If you’re a SOCAN member or other Canadian musician planning to tour the U.K., new immigration laws require you to obtain a certificate of sponsorship from each of the venues in which you’ll be playing. This is a little-known visa requirement brought in Nov. 27, 2008, to combat illegal immigration and terrorism.

Many venues in the U.K. remain unaware of the new legislation, and have experienced no previous problems when booking overseas artists who have performed for them since the new laws took effect. However, they require each venue to obtain a certificate of sponsorship from the Home Office, each of which can cost hundreds of dollars – a fee which may serve to prevent smaller-scale venues (such as bars and nightclubs) from hiring smaller-scale independent musicians.

Under the new law, one Canadian musician and several of her bandmates were deported from the U.K. on Friday, May 22, 2009, after having their passports confiscated and being held for 11 hours upon their arrival in the U.K. the previous Tuesday. The musician had performed several times previously in the U.K. without incident.

A movement of European artists is fighting against the legislation, led by British sculptor Antony Gormley. They say the new set of rules restricts artistic freedom and culture.