Creative and Sporting Temporary Visas

Temporary Worker - Creative and Sporting Visa (Tier Five)

You must apply for a Tier Five (Temporary Worker - Creative and Sporting) visa if:

You will still need to apply for this visa if you are travelling to the UK from Ireland and you are from outside the EEA and Switzerland.

A creative worker is someone who works in the creative industry, for example an actor, dancer, musician or film crew member.

Sponsorship

You need to have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed employer before you can apply to come to the UK to work.

The work you do in the UK must relate to the work of your sponsor organisation.

How long it takes

The earliest you can apply for a visa is three months before the date you are due to start work. This date is on your certificate of sponsorship.

You should get a decision on your visa within three weeks when you apply from outside the UK.

Fees

How much you pay for a visa depends on what you are applying for.

Who you are applying for - You

Fee - £244

Who you are applying for - If you are a citizen of Turkey or Macedonia

Fee - £189

Who you are applying for - All dependants

Fee - £244 each

Healthcare Surcharge

You will also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you will have to pay before you apply.

If you are applying to extend or switch in the UK

You will need to pay £19.20 to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken.

Get a faster decision on your application

If you are applying to extend or switch in the UK you can pay an extra £500 for the priority service to get a decision within five working days.

You can pay an extra £800 for the super priority service to get a decision:

  • by the end of the next working day after providing your biometric information if your appointment is on a weekday

  • two working days after providing your biometric information if your appointment is at the weekend

Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays.

Once you have got your decision letter, your biometric residence permit will take up to ten working days to arrive.

How long you can stay

You can come to the UK for a maximum of up to 12 months, or the time given in your certificate of sponsorship plus up to 28 days, whichever is shorter.

You may be able to extend your visa.

Your stay must start no more than 14 days before the start date on your certificate of sponsorship.

If you intend to work in the UK for three months or less, you may be able to use the Tier five (Temporary Worker - Creative and Sporting) concession instead of applying for the visa.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

  • study (for some courses you will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate)

  • work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship

  • do a second job in the same sector and at the same level as your main job for up to 20 hours per week

  • do a job on the shortage occupation list for up to 20 hours per week

  • work as a sportsperson for your national team while it is playing in a British University and College Sport (BUCS) competition

  • work as a sports broadcaster

  • bring your family

You cannot:

See Also:

For Further Information: