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You must apply for a Temporary Work - Creative Worker visa if:

• you鈥檝e been offered work in the UK as a creative worker
• you meet the other eligibility requirements

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

This visa has replaced the Temporary Worker - Creative and Sporting visa (T5). If you鈥檙e a sportsperson, you can work in the UK with the International Sportsperson visa.

Sponsorship

You need to have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor 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

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.

As part of your application, you鈥檒l need to prove your identity and provide your documents.

You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You鈥檒l find out if you need one when you start your application.

Getting a decision

Once you鈥檝e applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you鈥檒l usually get a decision on your visa within:

• 3 weeks, if you鈥檙e outside the UK
• 8 weeks, if you鈥檙e inside the UK

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

How much it costs

You, your partner or children will each need to:

• pay the application fee
• pay the healthcare surcharge, which is usually 拢1,035 per year
• prove you have enough personal savings - check how much in the eligibility requirements

Application fee

The application fee for each person applying is 拢298.

The fee is the same whether you鈥檙e applying from inside or outside the UK.

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.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

• study (for some courses you鈥檒l 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 Skilled Worker immigration salary list for up to 20 hours per week
• bring your partner and children with you as your 鈥榙ependants鈥�, if they鈥檙e eligible

You cannot:

• get public funds
• start your own business

You need all of the following to be eligible for the creative category:

• make a unique contribution to the UK labour market, for example you鈥檙e internationally renowned or are required for continuity
• certificate of sponsorship reference number
• be paid the minimum salary as set by , or (except for models, musicians or circuses)
• enough money to support yourself in the UK - you鈥檒l usually need to have at least 拢1,270 available (unless you鈥檙e exempt)

Your employer must make sure your job pays at least the minimum wage and follows the UK rules for how many hours a week you work. If your employer does not do this, your application will be refused.

Certificate of sponsorship

You need a licensed sponsor to give you a certificate of sponsorship before you can apply to work in the UK.

A certificate of sponsorship is a reference number which holds information about the job and your personal details. It鈥檚 not an actual certificate or paper document.

Your sponsor will give you your certificate of sponsorship reference number.

They must also give you some other information to help you to apply, for example how much you鈥檒l be paid.

Changing your sponsor

You must apply again and meet all the eligibility rules if you want to change your sponsor within the same organisation or move to a new organisation.

Changing your sponsor does not change how long you can stay in the UK. You can only stay the maximum length of time allowed by this visa.

Multiple jobs when you鈥檙e a creative worker

Your sponsor can give you a certificate that covers the entire length of your stay, even if you need to perform at more than one engagement. If you鈥檙e working for more than one sponsor, you can get a聽 certificate from each sponsor.

There cannot be a gap of more than 14 days between each job. If you leave the UK and come back, your time away will not count towards those 14 days.

Money to support yourself

You must have at least 拢1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.

You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.

You鈥檒l usually need to show proof of this when you apply, unless either:

• you鈥檝e been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months
• your employer can cover your costs during your first month in the UK, up to 拢1,270

Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they鈥檙e in the UK. Check how much they鈥檒l need.

Read the guidance on financial evidence for more information about the money you need and how to prove it.

If your employer can support you instead

Your certificate of sponsorship must confirm this. Your employer will need to complete the 鈥榮ponsor certifies maintenance鈥� section on your certificate. This is under 鈥楢dditional data鈥�.

When you apply, you鈥檒l need to provide:

• your certificate of sponsorship reference number - your employer will give you this
• a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality
• evidence that you have enough personal savings to support yourself in the UK, for example bank statements (unless your certificate of sponsorship shows your employer can support you)
• proof of your relationship with your partner or children if they鈥檙e applying with you
• your tuberculosis test results if you鈥檙e from a country where you have to take the test

You need a blank page in your passport for your visa.

You鈥檒l need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.

Read the full guidance before you apply.

Apply from outside the UK

You must for this visa.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

You鈥檒l either:

• use the 鈥楿K Immigration: ID Check鈥� app to scan your identity document - you鈥檒l also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
• have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a visa application centre

You鈥檒l be told what you need to do when you apply.

If you do need an appointment:

• the centre may need to keep your passport and documents while they process your application
• you may have to travel to get to your nearest visa application centre (this could be in another country)

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

Apply from inside the UK

You can only extend your existing visa if you鈥檙e already in the UK.

Your partner and children can also apply to join you or stay in the UK as your 鈥榙ependants鈥� if they鈥檙e eligible.

If your partner or child鈥檚 application is successful, their visa will usually end on the same date as yours. If a child鈥檚 parents have visas with different expiry dates, the child鈥檚 visa will end on the earlier date.

A dependant partner or child is any of the following:

• your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner
• your child under 18 - including if they were born in the UK during your stay
• your child over 18 if they currently have permission (鈥榣eave to enter鈥� or 鈥榣eave to remain鈥�) to be in the UK as your dependant

You鈥檒l need to provide evidence of your relationship to your dependant when you apply.

Your partner

You must be able to prove one of the following:

• you鈥檙e in a civil partnership or marriage that鈥檚 recognised in the UK
• you鈥檝e been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply
• you鈥檝e been in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply but you cannot live together, for example because you鈥檙e working or studying in different places, or it鈥檚 not accepted in your culture

If you鈥檙e not living together, you鈥檒l need to prove that you have an ongoing commitment to each other, for example by providing evidence that you:

• communicate regularly with each other
• support each other financially
• care for any children you have together
• spend time together as a couple, for example on holiday or at events

Your child

They must:

• live with you, unless they鈥檙e living away from home in full-time education - for example, at boarding school or university
• not be married or in a civil partnership

You鈥檒l need to provide evidence of their address, such as:

• a bank statement
• credit card bills
• driving licence
• NHS registration document
• an official letter from their university or college

Money they need to support themselves

Your partner and children must have a certain amount of money available to support themselves while they鈥檙e in the UK.

You - or your partner or child - will need:

• 拢285 for your partner
• 拢315 for one child
• 拢200 for each additional child

You - or your partner or child - will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of you or them applying for this visa.

You鈥檒l usually need to show proof of this when they apply, unless either:

• you have all been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months
• your employer can cover your family鈥檚 costs during your first month in the UK - this must be confirmed on your certificate of sponsorship

If your partner or child is applying at a different time to you, they鈥檒l only need to prove they have enough money to support themselves if they have been in the UK for less than 1 year.

Apply from outside the UK

Your partner and children must either:

Each family member will need to complete a separate application and pay the visa fee.

They鈥檒l also need your application number - you鈥檒l get this when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You鈥檒l find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.

Proving their identity

As part of their application, your partner and children will need to prove their identity.

They鈥檒l either:

• use the 鈥楿K Immigration: ID Check鈥� app to scan their identity document - they鈥檒l also create or sign in to their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
• have their fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a visa application centre

They鈥檒l be told what they need to do when they apply.

If they do need an appointment:

• the visa application centre may need to keep their passport and documents while they process their application
• they may have to travel to get to their nearest centre (this could be in another country)

How long it takes to get a decision

Once they鈥檝e applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they鈥檒l usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

They may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

Apply from inside the UK (extend or switch their visa)

If you extend your visa, your partner or child鈥檚 current visa will still be valid until its original end date. Your partner or child need to apply to extend or switch their visa, either:

• at the same time as you
• at any time before their current visa expires

This includes children who have turned 18 during your stay. Your partner or children cannot apply to switch to your visa as your dependants if they are currently in the UK:

• on a visit visa
• on a short-term student visa
• on a Parent of a Child Student visa
• on a seasonal worker visa
• on a domestic worker in a private household visa
• on immigration bail
• because they were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds

If your partner or child is currently in the UK on a Student visa, they can only switch if they have either:

• completed the course they were sponsored to study
• studied for a PhD for at least 24 months

How to apply

The application form will tell you if you can include your partner and children in your application or whether they need to apply separately.

If your partner or child apply separately, they鈥檒l need to either:

They鈥檒l need your application number - you鈥檒l get this when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You鈥檒l find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.

Proving their identity

As part of their application, your partner and children will need to prove their identity.

They鈥檒l either:

• use the 鈥楿K Immigration: ID Check鈥� app to scan their identity document - they鈥檒l also create or sign in to their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
• have their fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point

How long it takes to get a decision

Once they鈥檝e applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they鈥檒l usually get a decision within 8 weeks.

They may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

Children born in the UK

If you have a child while you鈥檙e in the UK, they do not automatically become a British citizen.

You must apply for your child鈥檚 dependant visa if you want to travel in and out of the UK with them.

The form you fill in depends on if:

You鈥檒l need to provide a full UK birth certificate for each child, showing the names of both parents.

What your partner or child can and cannot do

Your partner or child can:

• work, except as a sportsperson or coach
• study
• travel abroad and return to the UK

They cannot apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension.

If their application is successful, they鈥檒l get a full list of what they can and cannot do.

You can apply to extend your Temporary Work - Creative Worker visa.

You cannot extend your stay if you鈥檝e used the Creative Worker visa concession to enter the UK.

Eligibility

You must continue to meet the eligibility rules.

You must be in the UK to extend your visa.

How long you can stay

If you are changing sponsors, you can extend your visa for whichever is the shortest of:

• the time on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days
• the time needed to extend your stay to the maximum of 12 months

If you are staying with the same sponsor, you can extend your visa for whichever is the shortest of:

• 12 months
• the time on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days
• the time needed to extend your stay to the maximum of 24 months

Fees

Check the fees for this visa.

You鈥檒l need to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken - there鈥檚 no fee for this.

Apply to extend your Creative Worker visa

You must apply online before your current visa expires.

Once you鈥檝e started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Continue your application

You can sign back into your application if you鈥檝e saved it.

Find out how to sign in to your account.

Your partner and children

Your partner or child鈥檚 visa will not automatically extend if you extend yours. If they do not extend their visa, it will be valid until its original end date. They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.

Providing fingerprints and a photo (biometric information) and supporting documents

As part of your application, you鈥檒l need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you鈥檙e from and what type of passport you have.

You鈥檒l either:

• use the 鈥楿K Immigration: ID Check鈥� app to scan your identity document - you鈥檒l also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
• have your fingerprints and a photo (biometric information) taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point

You鈥檒l be told what you need to do when you apply.

How long it takes

A decision will be made within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service.

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

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

You鈥檒l be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example:

• if your supporting documents need to be verified
• if you need to attend an interview
• because of your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)

If your application is successful

You鈥檒l get an eVisa (an online record of your immigration status).

Your decision email or letter will tell you how to get access to your eVisa. You鈥檒l need to create a UKVI account.

You can enter the UK without applying for a visa in advance if you:

• have a valid Temporary Work - Creative Worker certificate of sponsorship
• are coming to work in the UK for 3 months or less
• do not normally need a visa to enter the UK as a visitor

You must still meet the Temporary Work - Creative Worker visa eligibility requirements.

Your partner and children can travel with you if they also do not normally need a visa to enter the UK as a visitor.

If you鈥檙e travelling to the UK from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man

You must at least 72 hours before you arrive in the UK.

When you arrive in the UK

You must see an immigration officer when you arrive unless you have remote clearance to enter from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man.

The officer will:

• check your certificate of sponsorship is valid
• check you have enough money to support yourself - check how much in the eligibility requirements
• stamp your passport

What you can and cannot do

You can:

• study (for some courses you鈥檒l 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 Skilled Worker immigration salary list for up to 20 hours per week
• bring your partner and children with you as your 鈥榙ependants鈥�, if they鈥檙e eligible

You cannot:

• get public funds
• start your own business