Creative workers who would not normally need a visa on account of their nationality, and are coming to work in the UK for less than three months, will not now need work visas under the new Points Based System, according to a Statement of Intent from the Home Office. The Government had previously said that all artists from outside the European Economic Area would require visas, causing considerable expense and increasing the administrative burden of arts organisations, particularly festivals. Under the new scheme, visiting artists will still require a certificate of sponsorship issued by a licensed sponsor. Louise de Winter, Director of the National Campaign for the Arts, hailed the move as a victory and commended the Home Office for addressing the cost issue, but she warned, “The NCA remains very concerned, however, by some elements of the Points Based System as it applies to artists.”
