Which route applies?
| Route | Length | What it allows and needs |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Visitor | Up to 6 months | Auditions and meetings. The actor cannot be paid by a UK source, other than expenses or prize money |
| Creative Worker visa concession | 3 months or less | Paid work with a certificate of sponsorship. No visa application. Open to people who do not normally need a visa to visit the UK |
| Creative Worker visa | Up to 12 months, or the time on the certificate plus 28 days if that is shorter | Paid work with a certificate of sponsorship. £340 fee, plus the healthcare surcharge, usually £1,035 a year |
What should the production know about the concession?
- The actor must hold the certificate of sponsorship before travelling.
- On arrival the actor must see a Border Force officer and get a passport stamp. Using the ePassport gates means they cannot work.
- An electronic travel authorisation is usually needed as well.
- Gaps between UK engagements can be no more than 14 days.
- An actor arriving through Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man must apply for remote clearance at least 72 hours before arriving in the UK.
What about the full visa?
An actor can apply up to 3 months before the start date on the certificate. A decision usually takes 3 weeks from outside the UK. The visa allows the actor to bring a partner and children.
What does the sponsor have to do?
The sponsor issues the certificate and must follow the Home Office code of practice for performers in film and television. The guidance for sponsors says a licence will be revoked if a sponsor states that it followed the code when it did not.
Where does the casting director come in?
A casting director does not issue certificates or give immigration advice. The production company, or its immigration adviser, does that. What a UK casting director can do is flag early that a role is likely to go to an actor from outside the UK, so the paperwork starts in time. On A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, Catherine Willis approached the American actor Emma Myers directly for the lead and built the British cast around her.
This page is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change. Check the sources and take professional advice for your production.
Last checked 9 October 2026. Answered by CW Casting. Tell us if something here is out of date.