DJs recognised as “skilled workers” under UK’s post-Brexit visa rulesDJs are officially classified as “skilled workers” under the UK’s post-Brexit visa regulations, a new study has found.
According to The Guardian, analysis of Home Office data from 2021-2024 reveals that DJs were among several professions — alongside cabin crew, fitness instructors, and veterinary nurses — granted skilled workers visas since 2021.

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Researcher Robert McNeil from the University of Oxford told The Guardian that many of the vocations in the list are “challenging and require particular skills” even if they “might not be the sort of things that are front of mind for most people when they imagine roles that are critical for UK employers to recruit from overseas.”
In a new blog post, McNeil explains that “middle-skilled jobs” were on the list because the Home Office had lowered the criteria required to apply for a skilled worker visa after the UK had left the EU.
“When people think about such middle-skilled jobs, roles like plumbers, bricklayers or engineering technicians spring to mind. But defining what is actually middle-skilled is not straightforward,” he states. “Some of the results are surprising.”
That said, foreign DJs seeking work in the UK still face significant hurdles. According to Home Office sources cited by The Guardian, applicants must secure sponsorship from an employer and meet a minimum salary requirement of £38,700 per year. For those under 26 and undergoing higher education, this threshold is slightly lower at £31,000.
Per Mixmag, successful applicants of the skilled worker visa can remain in the UK for five years, though DJs can also apply for a Creative Worker visa concession, which will allow them to work in the country for up to three months.
Meanwhile, “Permit Free Festivals” like The Warehouse Project, Creamfields, and Wireless can sponsor international artists for up to six months. The UK also offers a Creative Worker visa, which allows artists to stay for up to 12 months with a certificate of sponsorship.
In related news, a new report from The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) found that electronic music added an estimated £2.4 billion to the UK economy last year.
2024 also saw record-breaking ticket sales for electronic music events, raising £163 million alone (recorded by Skiddle).
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