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Entertainer visitors

This page explains how you come to the United Kingdom as an entertainer visitor.

Who can apply as an entertainer visitor?


You will need permission to come to the United Kingdom (known as 'entry clearance' or 'a visa') for an entertainer visit of up to six months if you are a visa national. See the visa services website, which you can find on the right if this page, for more information.

If you a non-visa national, you do not need permission to come as an entertainer visitor.

If you are an academic visitor and want to come for more than six months, you will need permission to come whatever nationality you are.

Multiple entry visas for entertainer visitors are available for six months and one, two, five and 10 years. See the visa services website, which you can find on the right of this page, for more information.

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How to come to the United Kingdom as an entertainer visitor

To come to the United Kingdom as a professional or amateur entertainer visitor, you must be able to show that you:

  • only want to visit the United Kingdom for up to six months;
  • plan to leave the United Kingdom at the end of your visit;
  • have enough money to support and accommodate yourself without working or help from public funds, or will be supported and accommodated by relatives or friends;
  • do not intend to charge members of the public for services provided or goods received;
  • do not intend to study;
  • can meet the cost of the return or onward journey; and
  • intend to take part in particular events, including charity events, and will not be paid other than cash prizes or for board and lodging expenses.

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How do I know if I am an entertainer visitor?

You will be an entertainer visitor if during the course of your short visit you intend to:

  • take part as a professional in one or more music competitions;
  • fulfil one or more specific engagements as an individual amateur entertainer or as part of an amateur group;
  • take part as either an amateur or a professional in a cultural event that is included in the list of specific events to which this applies;
  • be a member of the support staff of a visiting entertainer or an official attending the same event as the visiting entertainer;
  • take part in broadcasts or public appearances, provided you are not being paid;
  • do an audition, provided this is not performed in front of an audience;
  • only want to visit the United Kingdom for up to six months;
  • plan to leave the United Kingdom at the end of your visit;
  • have enough money to support and accommodate yourself without working or help from public funds, or will be supported and accommodated by relatives or friends;
  • do not intend to charge members of the public for services provided or goods received;
  • do not intend to study;
  • can meet the cost of the return or onward journey; and
  • intend to take part in a particular sporting event, tournament or series of events, including charity events, and will not be paid other than cash prizes or for board and lodging expenses.

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Can I extend my stay as an entertainer visitor?

The maximum time that you can spend in the United Kingdom at any one time as an entertainer visitor is six months. If you were given three months' permission to come (known as 'leave to enter') when you arrived (this will be stamped in your passport) you may apply for an extension, as long as your stay will not go beyond six months in total.

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Can I switch into another category while I am in the UK as an entertainer visitor?

You are not allowed to change into any other category other than that for which your permission to stay was given.

This is unless you already have a certificate of sponsorship under the creative and sporting category of tier 5, which was issued before you came to the United Kingdom. If you do, you can apply to switch into this category without leaving the United Kingdom to do this prearranged work.

You may do activities of a sports or entertainer visitor as well as business visitor activities.

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Can my dependants come to the United Kingdom?

If you are coming to the United Kingdom as a sports visitor, your dependants can also come for up to six months. A dependant is a wife, husband, civil partner, same sex partner or unmarried partner, or a child under the age of 18 years old.

Your dependants may need permission to enter before they come. See the visa services website, which you can find on the right side of this page, for more information on how they should apply to come.

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Can I appeal if I am refused leave to enter as an entertainer visitor?

If we refuse your application, the entry clearance officer or the immigration officer will tell you in writing why you have been refused and, if you have full rights of appeal, who you should contact.

If you travel to the United Kingdom without permission to enter and are refused permission to enter, we recommend that you apply for permission to come before attempting to travel to the United Kingdom again.

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