Visa Information for the UK

It is important for WOMEX 24 attendees to be clear if they need to apply for a visa before coming to the UK. This will depend on your nationality, the activities you plan to do, whether you’ll be paid, and the duration of your stay. These factors will determine your entry route to the UK as either a standard visitor, permitted paid engagement or for short-term paid work as a creative worker.

The majority of WOMEX 24 attendees will be able to enter the UK as a standard visitor. The alternative entry routes should be considered if you have had difficulty entering the UK previously or are due to do other activities in the UK and be paid.

Our UK partner has a good understanding of UK entry requirements and would like everyone applying for visas to get in touch even if help is not necessary. The team will be providing the UK border force with as much information as they receive to make delegate’s entry into the UK as smooth as possible.

If you have any questions about your situation, or about the information covered in this guide, please get in touch, and direct your enquiries to Rachel Down at visas@englishfolkexpo.com.

The first step is to find out how your nationality affects whether you need to apply for a visa before coming to the UK. UK law defines citizens of all other countries in two categories: ‘Visa Nationals’ and ‘Non-Visa Nationals’.

Unpaid Activities
As a WOMEX delegate, showcase artist, member of crew, film presenter, conference speaker or exhibitor, you can visit the UK as a Standard Visitor for ‘business, including sports and entertainment’ and are permitted to undertake certain activities. These permitted activities are listed here: Standard Visitor: Permitted Activities.

The permitted activities applicable to WOMEX attendees on an unpaid basis are:

• attend meetings, conferences, seminars, interviews.
• give a one-off or short series of talks and speeches provided these are not organised as commercial events and will not make a profit for the organiser;
• - attend trade fairs, for promotional purposes only (no direct sales)
• give performances as an individual or as part of a group, take part in competitions or auditions and to make personal and promotional appearances.
• Artists’ personal or technical staff or member of the production team can enter as a standard visitor if they are attending the same event as the artist, entertainer or musician and are employed to work for them outside of the UK.

Application process as a Standard Visitor:

Criteria to prove Standard Visitor eligibility:
Both Visa Nationals and Non-Visa Nationals wishing to enter the UK as visitors should ensure they have the following documents as evidence of your planned activities in the UK.

• Invitation Letter from WOMEX confirming attendance as an artist, delegate, speaker, or member of support crew.
• WOMEX registration confirmation, programs and other documents proving your participation at WOMEX.
• Proof of onward travel, i.e. return plane ticket, showing you intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit.
• Proof of booked accommodation in the UK.
• Evidence that the person can support themselves (or have funding from someone else to support you) whilst in the UK e.g. bank statements showing available funds.

Paid Activities
As a WOMEX delegate, showcase artist, member of crew, film presenter, conference speaker or exhibitor and being paid for any other work by a UK company including performances before or after the event then it may be appropriate to enter the UK via the following two routes: Standard Visitor and doing certain Permitted Paid Engagements/Events or Creative Worker visa (Temporary Worker) – see details below.

Standard Visitor and visit for certain paid engagements or events (a ‘permitted paid engagement’)
You can visit the UK and undertake one or a short series of permitted paid engagements relating to your full-time profession. You can come to the UK for up to 6 months, but you must do the paid engagement in the first month. These engagements must be arranged prior to arrival in the UK.

You must be aged 18 or over, have formal invitation from a UK based organisation, and be able to prove that the engagement relates to your main work practice in your home country (expertise/occupation overseas).

The permitted activities you are allowed to do as a Standard Visitor is set out in Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities.

Criteria required to enter to do a Permitted Paid Engagement:

• You must be at least 18 years old.
• Have a formal letter of invitation from a UK-based creative, agent or broadcaster outlining the dates and how the event or engagement directly relates to your expertise, qualifications, and main job in your home country.
• Evidence of professional status in home country – publicity materials, awards, recent performances, media coverage etc.
• Must do the engagement in the first month of visiting the UK.
• Evidence that you can support yourself (or have funding from someone else to support you) whilst in the UK.
• Proof of onward travel, showing you intend to leave the UK at the end of the visit.
• When you leave, you are not travelling through Ireland, Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands.

Application Process to do a Permitted Paid Engagement.

Creative Worker visa – Temporary Work
This route is for creative professionals (e.g. dancers, musicians, workers in film and TV) who can stay in the UK for paid engagements up to 12 months, with a possible extension up to 24 months through formal sponsorship.

It is important to note that non-visa nationals are exempt from requiring a visa if working in the UK for less than 3 months and can come in under a Creative Worker visa concession and only require a Certificate of Sponsorship to be issued before travel.

Criteria required to enter as a Creative Worker and do temporary work:
To be eligible for a Creative Worker Visa, artists must:

• show that they make a unique contribution to the UK labour market, for example by being internationally renowned or are required for continuity.
• obtain a certificate of sponsorship reference number.
• meet the requirements of creative workers code of practice or the job is on the shortage occupations list.
• be paid a minimum salary as set by Equity, PACT or BECTU (except for models, musicians, or circuses.
• Have 1,270GBP in a bank account for 90 days before applying (unless your employer sponsor is a fully approved A-rated sponsor and certifies maintenance for you).

Application Process to do a Creative Worker visa (Temporary work):

• Check if you need a visa.
• Immigration Rules: Visa national list of countries
  List of nationalities requiring visas no matter the purpose of coming to the UK.
• How to apply for a visa to come to the UK
  Information about the types of visas and the application process.
• Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor
  General information including eligibility requirements and online application.
• Visit the UK for a Permitted Paid Engagement
  General information including eligibility requirements and online application.
• Temporary work visas – Creative Worker visa (Temporary Work)
  General information including eligibility requirements and online application.
• Travelling to the UK
  Information about what to expect at the border.