Page 593 - Aldeburgh Festival 2022 FINAL COVERAGE BOOK

Instead, performers attending festivals or events on the Permit Free Festival List can
enter the UK under the Standard Visitor route. Most visitors will need to make an
application for a visit visa from their country of residence, before travelling. However,
nationals of some countries are exempt from this requirement and can simply apply for
leave to enter as a visitor at the UK border.

A further advantage of joining the Permit Free Festival List is that, exceptionally,
performers at such festivals can be paid for their participation at the event. Normally,
visitors to the UK are not permitted to work or receive payment from a UK source for
any activities undertaken in the UK. However, artists, entertainers and musicians who
perform at a Permit Free Festival can perform and be paid for their performance.

Festival and event organisers may also wish to note that where entertainers or artists
are established professionals it may be possible for them to use the Permitted Paid
Engagement visitor route instead.

Requirements to Join the Permit Free Festival List
In order to join the Permit Free Festival List, your festival or event will need to satisfy
various eligibility criteria. Your festival or event must:

• Have been established for at least 3 years;
• Have had an audience of at least 15,000 for each of the last 3 festivals;
• Have an expected audience of at least 15,000 throughout the forthcoming event;
• Have at least 15 non-British or Irish performers who have performed at each of
the last 3 festivals;
• Have at least 15 non-British or Irish performers who have been invited for 2021
to 2022.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the List of Permit Free Festivals
The Home Office has confirmed that festival organisers will not be penalised if
coronavirus (COVID-19) has affected their ability to meet the eligibility criteria.

Festivals that were not able to operate (including those which held smaller scale events)
in 2020 or 2021 will be assessed on whether they met the criteria in 2019.

Application Process to become a Permit Free Festival
The Home Office requires a number of documents in support of an application to join
the List of Permit Free Festivals.

Festival organisers must provide the following:

• Copies of the event brochures or programmes for the last 3 years;
• A letter from the Arts Council, or another such body if they support the event;
• Press cuttings relating to the event for the last 3 years;
• Confirmation of ticket sales and attendance details for the last 3 years;