Temporary Work: Creative Worker

Eligibility

Work in the creative industry (entertainment, arts, fashion, film) for up to 12 months. Funds £1,270. Dependant funds (most work routes): £285 for a partner, £315 for one child, £200 for each additional child, held 28 days – unless your A-rated sponsor certifies maintenance.

Key facts (checked 31 Oct 2026)

What you can and cannot do, how long you can stay (official)

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’ll 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’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.

Getting a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within:

• 3 weeks, if you’re outside the UK
• 8 weeks, if you’re inside the UK

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

If your application is successful, your decision email will tell you what you’ll get to prove your immigration status and what you need to do next.

Source: GOV.UK – Overview

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.

If you intend to work in the UK for 3 months or less, you may be able to use the Creative Worker visa concession instead of applying for the visa.

Source: GOV.UK – Overview

What you can and cannot do

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 Skilled Worker immigration salary list for up to 20 hours per week
• bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible

You cannot:

• get public funds
• start your own business

Source: GOV.UK – Overview

Full eligibility criteria (official)

Eligibility

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)
• enough money to support yourself in the UK - you’ll usually need to have at least £1,270 available (unless you’re 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’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.

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’re 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’re working for more than one sponsor, you can get a 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 £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’ll usually need to show proof of this when you apply, unless either:

• you’ve 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 £1,270

Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they’re in the UK. Check how much they’ll 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 ‘sponsor certifies maintenance’ section on your certificate. This is under ‘Additional data’.

Source: GOV.UK – Eligibility (checked 31 Oct 2026)

Documents checklist (official)

Documents you must provide

When you apply, you’ll 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’re applying with you
• your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test

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

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

Source: GOV.UK – Documents you must provide (checked 31 Oct 2026)

How to apply, step by step (official)

Apply

Read the full guidance before you apply.

Apply from outside the UK

You must apply online for a Temporary Work - Creative Worker visa.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

You’ll either:

• use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll 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’ll be told what you need to do when you apply.

If you do need an appointment:

• you’ll need to take your passport with you to the visa application centre (you’ll be able to collect it on the day)
• you may have to travel to get to your nearest 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’re already in the UK.

Source: GOV.UK – Apply (checked 31 Oct 2026)

Partner and children (official)

Your partner and children

Your partner and children can also apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible.

If your partner or child’s application is successful, their visa will usually end on the same date as yours. If a child’s parents have visas with different expiry dates, the child’s 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 (‘leave to enter’ or ‘leave to remain’) to be in the UK as your dependant

You’ll 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’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK
• you’ve been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply
• you’ve been in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply but you cannot live together, for example because you’re working or studying in different places, or it’s not accepted in your culture

If you’re not living together, you’ll 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’re living away from home in full-time education - for example, at boarding school or university
• not be married or in a civil partnership

You’ll 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’re in the UK.

You - or your partner or child - will need:

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

Example

You - or your partner or child - would need to have £600 to bring your partner and one child with you to the UK (£285 for your partner and £315 for your child).

You would also need to have £1,270 available to support yourself for your own application.

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’ll 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’s 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’ll 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:

• apply online as your partner
• apply online as your child

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

They’ll also need your application number - you’ll get this when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You’ll 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’ll either:

• use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan their identity document - they’ll 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’ll be told what they need to do when they apply.

If they need an appointment:

• they’ll need to take their passport with them to the visa application centre (they’ll be able to collect it on the day)
• they may have to travel to get to their nearest centre (this could be in another country)

Getting a decision

Once they’ve applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

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

If their application is successful, their decision email will tell them what they’ll get to prove their immigration status and what they need to do next.

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

If you extend your visa, your partner or child’s 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:

Source: GOV.UK – Your partner and children (checked 31 Oct 2026)

Extending, switching and changing job (official)

Extend your visa

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

You should apply before your current visa expires.

You cannot extend your stay if you’ve 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’ll need to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken - there’s no fee for this.

Apply to extend your Creative Worker visa

You must apply online before your current visa expires.

Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Apply now

Continue your application

You can sign back into your application if you’ve saved it.

Find out how to sign in to your account.

Your partner and children

Your partner or child’s 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’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and what type of passport you have.

You’ll either:

• use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll 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’ll be told what you need to do when you apply.

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

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’ll 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’ll get an eVisa (a digital record of your identity and immigration status).

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

Source: GOV.UK – Extend your visa (checked 31 Oct 2026)

Creative Worker visa concession

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.

You’ll usually need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to travel to the UK.

Your partner and children

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

They’ll usually need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to travel to the UK.

If you’re travelling to the UK from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man

You must apply for remote clearance 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
• check you have an ETA, if you need one
• stamp your passport

Do not use the automatic ePassport gates. You will not be allowed to work if you do not see an immigration officer and get a stamp in your passport.

What you can and cannot do

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 Skilled Worker immigration salary list for up to 20 hours per week
• bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible

You cannot:

• get public funds
• start your own business

Source: GOV.UK – Creative Worker visa concession (checked 31 Oct 2026)

Processing times and faster decisions (official)

Standard: Usually 3 weeks (GOV.UK visa processing times).

• Priority service: +£500, usually a decision within 5 working days (settlement, citizenship and family-from-outside-UK: usually 30 working days).
• Super priority service: +£1,000, usually a decision by the end of the next working day after you prove your identity. Not available for citizenship.
• Availability depends on the route, the country and whether you use a UKVCAS centre or the ID Check app; there is a daily limit. You are told at the point of applying whether it is offered.

Source: GOV.UK – Get a faster decision on your visa or settlement application (checked 31 Oct 2026)

How the application works (official)

1. Check eligibility and gather documents (sections above). Sponsored routes: get your CoS/CAS reference first; endorsed routes: get your endorsement first.
2. Apply online on GOV.UK and pay the fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (if it applies) – IHS.
3. Prove your identity: either the UK Immigration: ID Check app (if offered) or an appointment at a visa application centre (outside the UK) or UKVCAS service point (inside the UK) for fingerprints and photo.
4. Upload documents and wait for the decision. Do not travel or leave the UK before a decision if applying from inside the UK – it can withdraw your application.
5. Your permission is issued as an eVisa in your UKVI account; physical BRPs are no longer issued. Link your passport to it and use share codes to prove your rights – GOV.UK eVisas.

Path to settlement (ILR) and citizenship

Does not lead to settlement.

Citizenship normally needs ILR (or settled status) held for 12 months – or immediately if married to a British citizen – plus the residence, absences, good character, Life in the UK test (£50) and English B1 requirements. See GOV.UK – Settle in the UK and GOV.UK – Citizenship if you have ILR.