The Creative Worker Visa is a temporary visa and it allows creative workers to come to the UK for up to twelve months. If an overseas national has been offered work in the UK, the creative worker visa will give them permission to undertake work in the UK for their sponsor. The sponsor could be an agent, a producer, a promoter or promotion company, a production company, a media organization or an events organizer.

The Home Office define creative workers as persons who can make a unique contribution to the UK’s rich cultural life, for example, as an entertainer, musician, dancer or actor, and can include any technical and support staff, known as their entourage. The Creative Worker route also includes anyone working as a model, contributing to the UK’s fashion industry.

How long does a creative worker work in the UK?

A Creative Work visa may be issued for a maximum of 12 months, or the period of time specified on the applicant's Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) plus up to 28 days, whichever is shorter.

However, if a non-visa national intends to work in the UK for less than three months, they may be eligible for the Creative Worker visa concession. A person can enter the United Kingdom without applying for a visa in advance if they have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from an approved Creative Worker route sponsor, provided they do not normally require a visa to enter the UK as a creative visitor. However, if they make use of this concession, they cannot extend their stay under the Creative Worker Visa route.

How to qualify for the Creative Worker Visa

To qualify for a Creative Worker visa or the Creative Worker visa concession, the applicant must meet various eligibility requirements, such as:

• They are genuinely intending, and are able, to do the role for which they are being sponsored, and are not planning to undertake any other employment, except as permitted
• They must be able to show that they will make a unique contribution to the UK’s labour market, for example, that they are internationally renowned or are required for continuity
• They must be paid the minimum salary as set by the relevant union, such as Equity, PACT or BECTU, or otherwise commensurate with industry standards
• They must have a valid CoS from an approved UK sponsor

Maintenance Requirement

The applicants have to fulfil a maintenance requirement. They have to have enough money to support themselves in the UK. There are exemptions in cases where their employer will be supporting the applicants. The employer has to indicate this support on the certificate of sponsorship.

Switching to the Creative Worker Visa

It is possible to switch to the Creative Worker Visa from within the UK under the following circumstances:

• An applicant is currently in the UK with a Permitted Paid Engagement visa; and
• An applicant is doing activities that are permitted in the creative sector; and
• The UK sponsor gave them a Certificate of Sponsorship before they came to the UK.

An application should be made before the visa expires to switch to this route.

Dependant family members on the Creative Worker Visa 

Family members can be accompanied to come to the UK. The Home Office defines a partner and dependants as follows: 

• A husband or wife, civil partner or unmarried partner
• Children under the age of 18 years old
• Any children over the age of 18 years old provided they are currently in the UK as the applicant’s dependants

The dependant family members will also need to satisfy the maintenance requirement in the UK.

Indefinite Leave to Remain

As the Creative Worker Visa is a temporary visa, it does not lead to settlement in the UK. However, the visa provides a valuable opportunity for creative workers to live and work in the UK temporarily.

Our legal team have experience assisting creative professionals and their retinue in a variety of fields. Our legal professionals can assist you in meeting your start date and aligning your career progression with your immigration goals.



We take pride in being approachable and proactive in understanding and meeting the demands of our clients. We are a highly motivated team committed to providing artists, performers, musicians, entertainers, and models with clear and dependable immigration advice as part of a professional and friendly service.

If you are interested in applying for the Creative Worker Visa, please contact us on 020 3865 6219 or leave a message.