Immigration route opens up for top international models to work in Britain

An immigration route for top international models has been opened up by the Home Office under a visa scheme for creative and sports people to work in Britain for up to a year.

New guidelines spell out that models who are high-earner with an “international status” and have pre-booked work will be allowed into Britain under Tier 5 visas for creative temporary workers.

“These are those models who have sufficient a level of experience that they are already established, if not in the UK, certainly in their own or other markets,” say the documents, which unlike Tier 2 visas do not specify the amount they have to earn.

It follows a widening this summer of Tier 1 visas for highly-skilled individuals in science, humanities, and arts to include fashion designers who are now entitled to apply for the five year visas. Architects have been added to the latest guidelines.

Nick Gore, associate at Carter Thomas solicitors, said the move appeared to follow cases of prominent entertainers and models being denied access to the UK. “It’s always been extremely difficult for fashion designers and models to enter under the regular routes,” he said.

“Taking into account the prominence and success of the UK’s fashion industry, this has clearly been an oversight by the Home Office.”

Mike Illes, of MOT Models, said this summer eight South African models had been initially been refused entry, forcing them to appeal successfully. “It was an unjustified rejection of work permits,” he said. “It was absurd given the demand for them during the summer in the UK.”