Immigration News, News, Visas
Sponsor a Creative Worker
The Creative Worker route is for people who want to come to the UK to work within the creative sector and can make a unique contribution to the UK’s rich cultural life – for example, as an artist, dancer, musician, or entertainer, or as a model contributing to the UK’s fashion industry.
Eligible workers can come to the UK for up to 12 months initially, with the option to extend their permission up to 24 months (if continuing to work for the same sponsor).
The Creative Worker route replaced the creative provisions of the T5 (Temporary Worker) Creative or Sporting Worker route from 11 October 2021.
The guidance has been updated to reflect changes to the Immigration Rules coming into force on 9 November 2022, as set out in Statement of Changes HC 719 (published on 18 October 2022).
The detail of changes is below -
A new paragraph has been added emphasising that Creative Workers must be paid at least National Minimum Wage, unless exempt
People in the UK as a Visitor can no longer switch into the Creative Worker route
There are now separate (and updated) codes of practice for theatre and opera, as set out in Statement of Changes HC 719.
A new bullet point added, reminding sponsors they must pay Creative Workers in accordance with UK National Minimum Wage additionally sponsors must provide an explanation if a worker is not being paid National Minimum Wage due to an exemption.