What is a visa waiver for touring UK artists with the EU?
A visa waiver agreement for touring artists and performers is one of Best for Britain’s key recommendations and making touring easier is something Labour pledged to do in their election manifesto. But what is it? How might it work in practice? Here’s everything you need to know.
What is a visa waiver agreement?
A visa waiver agreement is a deal between two countries that allows exemptions to the normal rules for people travelling between them. A visa waiver agreement would allow British artists more time and/or lower costs when they travel to the EU to work depending on what is agreed. The same is true for EU artists travelling to the UK, a touring artist visa waiver agreement would remove the bureaucratic barriers required to receive a visa by removing the need for one.
What are the benefits of having a visa waiver for touring artists scheme?
Best for Britain is campaigning for the Government to work with the EU to develop a visa waiver for touring artists, allowing performers and other creative professionals to move more easily between the UK and EU.
A visa waiver for touring artists could lower costs for UK artists and increase the amount of time they are able to work in the EU, thus allowing for more last minute bookings and European collaboration opportunities. A visa waiver agreement for touring artists in the EU would enhance the competitiveness of the UK’s creative industries and strengthen the UK’s ties with the EU as a whole.
Deloitte has predicted that the global creative sector will grow by 40% over the next six years, but the lack of a visa waiver scheme for touring artists between the EU and UK will continue to dampen demand for British talent abroad, limiting the UK’s share of this future growth.
How has Brexit affected the arts?
The creative sector is an important source of economic and social growth for both the UK and the EU. Creative UK found that the industry represents around 6% of the British economy, employing 1.8 million people and contributing £125 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) .
A study by the Independent Society of Musicians found that 47.4% of musicians have had fewer working opportunities in the EU than before Brexit. Even more galling, 39% had to turn down opportunities due to issues surrounding their visa and other administrative costs with the mean loss of earnings £43,175 per person. Previous research by Best for Britain has found that there was a sharp decrease in the number of British acts performing at European festivals in 2022 and 2023.
But it’s not just the artists themselves. With venues closing weekly, Brexit has exacerbated their difficulties by increasing the number of vacancies in the hospitality industry by 72%.
Does the UK have any visa waiver agreements for touring artists in place?
No. But the UK does have a number of creative visas for artists entering the UK including;
Global Talents Visa - costs £716 as well as an additional health surcharge. To apply for the visa you must prove you are a leader or potential leader in academia, the arts or digital technology. To prove this you must receive endorsement approval usually by providing information of accomplishments from a set list.
Creative worker visa - for temporary workers within the industry. To qualify for the visa one must be offered work in the UK creative industry and have sponsorship and meet minimum salary requirements.
Permitted Paid Engagements (PPE) - Artists can enter the UK for a maximum of 1-month.
Permit Free Festivals - Artists can enter the UK under standard visitor rules and undertake paid engagements at one or more Permit Free Festivals for a maximum stay of 6 months.
What has the Government said about a visa waiver for touring artists?
Whilst in opposition, the Labour Party were very supportive of a visa waiver agreement for touring artists, Lucy Powell the current Leader of the House of Commons said in 2023:
‘“It’s not just that they themselves have to get a very expensive visa, which is a lot of paperwork, everything they are taking on tour needs individual paperwork. [The Conservative government] kept saying they were going to go back to the drawing board with the EU, but they haven’t done that. The next Labour government will prioritise that. We won’t rest until we’ve got a resolution. It’s massively damaging to our music industry and our festivals industry, which is so important.”
The Labour's manifesto (2024) said:
“We will seek to negotiate a veterinary agreement to prevent unnecessary border checks and help tackle the cost of food; will help our touring artists; and secure a mutual recognition agreement for professional qualifications to help open up markets for UK service exporters.”
What is the EU’s stance on a UK-EU visa waiver for touring artists?
The EU has previously ruled out a UK-EU visa waiver for touring artists. However, the bloc has been much more proactive in pursuing a bilateral youth mobility scheme with the UK. As it is generally younger, less established artists who most struggle with increased costs, time limits and bureaucracy, a Youth Mobility Scheme that allows younger people to work and travel in the EU would also do much to help increase their ability to tour in the EU.
What has the industry said about visa waivers for touring artists?
Touring artists across the UK have repeatedly stated their desire for a visa waiver scheme and expressed their dismay at the effect Brexit has had on their industry. Separate research by the Independent Society of Musicians showed that, since Brexit, almost half of UK musicians and music industry workers have had less work in the EU, and more than a quarter had none at all. A similar survey by the Musicians Union found that 59% said touring the EU was no longer financially viable.
Deborah Annetts, CEO of Society of Musicians has said;
“Post-Brexit regulations make touring in Europe expensive, complicated and sometimes impossible for musicians. Removing the barriers could not be more important for our sector.”
Whilst in the acting world, Louise McMullan of Equity (the UK’s performers union) has commented that a new UK-EU agreement could have;
“A massive impact on the working opportunities available to Equity members working across the creative industries.”
Are the public in favour of a visa waiver scheme for touring artists?
More than half of people (58%) think the Government should be doing more to ensure musicians can work abroad post-Brexit, according to a poll by UK Music. A youth mobility scheme is similarly popular across the political spectrum. More in Common found that a staggering 71% of people who voted Labour at the General Election in July supported the scheme, as well as a majority (56%) of Conservative voters. Promisingly, even 44% of Reform UK voters support a youth mobility scheme, far outweighing the 27% who oppose it.
This article first appeared on Best for Britain.