Temporary Worker – Creative and Sporting visa (Tier 5)

Temporary Worker - Creative and Sporting visa (Tier 5)

You must apply for a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Creative and Sporting) visa if:
• you’ve been offered work in the UK as a sports person or creative worker
• you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
• you meet the other eligibility requirements
You’ll still need to apply for this visa if you’re travelling to the UK from Ireland and you’re 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.

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

EXTEND YOUR VISA

You can apply to extend your Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Creative and Sporting) visa.
You should apply before your current visa expires.
You cannot extend your stay if you’ve used the Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Creative and Sporting) concession to enter the UK.

You must continue to meet the eligibility rules.
You must be in the UK to extend your visa.

Creative worker
You can extend your visa for whichever is the shortest of:
• up to 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
You must stay with the same sponsor.

Sports person
You can extend your visa up to 12 months, or the time on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter.

You can add dependants to your online application – including children who have turned 18 during your stay.

SWITCH TO THIS VISA

You can switch to a Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Creative and Sporting) visa if you’re in the UK as a sports or entertainer visitor, and your sponsor gave you a certificate of sponsorship for this visa before you came to the UK.
You can also switch to this visa if you enter the UK as a sports or entertainer visitor after 28 April 2015.
You should apply before your current visa expires.
You cannot switch to this visa if you’ve used the Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Creative and Sporting) concession to enter the UK.

You can stay for a maximum of up to 12 months after switching to a Tier 5 (Temporary worker – Creative and Sporting) visa.

You can add dependants to your online application – including children who have turned 18 during your stay.

You or your dependant must apply to join or remain with you in the UK if they’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.
A dependant is any of the following:
• your partner
• your child aged under 18
• your child aged 18 or older if they’re already in the UK as dependants
You should submit your dependant’s application at the same time as yours.

You must show that your dependants can be supported while they’re in the UK.
Each dependant must have £630 available to them whether they apply with you or separately. This is in addition to the £945 you must have to support yourself.
You must have proof you have the money, and that it’s been in your bank account or your dependant’s bank account for at least 90 days before you or they apply.
Example You must have £2,205 if you want to bring your partner and 1 child with you to the UK (£945 to support yourself + £630 for your partner + £630 for your child).

You can include dependants in your online application to extend or switch to this visa if they want to do it at the same time as you.
Family members cannot apply in the UK as your dependant if they hold a visitor visa.

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