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.

The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before the date you’re due to start work. This date is on your certificate of sponsorship.
You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application.

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 3 months or less, you may be able to use the Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Creative and Sporting) concession instead of applying for the visa.

You can:
• study (for some courses you’ll 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:
• get public funds
• start your own business

Your eligibility for a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Creative and Sporting) visa depends on whether you’re a sports person or a creative worker.

Sports person
You need to make a significant contribution to your sport at the highest level in the UK to be eligible for this visa.
You’ll also need all of the following:
• a certificate of sponsorship reference number
• £945 in savings – this is to prove you can support yourself and you must have had this in your bank account for 90 days before you apply
You will not need £945 in savings if your fully approved (‘A-rated’) sponsor has stated on your certificate of sponsorship that they’ll certify your maintenance and that you will not claim benefits during your stay.

Creative worker
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’re internationally renowned or are required for continuity
• certificate of sponsorship reference number
• be paid the minimum salary as set by Equity, PACT or BECTU (except for models, musicians or circuses)
• £945 in savings – this is to prove you can support yourself and you must have had this in your bank account for 90 days before you apply
You will not need £945 in savings if your fully approved (‘A-rated’) sponsor has stated on your certificate of sponsorship that they’ll certify your maintenance and that you will not claim benefits during your stay.

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’s 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’ll be paid.
Your certificate of sponsorship is valid for 3 months from the date it is assigned to you.

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.

Your sponsor needs to give you a multiple entry certificate of sponsorship if you need to leave and come back to the UK as part of the job you’re doing.

Your sponsor can give you a certificate that covers the entire length of your stay, even if you need to perform at more than 1 engagement. If you’re working for more than 1 sponsor, you can get a certificate from each sponsor. There cannot be a gap of more than 14 days between each job.

When you apply, you’ll need to provide:
• your current passport or travel document, and your old passports
• bank statements showing you’ve had at least £945 in savings continuously for 90 days before you apply – this is to prove you can support yourself and you must have had this in your bank account for 90 days before you apply
• your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test
• a letter of endorsement from your sport’s governing body, if you’re applying as a sportsperson or coach
You need a blank page in your passport for your visa.
You will not need £945 in savings if your fully approved (‘A-rated’) sponsor has stated on your certificate of sponsorship that they’ll certify your maintenance and that you will not claim benefits during your stay.
You’ll need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.
Read the guide for a full list of documents you can provide.
You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

You can enter the UK without applying for a visa in advance if you:
• have a valid Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Creative and Sporting) 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 Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Creative and Sporting) visa eligibility criteria.
You will not be able to extend your stay while you are in the UK, or switch to another Tier 5 temporary worker visa or Tier 2 general work visa.
You can switch to a Tier 2 Sportsperson visa if you are sponsored as a professional footballer.
Your family members can travel with you if they also do not normally need a visa to enter the UK as a visitor.

You must see an immigration officer when you arrive in the UK – do not use the automatic ePassport gates. The officer will check:
• your certificate of sponsorship is valid
• you have enough money to support yourself
You will not be allowed to work if you use an automatic ePassport gate. You must see an immigration officer.

If you enter the UK from Ireland
If you’re travelling to the UK from Ireland using the Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Creative and Sporting) concession, you must apply for remote clearance at least 72 hours before you arrive in the UK.

You can:
• study (for some courses you’ll 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:
• get public funds
• start your own business
• extend your stay or switch to another visa