What Are the Requirements for Creative Worker Visa?
The Creative Worker visa was introduced in the UK in Spring 2022 to replace the former Temporary Worker visa – Creative and Sporting. Many of the requirements for the visa remain the same, however, the process is slightly easier now that the two types of temporary visa have been separated.
Despite this, applying for UK visas can be a painstaking process, gathering the right documents, providing sufficient evidence and paying various fees, not to mention ensuring your job fits into the specific visa category you’re applying for and ensuring all of the conditions are met. Keep reading to learn what the requirements are for the Creative Worker Visa.
Creative Worker Visa Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for a Creative Worker visa in the UK, the most important factor you need is a job offer from an approved sponsor within the UK. The sponsor must meet a separate list of eligibility requirements to be approved by the Home Office to employ foreign nationals, so a friend or family member cannot bring you to the UK to work for them without having first been given a sponsorship licence by the UK government.
To be considered a creative worker, there isn’t a specified list of job titles as there is with the Skilled Worker visa, but creative work can include:
- Actors
- Musicians
- Dancers
- Film crews
- Models
- Circus performers
This list shows that creative workers are essentially anyone involved in the performing arts. Artists, sculptors and painters are not included in the list of creative workers, however, there are some artistic jobs listed in the eligible jobs for the Skilled Worker visa.
As well as having a job offer from an approved sponsor in a creative industry, each candidate for the Creative Worker visa must also:
- Provide a valid (not expired) passport or other identity document with your date of birth and nationality
- Have a certificate of sponsorship reference number from their prospective employer
- Prove their skills are unique, necessary and will contribute to the UK economy
- Prove they will be paid a minimum wage according to industry standards
- Prove they have sufficient funds to support them on their first month in the UK
A certificate of sponsorship reference number will be used by the Home Office to see the conditions of your prospective employment within the UK such as the nature of your role, your proposed salary and working hours. You will not receive a paper certificate from your prospective employer, just a reference number to use in your application.
Sufficient funds are considered by the government to be at least £1,270 to cover your living costs, such as your first month’s rent, food and other activities for your first month in the UK. If your employer will cover these costs for you, you don’t need to show this sum in your bank account, but it must be clearly stated and proved on your certificate of sponsorship.
You may also have to provide:
- Evidence of your relationship with your dependants or partner if you’re applying together
- Evidence of you having a tuberculosis vaccination or negative tuberculosis test result if necessary from your country
Can You Bring Your Family to the UK on a Creative Worker Visa?
Although it’s a temporary work visa, you can bring your close family members with you to the UK on a Creative Worker visa. Close family refers to your partner or spouse, or children under 18 or non-independent children. Non-independent means those who have not moved away from home and do not earn their own living or are married.
You cannot bring siblings, parents or extended family with you to the UK on a Creative Worker visa, however, there are other visas that may be applicable if you are the only person who can care for an adult dependant and you can prove it’s necessary for the family member to accompany you.
Who Can Sponsor a Creative Worker Visa?
To sponsor any kind of visa in the UK, you must meet certain eligibility requirements to receive a sponsorship licence from the Home Office. The licence is valid for up to 4 years, however, it will be reassessed each year and can be revoked immediately if you no longer meet the requirements stipulated in your initial agreement.
To sponsor a Creative Worker visa, you must:
- Pay the application fee
- Prove you have a department dedicated to overseeing your foreign employees
- Have a background check to determine if you or your company have committed any serious crimes, financial crimes or immigration crimes.
If you don’t meet any of these requirements, you will not be permitted to sponsor a foreign national to work for your business in the UK.
How Much Is the Creative Worker Visa?
The Creative Worker visa costs £259 to apply from inside or outside the UK. However, you can only apply from inside the UK if you’re changing from a different visa or extending your visa. You can only extend a temporary visa up to a maximum of 24 months.
However, this is not the only fee you must pay to receive the Creative Worker visa. You and any dependants who come to the UK with you must each pay the immigration health surcharge of £624 in order to access NHS services. Most NHS services in the UK are free at the point of use, with the exception of dentistry and prescriptions, which are heavily subsidised but not free for most British people.
Even if you have a disability or meet the other requirements to receive free prescriptions or dental care in the UK, as a foreign national you are not permitted to receive any financial benefits from the state so you will still have to pay the charges. It’s also possible to receive private healthcare in the UK, however, even if you have private insurance or don’t use the NHS while you’re in the UK, you must pay the health surcharge when completing your Creative Worker visa application.
Is There an Age Limit for UK Visas?
There is no maximum age limit for UK work visas, however, you must be over 18 to gain employment in the UK as a foreign national. British residents can start work over the age of 16, but there are limits on the number of hours they’re permitted to work and a different minimum wage. Over 18s are considered adults so their employment must align with adult working condition specifications in the UK, but there is no upper limit on who can work provided they have the physical and mental capacity to perform the job in question.
How Do You Get British Citizenship?
To be eligible for British citizenship, you must have been living in the UK for 5 years on a valid visa and had settled status, also known as permanent residency or indefinite leave to remain (ILR) for at least 12 months for most visas. However, if you’re in the UK on an Innovator Founder or Global Talent visa, you only have to have been in the UK for up to 3 years.
Similarly, there are other exceptions for other visas such as the Ancestry visa and for refugees, and you can also apply for British citizenship if you’ve been living in the UK for at least 10 years on a valid visa.
When you apply for British citizenship, you must prove your ability to communicate well in English, Welsh or Scots Gaelic, pass the Life in the UK test about British culture, history, traditions and values, and prove you are of good character i.e. you have not committed any serious crimes.
Need Help with Your UK Visa Application?
The UK visa application process is never easy, but fortunately, we have a team of immigration experts on hand to help each individual with their visa application process, so no one has to struggle alone. Contact us today to learn how we can help you with your application.
