Temporary workers - creative and sporting
Extending your stay
This page explains how you can apply to extend your stay in the United Kingdom under the creative and sporting worker category (Tier 5 Temporary Worker) of the points-based system.
Read eligibility first to make sure you meet the requirements to apply.
Who can apply to extend their stay?
If you are a non-visa national coming to the United Kingdom for less than three months, you will not be able to extend your permission to stay.
You will have to pass the points-based assessment in place at the time you apply, which could be different to the points-based assessment you had to pass when you first applied.
Sports person
You can apply to extend your stay if you are already in the United Kingdom as sports person and want to extend your permission to stay if you have been here for less than 12 months, which is the maximum time you are allowed to stay.
Creative worker
You can apply to extend your permission to stay in the United Kingdom as a creative worker for up to 12 months at a time to a total of 24 months. If your extension will take your time in the United Kingdom beyond 12 months, the job must continue with your last sponsor.
For example, if you come for nine months initially, you can get an extension to stay for up to a maximum of 12 months and this does not have to be with the same sponsor.
If you come for nine months initially, you can get an extension to stay for a further 12 months, but this must be with the same sponsor. After that time, you can get a further extension to stay to take the length of your stay up to 24 months in total.
How to apply to extend your stay?
The process for applying is:
1: do a self-assessment online using our points-based calculator, which you can find on the right of this page, to find out if you are likely to score enough points.
2: fill in the tier 5 application form.
3: send it to us with your fee and supporting evidence.
You must send all supporting documents with your application as we will not use any evidence sent in after we have made a decision.
If you are sending any dependant applications at the same time as your own application, we encourage you to send your application and dependant applications in the same envelope.
Application forms
Tier 5 temporary worker - for applications made inside the United Kingdom
- Application form for Tier 5 temporary workers. Valid from 1 October 2009PDF 859KB opens in a new window
- Tier 5 temporary worker of the points-based system - policy guidancePDF 416KB opens in a new window
See also
Terms explained
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Non-visa national
A non-visa national is a national or citizen of any country that is NOT listed in Appendix 1 of the immigration rules (nationals of countries listed in Appendix 1 are visa nationals). A non-visa national does not need a visa to come to the United Kingdom for less than six months, unless it is a requirement of the immigration category under which they are entering. A non-visa national coming to the United Kingdom for more than six months will need a visa.
Internet links
Contact
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Immigration enquiry bureau
0870 606 7766
UK Border Agency, Lunar House, 40 Wellesley Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 2BY