US to UK Immigration Series: Timothee Chalamet and Taylor Swift’s UK Adventures
Firstly, I am sorry to disappoint. For the hopeful amongst you, Timothee and Taylor are not embarking on a UK adventure in a Volkswagen camper van touring the UK eating Cornish pasties and trying their hand at Morris dancing, at least to the best of my knowledge that is. But what do this pair of American royalty have in common? With Timothee’s high praise for the accent of Hull and Taylor’s impressive London itinerary featured in London Boy, these American A-listers cannot get enough of the UK.
From record breaking performances at Wembley, to notable public appearances, US celebrities are constantly travelling to the UK. Yet despite their renowned status, these celebrities are still required to comply with the UK’s strict immigration regime, with the Standard Visitor route being a common choice for a short time in the UK.
Timothee, Taylor, and other US nationals should take heed. Prior to 8 January 2025, US nationals could simply travel to the UK with their passports and visit the country. Whilst no visa application was required, individuals were still required to meet the Standard Visitor requirements upon entry, such as being a genuine visitor and able to support themselves for the duration of their visit.
From 8 January 2025, US nationals are required to apply for and be granted an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before visiting the UK. The ETA allows US nationals to enter the UK for up to 6 months, and should the necessary additional requirements be met, undertake permitted activities. Therefore, should Timothee and Taylor wish to embark on their UK adventures, they will need to comply with the Immigration Rules.
In this article we will go on an adventure with Timothee and Taylor. With Timothee we will explore the new ETA, the application process and conditions. And with Taylor, we will explore Permitted Paid Engagement, a popular subcategory of the Standard Visitor route.
ETA
With an eclectic range of roles from Paul Atreides in Dune to Willy Wonka in (you guessed it) Wonka, Timothee is an acclaimed actor, but how does he stay in top shape to deliver in these roles? Apparently, nothing rejuvenates Timothee like a trip to Hull, but one thing stands between the Bob Dylan actor and the coastal city, UK Border Control.
As a US citizen, Timothee will need to apply for an ETA to visit the UK. The ETA is available to US, Canadian, Australian and many other nationalities. The ETA is valid for 2 years, allowing nationals from these countries to travel to the UK as a standard visitor for a period of up to 6 months for tourism, visiting family and friends, a business trip or short-term study - luckily for Timothee, trips to Hull can be included.
Applying for an ETA, in sharp contrast to many other immigration applications, can be a very simple process. Simply by installing the UK ETA app or accessing the Home Office webpage, answering some basic questions, parting with £16 and providing contact and passport details, an individual can receive a decision in as little as a day. Additionally, in-line with the standard provisions of Appendix Visitor, Timothee would need to prove he is a genuine visitor to the UK, namely that he will leave the UK at the end of his visit and has sufficient funds to support himself during his time in the UK (with a reported payment of over $2 million for Dune, Timothee should have no trouble satisfying this requirement).
However, one notable drawback of the Standard Visitor route is that in many situations paid work is not allowed. With Taylor’s Eras Tour allegedly grossing over $2 billion in ticket sales alone, it would stand to reason that this would be paid work, luckily, this is where the Permitted Paid Engagements option comes in.
Permitted Paid Engagements
Just like Timothee, as a US citizen Taylor does not need a visa to visit the UK on a short-term basis. However, to carry out her 3 hour-long fervently attended shows, she will need to meet additional requirements in order to visit the UK to carry out a Permitted Paid Engagement.
To undertake a Permitted Paid Engagement, Taylor would need a written invitation from a specified UK based organisation and would need to prove she is an expert in her profession (with 14 Grammy awards this could be a difficult one…). Whilst Taylor may be able to stay in the UK for up to 6 months, the engagement she has entered the UK to carry out, must be performed in the first month of arrival in the UK.
The application process is largely similar to the above, merely with the added requirements of the invitation and proof of expertise. However, applicants must ensure they are only carrying out paid activities that have been disclosed, and that they do not vary in nature. If Taylor has arrived in the UK to perform a concert at Wembley, but whilst in the UK gives a paid groundbreaking lecture on how to Shake it Off and top tips to ensure you Never Ever Get Back Together, this could result in her breaching the terms of her permission in the UK which could lead to adverse consequences. Potentially disastrous news for the Swifties.
It is worth noting that under Appendix Visitor: Permit Free Festival List, being paid for performing at large events such as All Points East and Glastonbury, is permitted and applicants are not required to meet the additional requirements associated with Permitted Paid Engagements as detailed above. These are just one of many options under the Standard Visitor route; applicants should therefore seek specialist immigration advice if necessary to consider their position and potential immigration options.
Summary
The relationship between the UK and the US grants US citizens numerous immigration benefits, allowing for simpler application processes and thus faster entry to the UK when visiting. However, it is important that US nationals still take care when visiting the UK to ensure all relevant requirements are met, especially when world tours and Timothee’s ability to keep his Northern love alive depend on it.
