A Guide to Working in the UK as an EU National

All you need to know if you’re an EU citizen who is auditioning or working in the UK.

Updated: 16 July 2026

EU Citizens Residing in the UK (EUSS)

If you were already living in the UK on or before December 31, 2020, you should hold digital status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (either Pre-Settled or Settled Status).

The original deadline to apply for this scheme was June 30, 2021. While the Home Office still accepts late applications, the grace period is over. You must now meet an incredibly high threshold of “reasonable grounds” – such as a severe, documented medical emergency or being a minor whose parents failed to apply on your behalf—to justify why you did not apply on time.

If you hold valid EUSS status, you do not need to apply for any work visas, nor do you need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter. You simply access your digital eVisa online and ensure your current passport is linked to your UKVI account.

UK national planning to work in the EU? Read this guide on working in the EU.

Standard Short-Term Visas and the ETA Requirement

Historically, EU citizens could travel to the UK for up to six months for tourism, short courses, or light business meetings with just their passports.

While you still do not require a standard visitor visa for these trips, all EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens must now apply for and be granted an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to the UK.

• The rule: The ETA is a mandatory digital pre-clearance strictly enforced by airlines, trains, and ferries. If you do not have a granted ETA, you will be denied boarding.
• Cost and validity: It costs £20 to apply (using the UK ETA mobile app) and is valid for multiple entries over two years, or until your passport expires.
• Exceptions: Irish citizens remain completely exempt from the ETA scheme under Common Travel Area rules.

Short-Term Creative Work (Less Than 3 Months)

If you are coming to the UK for a short creative gig (like a shoot, a short theatre run, or a festival), you can work without a formal visa by using the Creative Worker Visa Concession (the updated name for the old T5 concession). To use this concession, you must meet these strict criteria:

• Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): You must have a valid CoS reference number assigned to you by a licensed UK sponsor.
• The ETA requirement: You must hold a valid £20 ETA before boarding your transit to the UK, even though you are using a visa concession.
• Financial requirements: You must show at least £1,270 in personal savings (held in your bank account for 28 consecutive days), unless your sponsor officially “certifies your maintenance” directly on your CoS.
• At the border: Do not use the automatic ePassport gates. You must speak to a border officer to have your passport physically stamped with your 3-month work permission. If you walk through the automatic gates, you will be admitted as a standard tourist and will not be legally allowed to work.

Long-Term Creative Work (More Than 3 Months)

For creative contracts in the UK lasting longer than 3 months (up to a maximum of 12 months on a single visa, which can be extended to 24 months), you must apply for a formal Creative Worker Visa (Temporary Work) before travelling.

The old fee discounts for European citizens have been completely abolished. The standard, updated costs are:

• Application fee: £298 (or £340 depending on specific Home Office updates) per person, whether applying from inside or outside the UK.
• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): For visas longer than 6 months, you must pay the IHS to access the National Health Service (NHS). This is £1,035 per year.
• Savings: The same £1,270 personal savings rule applies unless your sponsor certifies your maintenance on your CoS.
• eVisa: Physical biometric cards (BRPs) and paper stickers have been phased out. Your approved visa is issued as a fully digital eVisa linked directly to your passport.

Visas When Hiring UK Talent

For EU employers looking to hire UK talent, it’s likely that workers will need to be awarded their visa before arriving in the EU to work. The visa application may also ask for proof of employment.

Check the visa rules for the country the artist(s) will be working in, and allow extra time for the visa application process when hiring.

Irish Passport Holders

The UK and Irish Governments committed to maintaining the Common Travel Area (CTA), which means British and Irish citizens can move freely and have the right to work and study in either state.

Long-Term Immigration to the UK

If you want to relocate to the UK permanently or work on long-term contracts outside the temporary Creative Worker route, the standard pathway is the Skilled Worker Visa. However, the bar for this route is now incredibly high:

• Salary thresholds: The general minimum salary threshold for a Skilled Worker visa has risen to £38,700 (or higher, depending on the specific “going rate” for your specific creative job code).
• Creative alternatives: Because freelance and early-career artists rarely meet these salary minimums, many long-term EU creatives instead apply for the Global Talent Visa, which requires an endorsement of your exceptional talent or promise from Arts Council England, or they rely on rolling, short-term Creative Worker sponsorships.

Healthcare

As part of your visa application, you may need to pay a healthcare surcharge. Find out more information about whether you need to pay the immigration healthcare surcharge.

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