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Tier 5 Temporary Workers - Creative and Sportsperson

This Tier 5 visa route is for overseas nationals who wish to work or perform as sports people, entertainers or creative artists such as footballers, athletes, jockeys, racing drivers, coaches, dance artists, musicians, actors or presenters etc., in the UK. Applicants are permitted to undertake short term or temporary employment in the UK.

We can advise and guide applicants wishing to apply for a Tier 5 (Temporary Workers) visa. We will assess the job specification and the applicant’s details so that a full assessment can be made. This also includes advice and representation for our clients’ dependents who wish to make their visa application at the same time.

Under the UK immigration rules, the Tier 5 visa consists of two main categories under the points-based system:

  1. Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS)
  2. Tier 5 (Temporary Workers)

 

YOUTH MOBILITY SCHEME (Tier 5) VISA 

The Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) visa is for young adults from participating countries and territories who wish to experience life in the UK for a period of up to two years and can later switch into the Skilled Worker route.

Dependants are not eligible to apply on the Youth Mobility Scheme visa route and it is not a route that leads directly to settlement in the UK.

Requirements for a Youth Mobility Scheme visa

In order to qualify for a Youth Mobility Scheme (T5) visa, you will need to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration rules that state:

  • You are aged between 18 and 30 on the date of the application;
  • You are a citizen of Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Japan, Monaco, Taiwan, the Republic of Korea, or San Marino or are a British overseas citizen, a British overseas territories citizen or a British national (overseas);
  • You have funds of £2,530 which you have held for a 28 day period within the 31 days before your application;
  • You do not have any children under 18 who are living with you or are financially dependent on you;
  • You have not previously been in the UK on the Youth Mobility Scheme route;
  • You have paid the visa application fee and Immigration Health Charge and provided any required biometric information;
  • You have taken a tuberculosis test, if required;
  • You do not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal.

The exact requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on your circumstances.  Please contact us for expert advice.

 

TIER 5 TEMPORARY WORKERS

Under this scheme, applicants have the opportunity to come to the UK with a job offer for a specific purpose on temporary/short term employment. The scheme consists of five subcategories:

  • creative and sporting
  • charity workers
  • religious workers
  • government authorised exchange
  • international agreement

All applicants must have a sponsor and a valid ‘certificate of sponsorship’ before applying for this visa. Individuals applying under this scheme will require prior entry clearance, except for non-visa nationals intending to come to the UK for a period of 3 months or less in the “Creative and Sporting” subcategory.

Tier 5 (Temporary Workers) – Creative and Sporting

This category is for individuals who wish to work or perform as sports people, entertainers or creative artists for up to 12 months in the UK. The employment is for short engagements or contracts and is suitable for sports players, coaches, dance artists, artists in music, theatre, film or television etc.

Sportspeople
  • Applicants must be internationally established at the highest level in their industry. They should also contribute ‘significantly’ to the development and operation of that particular sport in the UK.
  • Applicants must be sponsored and should have a Certificate of Sponsorship issued by the employer as well as an endorsement from the relevant sports governing body. Employers will also need to confirm that the post could not be filled by a suitable UK resident worker.
    Applicants will still be required to meet fulfill the number of points required for this visa category and prove that that they have sufficient funding to support themselves for the duration of their stay in the UK.
Creative Worker
  • Creative Worker/s also include their entourage involved in dance, theatre, film or television. They are required to demonstrate that they are attending specific engagements in the UK and do not wish to base themselves in business in the UK.
  • Applicants must be sponsored and should have a Certificate of Sponsorship issued by the employer which guarantees these conditions are met and that the applicant will comply with the visa rules, and leave the UK upon expiry of the visa.
  • Applicants will still be required to meet fulfill the number of points required for this visa category and prove that that they have sufficient funding to support themselves for the duration of their stay in the UK.

Visa Validity and Extension

Successful applicants will be granted Entry Clearance valid for a maximum period of 12 months; or the period of engagement plus 14 days if this is shorter. ‘Creative Workers’ may apply for an extension of a maximum of 12 months at a time. Providing they remain with the same sponsor, this can go up to a total period of 24 months.  Creative and Sporting applicants, who have not applied for entry clearance as non-visa nationals and have entered the UK for a period of less than 3 months, cannot apply to extend their leave in the UK.

Group/entourage sponsorship certificates

This ‘group’ certificate of sponsorship is for applicants who wish to include their entourage when entering the UK. The entourage are those whose work relates to the work of an entertainer, cultural artist, sportsperson or a theatrical production. They must, however, be able to demonstrate their technical and/or specialist skills.

Multiple engagements

Creative or sports people who are required to perform/participate in several engagements or performances must request that their employer to issue a certificate of sponsorship to cover the whole period. The maximum number of days between each engagement should be no more than a maximum of 14 days.  Where the applicant is sponsored by individual employers, venues or promoters, each of those sponsors will be required to issue a certificate of sponsorship for the purpose of covering its own show. The dates on each certificate cannot overlap and there cannot be more than 14 days gap between each engagement.

Applying for Entry Clearance

Applicants can apply for Entry Clearance at their home country or the country where the applicant is currently in a similar role as a sportsperson or creative artist.

Supplementary work

Successful applicants may also undertake additional employment providing the work is in the same sector, and for no more than 20 hours per week. The work must be at the same level as declared on the certificate of sponsorship and must be outside of normal working hours and the visa holder remains obliged to continue to work for their original sponsor.

Dependents

Dependents of Tier 5 (Temporary Workers) will be able to accompany the main applicant as long as there is evidence of available funds to maintain each dependent.

Footnote:

This Tier 5 visa replaces the following immigration categories:

  • Au pairs
  • Domestic workers in Diplomatic Households
  • Gap year
  • China Graduate Work Experience
  • General Agreement on Trade in services (GATS)
  • Japan: Youth Exchange Scheme
  • MP’s Research Assistants
  • Ministers of religion, missionaries and members of religious orders
  • Overseas government employees
  • Sportspeople
  • Training and Work Experience Scheme
  • Voluntary workers
  • Working holidaymakers

Please contact us for a free initial assessment, further information, guidance and advice on applying for a Tier 5 Temporary Worker visa.