The UK has a huge fan base who love festivities from around the world, diverse traditions and customs, various folk forms and cultures, music, and arts. Many artists regularly display their artwork in the UK that showcases history, mythology, and heritage, which is deeply respected in the UK.

There is a big demand for different kinds of artists from all over the world. With visitors, artists, and performers arriving from abroad, the UK government put into action a special set of visas under the UK Visitor visa category.

• UK Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor visa.
• UK Permit Free Festival List.

On a UK Standard Visitor visa, the applicant will generally not be allowed to accept payment equivalent to a salary (i.e. beyond reasonable expenses incurred for travel and living costs) for any activities undertaken in the UK whilst here as a visitor. The only exceptions to this are listed here. The exceptions allow for payments to be accepted when the visitor:

• Is an artist, entertainer, or musician attending a Permit Free Festival in the UK; or
• Has permission as a Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor.

Post-Brexit, there were numerous changes made to UK visas with regards to the free movement of performers, artists, and entertainers between the EU and the UK which at the time was unclear. For UK festivals that wish to invite overseas artists to perform, the British government created the Permit Free Festival List.

A festival that is on the list of Home Office immigration rules, allows performers, artists, and entertainers to enter the UK and get paid to perform.

This visa is put into action for professionals who are invited to the UK as experts in their particular fields. It is mandatory for the applicant to receive an invitation from a UK-based organisation or a UK client. Under this visa, the applicants can come to the UK to do specific paid work without having to be sponsored under the UK’s Points-based System.

• Professors / lecturers who want to deliver a lecture in a university.
• Pilots who would like to examine the UK’s airline industry as per the universally set standards.
• Lawyers who would like to appear in front of the court.
• Artists.
• Sportsperson.
• Entertainment industry professionals.
• Fashion models.