Permitted Paid Engagement Visa

You may be able to visit the UK for a paid engagement if you’ve been invited as an expert in your profession.

You can apply for a Permitted Paid Engagement visa if you:

are invited by a UK-based organisation or client
want to come to the UK to do specific paid work without having to be sponsored under the points-based visa system
meet the other eligibility requirements

What you can:

You can be invited by a UK-based organisation or client to:

be a student examiner or assessor
take part in selection panels as a highly qualified academic if you’re invited by an education, arts or research organisation
give lectures at a higher education institution, as long as it’s not a part-time or full-time role
examine UK-based pilots so they meet the standards of the country you come from if you’re invited by an approved UK training organisation regulated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority
provide advocacy in a particular area of law
take part in arts, entertainment or sporting activities including broadcasting
take part in fashion modelling assignments

You can also do minor activities related to your work or business overseas, such as attend meetings.

do paid work unrelated to your main job or area of expertise at home, other than what’s allowed by your visa
extend this visa or switch to another visa
live in the UK for extended periods
get public funds (benefits)
study
marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership
bring family members (‘dependants’) with you on your application - they must apply separately

You can stay in the UK for up to 1 month.

As part of your application, you’ll need to book an appointment at a visa application centre to prove your identity and provide your documents.

Allow time to attend your appointment, as the visa application centre could be in another country.

The visa application centre may keep your passport and documents while processing your application.

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.

You must show that:

you’re 18 or over
you’re visiting the UK for no more than 1 month
you’ve been formally invited and paid by a UK-based organisation to attend an event or other permitted engagement
you’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit
you will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home
you’re able to support yourself during your trip (or have funding from someone else to support you)
you’re able to pay for your return or onward journey (or have funding from someone else to pay for the journey)
you have proof of any business or other activities you want to do in the UK, as allowed by the Visitor Rules

When you apply you must provide:

a current passport or other valid travel document - your passport must have a blank page for your visa
a formal invitation from the UK-based organisation or client you’ll be paid by
proof that the paid engagement relates to your expertise, qualifications and main job in your home country, for example a letter from your employer

You’ll need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.

You must provide extra documents if you’re an established arts, entertainment or sporting professional. You can provide any of the following:

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances

For a more detailed discussion regarding your case, please book an appointment or call us now on 07835601240