Which Visa will you need to perform/work in the UK?

So you want to perform or get creative over in the UK, where do you start?! If you’re fortunate enough to be offered creative or performance work in the UK, there are currently a few routes available to you:

Option one is Permitted paid engagement (PPE, Under the visit category) - This is a short-term easy option for visits up to 1 month. It covers all performance related activities, and to apply you’ll need both a formal invitation and proof that the activity relates to the applicants full time profession. There’s no fee for this, which is great, but the admission is decided by UK border when you attempt to enter. Generally this is trouble-free, but there’s always the chance that you could be denied entry and no one wants to get stuck at the border!

The reason for your visit must be related to your full time profession / You’ll need a formal invitation / There’s a low risk of being turned away at the border / 1 month stay

Another option is Permit Free festivals (PFF) - Another entry route available is by getting yourself a gig at a major festival! This will grant you up to a 6 month stay in the UK, sounds good right? To apply you will need an all-important letter of invitation from the Festival which must be large and well established (think Glastonbury or Nomad) and although you are allowed to stay for up to 6 months, you are not allowed to perform any other kind of paid work aside from Permit free festivals. So, if you have a summer of festivals lined up and you’d like to holiday in the UK this could be the perfect option, but if you’re looking to tour the UK this is not the route for you.

You need an invite from a major festival / Not allowed to work aside from at PFF’s / Medium term stay up to 6 months

Temporary work via the Creative worker route - This route has had a recent rebranding and was originally known as Tier Five, creative and sporting. This is a longer term option initially valid up to 12 months, and if you’re lucky enough to be a non-visa national (EU, Europe etc.) then up to 3 of those months won’t need a Visa. Employment must be continuous, with no gaps of more than 14 days, unless the gaps are taken outside of the UK. You will need a CoS (certificate of sponsorship) issued by a licensed employer or sponsor (this means that they must be registered with the Government). Pssst, we offer this service too!

You must have continuous employment / You’ll need a CoS/ Longer term up to 12 months

There is also the Golden ticket for all creatives to enter the UK - a Global Talent Visa! There will be more on this option in the next blog, so keep your eyes peeled…

What if you’re a non-visa/ visa national?

If you are from a Country that requires a Visa (Entry clearance) to enter the UK (e.g Nigeria) you are a visa national. This means that in addition to the above documentation for each route, you will also require a VISA. This will mean attending an appointment before you leave your home country in order to be issued a Visa, this process can take up to three weeks depending not the service you choose and where you’re applying from so be sure to leave enough time before your intended departure! If you haven’t left enough time, get in contact with us as there are sometimes ways to expedite the process.

If you are a non-Visa national (eg. from the US or EU) you won’t require a Visa in addition to any of the above 3 routes. The UK website is a little misleading on this, as upon first glance it seems that everyone entering via the above routes will need entry clearance. This is not the case! Check whether you will need a Visa using the government site here: Check if you need a Visa here

What is entry clearance?

Don’t be tripped up by terminology! The British government calls Visas ‘Entry Clearance’, so whenever you see this term remember that they are interchangeable words!

Viva la Visa can help with any of the above, we are registered with a sponsor license and can commission CoS’s on your behalf. We are able to act as your sponsor, communicate on your behalf with embassies and are registered with the OISC. From start to finish, we can facilitate your Visas (entry clearance) and take care of any issues along the way! Reach out to one of our specialists on: hello@vivalavisa.co.uk