuinely plan to visit the UK for a reason permitted by the visitor routes and will not participate in any prohibited activities.

Artists, entertainers, and musicians are allowed to participate in the following approved activities with authorization as a Creative Visitor:

• You can choose to work independently or collaborate with a group.
• Participate in contests or tryouts
• Engage in public appearances and participate in marketing campaigns
• Participate in one or more cultural gatherings or festivals listed as Permit Free Festivals

Film crew members (such as actors, producers, directors, or technicians) working for a foreign company are eligible to travel to the UK on a Creative Visit Visa in order to participate in a location shoot for a film, program, or other media project that is funded and produced abroad.

The Creative Visit Visa falls under the Standard Visitor route, allowing Creative Visitors to participate in additional activities permitted by the Standard Visitor route. This encompasses permitted paid engagements, as long as the engagement is pre-arranged prior to entering the UK and is concluded within 30 days of arrival in the UK.

Intention to Leave the UK Requirement for a Creative Visit Visa

When applying for a Creative Visit Visa, you must demonstrate to the Home Office that you have a genuine reason for entering the UK, meet all eligibility criteria, and intend to depart the country after your visit without residing in the UK for prolonged periods or establishing it as your primary residence.

In evaluating your request, the Home Office will take into account various aspects such as:

• Your immigration background, encompassing trips to the UK and other nations;
• Your financial situation, along with your family, social, and economic upbringing;
• Your connections, both personal and economic, to your current country of residence.

The Home Office may question the authenticity of your visit if you have limited or no family and financial connections to your home country, but have multiple family members in the UK, if you have previously tried to mislead the Home Office in an immigration application, and if there are inconsistencies between your statements and those of your sponsor.

Financial Requirement for Creative Visitor Visa

You must have enough money to pay for all reasonable expenses related to your visit (such as travel, living, and accommodation costs) without needing to work or use public funds.

Your funds must be kept in an authorized financial institution.

A third party may cover your travel, living, and accommodation expenses if they have a genuine professional or personal relationship with you, are not violating immigration laws, and can support you during your entire visit as a Visitor.

English Language Proficiency Requirement for Creative Visitor Visa

Creative Visit Visa applicants are not required to meet an English language proficiency standard.

Duration of Creative Visit Visa

Should you wish to embark on a Creative Visit to the UK, you may choose to apply for a Visit Visa with durations of 6 months, 2 years, 5 years, or 10 years.

You are allowed to travel in and out of the UK several times while your Visit Visa is valid, unless it is specifically marked for single or dual entry.

Please ensure that each visit to the UK does not surpass 6 months.

Creative Visit Visa with Employment Privileges

Creative Visitors are not allowed to engage in work in the UK or receive payment from a UK source for any activities carried out in the UK, except for certain cases. This means that they cannot take up employment, start or manage a business as a self-employed individual, work for an organization or company in the UK, participate in a work placement or internship in the UK, or offer goods or services in the UK.

Nonetheless, artists, entertainers, and musicians visiting the UK can be paid for their performances at one or more of the festivals listed on the Permit Free Festival list.

As the Creative Visit Visa falls under the Standard Visitor route, Creative Visitors may also participate in other activities permitted under the Standard Visitor route. This encompasses taking part in approved paid commitments, on the condition that the paid commitment is organized prior to traveling to the UK and is concluded within 30 days of arrival in the UK.

While in the UK, Creative Visitors are allowed to work remotely, but remote work should not be the main purpose of their visit. The primary reason for visiting the UK should be to engage in a permitted activity, rather than specifically to work remotely from the UK.

Creative Visitors are also allowed to come to the UK to look for employment and attend job interviews. However, if they secure a job, they are expected to leave the UK and apply for the appropriate entry clearance before starting work.

Application fees for Creative Visit Visa

The current fee for a Creative Visit Visa for a short stay of up to 6 months is £115. If you opt for a visa valid for 2 years, the fee will be £400. For a 5-year visa, the fee is £771, and for a 10-year visa, the fee is £963.