Tier 5 (Temporary worker - creative and sporting)
This section explains how you can come to the UK or remain here in the creative and sporting worker category (Tier 5 Temporary Worker) under our points-based system to work in the UK.
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What is the creative and sporting category?
The creative and sporting worker category is for people coming to the UK to work or perform as sportspeople, entertainers or creative artists for up to 12 months. (Entertainers and creative artists may apply to extend their stay to a maximum of 12 months if they continue to work or perform for the same sponsor.)
If you are a sportsperson, you must be internationally established at the highest level in your sport, and/or your employment must make a significant contribution to the development and running of sport at the highest level in the UK.
If you are a coach, you must also be suitably qualified to do the job.
Who can apply as a creative and sporting worker?
Before you apply under the creative and sporting worker category, you must have:
- a sponsor; and
- a valid certificate of sponsorship.
Before assigning your certificate of sponsorship in the sporting sub-category, your sponsor must have an endorsement for you from the governing body for your sport, which confirms you meet the governing body's requirements to give their endorsement. The governing body must be recognised by us. Find a list of sports governing bodies.
When you apply you are awarded points based on your sponsorship and available maintenance (funds).
You can apply under the creative and sporting worker category if you are:
- applying for permission to enter the UK (known as 'visa' or 'entry clearance') under the creative and sporting worker category;
- applying to enter the UK if you are not required to have a visa and are entering for 3 months or less;
- already in the UK as a sportsperson and want to extend your permission to stay for up to 12 months;
- already in the UK as a creative worker who has been here for 12 months or less - you will be able to extend your permission to stay for up to a maximum of 24 months. The job must continue with the same sponsor.
The creative and sporting category is not for people who want to come or who are already in the UK as entertainers or sports visitors, including for specified festivals. See more about sport and entertainer visitors in the Visiting the UK section.
You can switch in to the creative and sporting category if you came to the UK as a sports or entertainer visitor, and before you entered the UK, your sponsor gave you a certificate of sponsorship for this category. You can use the certificate to apply to switch.
Otherwise switching is not allowed into the creative and sporting working category.
You can apply under the creative and sporting category from a country that is not your normal place of residence if you are there doing a job similar to the one that you want to do in the UK.
Go to our visa services if you are applying from outside the UK. There you can find out more about the process in the country you are applying from and download the relevant application forms.
How long can you stay for?
Sportsperson
If you are given permission to stay as a sportsperson, you can come to live and work in the UK for a maximum of 12 months, or the time given in your certificate of sponsorship plus 28 days, whichever is shorter (beginning no more than 14 days before the start date given on your certificate of sponsorship).
If you are a sportsperson, you can only apply to extend your stay to a maximum of 12 months.
Creative worker
If you are given permission to stay as a creative worker, you can come to live and work in the UK for an initial time of up to 12 months, or the time given in your certificate of sponsorship plus 28 days, whichever is shorter (beginning no more than 14 days before the start date given on your certificate of sponsorship).
You can apply to extend your permission to stay in the UK as a creative worker for up to 12 months at a time, up to a maximum of 24 months. If your extension will take your time in the UK beyond 12 months, the job must continue with your last sponsor.
For example, if you come for 9 months initially, you can get an extension to stay for another 3 months and this does not have to be with the same sponsor.
If you come for 9 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.
If you need to be able to come and go from the UK with your job
If you need to leave and come back to the UK quite often as part of the job you are doing, you can get a multiple entry certificate of sponsorship from your employer. This will allow you to come and go a number of times during the length of the certificate.
If you leave the UK and you were given no more than 6 months' permission to stay, and did not have a visa (known as 'entry clearance'),you will need new permission to come back again.
If you need to come to the UK to do multiple engagements or performances, see certificates of sponsorship for more information on how you can do this.
Application forms
Tier 5 (Temporary worker) - policy guidance
- Tier 5 (Temporary worker) policy guidance. PDF 483KB opens in a new window
Tier 5 (Temporary worker) - for applications made inside the UK
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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.
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Switching
Apply for permission to extend your stay in the United Kingdom in another category without leaving the country.