Temporary Worker – Creative Worker Visa (UK)

Normally yes, but there is a concession to the Creative Worker Visa. A visa may not be required if you have a valid Creative Worker Certificate of Sponsorship and will be working for less than three months. This is provided you do not normally need a visa to enter the UK – that is, you are not a “visa national”.

You may be able to enter using the Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor visa. This allows for a visit of up to a month, provided you fulfil all necessary eligibility and suitability requirements. You should speak to a solicitor about your plans before determining whether the Creative Worker visa route or another path is the most suitable option for the type of temporary work you intend to perform while in the UK.

A spouse or civil partner and any children under 18 can apply to enter the UK under this visa, provided they meet the relevant requirements. This includes providing proof of your relationship and a maintenance requirement, which means that you must demonstrate that you have enough money in your personal savings to maintain your child during your trip. A dependent child over the age of 18, or a child who is not financially dependent on you, cannot apply through this route, but may be able to accompany you to the UK through a different valid visa route.

If your child turns 18 during your stay in the UK, they can apply from inside the UK to extend or switch their visa. Our experts can support you with any such visa application and advise you on the most suitable approach to meet your family’s desired objectives.

Provided they continue to meet eligibility requirements, Creative Worker visa holders can extend their leave to stay in the UK.

If the extension is with the same sponsor, you can do so for a total of 24 months. If you are changing sponsors, you can extend your visa up to a maximum of 12 months.

You are not able to extend your stay if you have used the Creative Worker visa concession. However, you may be able to switch to a different visa route under these circumstances. Speak to our experts to learn about the Skilled Worker visa and other alternatives to the Creative Worker route that might be applicable in your circumstances.

The application fee is £298. You will need to pay a healthcare surcharge if your visa is for more than 6 months. From February 2024, this will be £1,035 per year of visa. There is also a maintenance requirement, which means you will need to demonstrate that you have sufficient savings to maintain yourself in the UK during your stay, unless your sponsor certifies maintenance.

Our immigration solicitors can advise you on the financial requirements that will apply in your specific case, and help to give you the best chance of success when applying to perform valid temporary work in the UK.

You can apply for this visa up to three months before your expected start date, but it can take time to gather the evidence you will need to support your visa application. For this reason, we recommend you contact a legal expert at the earliest opportunity to discuss your options and ensure your application has the best chance for success.

The time it takes to apply for a Creative Worker visa varies according to several factors, including the country from which you are applying, which means there is no standard timeframe for the application process. For example, you will need to provide documents that prove your identity, which can often be done online. However, in some circumstances, you may be asked to bring these to an appointment at a visa application centre, which can delay the process.

Once you have made your application and submitted the necessary documents to prove your identity, you should receive a decision within three weeks if you are applying from outside the UK. If you are applying from within the UK, the decision may take up to eight weeks.

There are several types of documents you may be asked to provide to support your Temporary Work – Creative Worker visa application. These will be needed to demonstrate your eligibility for the visa and prove your identity. You may be asked to submit documents online or to bring them to an appointment at a visa application centre.

The documents you will need include:

• A passport, to show your nationality and prove your identity
• Bank statements or other documents to show you can support yourself financially
• A certificate of sponsorship reference number
• A valid tuberculosis test certificate, if you are applying from a country where this is required

If family members are applying with you, you may also need to provide proof of your relationship to support the application.

The documents you will need to apply for a Creative Worker visa can differ based on a variety of factors, and it is not always clear. To give yourself the best chance of success with your application, speak to the team at Latitude Law. Our expert immigration solicitors can aid you to find the visa route that will best suit your needs, help you to navigate the application process, and give you the best chance of success in securing a UK visa.