Please use this section as a guide only.
The advice we give all artists is to speak directly with a professional visa agent and connect with artists that have successfully toured to the countries you are looking to perform in.
Give yourself plenty of time for the application process as it can take months to process.
UNITED KINGDOM
The UK does not have work permits. Instead, the UK’s domestic rules allow musicians, entertainers and artists from non-visa national countries, such as Australia, for:
- One month without requiring a visa if they are invited to the UK by a UK-based client or organisation, and paid by a UK source (under the permitted paid engagement visitor rules).
- Three months without requiring a visa if they have been assigned a certificate of sponsorship by a licensed sponsor under the temporary work-creative worker visa concession.
- Six months without requiring a visa if performing at a permit-free festival. The list of permit free festivals is published under the immigration rules and includes a range of events, such as The Great Escape Festival.
For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/
Global Talent Visa
You can apply for a Global Talent visa to work in the UK if you’re a leader or potential leader in one of the following fields:
- academia or research
- arts and culture
- digital technology
You must also be at least 18 years old.
You can usually only apply for a Global Talent visa if you have successfully applied for an endorsement to prove that you are a leader or potential leader.
You can apply for the visa without an endorsement if you’ve won an eligible award. Find out which awards are eligible.
A Global Talent visa lets you:
- choose how long your visa is for, up to 5 years
- be an employee, self-employed and a director of a company
- change or stop doing your job without telling the Home Office
- bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible
- travel abroad and return to the UK
You need to apply for an endorsement to prove you’re a leader or potential leader in your field. The Home Office will send your application to be reviewed by a UK organisation (‘endorsing body’) with expertise in your field. For more information: click here
VISA AGENTS
Here are some visas agents that we are happy to recommend, based on feedback from Australian artists that have used their services in the past.
VIVA LA VISA
Viva La Visa is offering a 20% discount to any Australian artists or industry professionals who get in touch and books their services. You can contact them on soundsaustralia@vivalavisa.co.uk or call on +44 (0) 1473 892 660.
T: +44 (0) 1473 892 660
freshdesk@vivalavisa.co.uk
T&S Immigration Services
Tina and Steve Richard
P – +44 155 733 9123
E – tina@tandsimmigration.co.uk
E – steve@tandsimmigration.co.uk
W – http://www.tandsimmigration.co.uk/
Tam Ray Touring
Katie Ray
21 Golden Square
Tenterden, Kent TN30 6RN
+44 793 926 5976
katie@tamraytouring.com
http://tamraytouring.com
EUROPE
According to the UK Government’s Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, 21 member states allow “some form” of musical touring without a work permit or visa. These are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania and Sweden (UK Music, 2024).
However the actual amount of visa free touring differs per country, and individual countries may also have additional restrictions, such as France requiring musicians to be employed by a registered venue.
We recommend talking to your agent or promoter about what might be required for you. Alternatively, check the government websites of each European country you’re visiting to see what the entry requirements are.
ETIAS Travel Authorisation
Starting in the first half of 2025, some 1.4 billion people from over 60 visa-exempt countries – including Australia – are required to have a travel authorisation to enter 30 European countries for a short stay.
ETIAS travel authorisation is an entry requirement for visa-exempt nationals travelling to any of these 30 European countries. It is linked to a traveller’s passport. It is valid for up to three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you need to get a new ETIAS travel authorisation.
Your ETIAS travel authorisation is valid for three years or until the travel document you used in your application expires – whichever comes first.
It is for short-term stays: a valid ETIAS travel authorisation entitles you to stay in the European countries requiring ETIAS for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
You must be in possession of a valid ETIAS travel authorisation during your entire stay. You can leave and come back at any time, as long as you respect this time limit.
For more information, visit https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/what-etias_en