Permitted Paid Engagement Visa

Under a Permitted Paid Engagement, you are not allowed to perform paid work unrelated to your main overseas job or area of expertise. Additionally, you cannot study, live in the UK for extended periods, claim public funds, pass through the UK to another country (‘in transit’), or marry or register a civil partnership.

To qualify for a Permitted Paid Engagement, you must show a formal invitation from a UK-based organisation for a pre-arranged event or engagement that relates directly to your expertise and qualifications. You must be 18 or older and visiting the UK for no more than 1 month. You should be able to support yourself and afford your return or onward journey.

You need to have a valid passport or travel document for your entire stay and a formal written invitation from a UK-based organisation. Depending on your specific engagement, additional documents may be required, and any non-English documents must have a certified translation.

The necessity for a visa depends on your nationality. Some may require a Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor Visa, while others can visit the UK for up to 1 month without needing a visa. If you do not require a visa, you must get a stamp in your passport from a Border Force officer when you enter the UK. 

If required, you can apply for a Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor Visa online prior to your travel to the UK. The visa costs £100 for up to 1 month, and applications can be made as early as 3 months before your travel date.

You can visit the UK for up to one month for a paid engagement or event if you have a written invitation from a UK-based organisation, demonstrate expertise in your profession, and meet other eligibility requirements. Besides, you can do all activities allowed for a Standard Visitor, except studying and transiting to another country.

Professionals in these fields can engage in activities directly related to their profession, such as performing, presenting or discussing work, giving lectures, participating in judging panels, debate panels, and professional conferences.

You must show that the event or engagement directly relates to your full-time profession. Evidence could be your published work, publicity materials, media coverage, and awards received.

As a professional sportsperson, you can engage in activities directly related to your sporting profession, such as participating in a sporting event.

Qualified lawyers can be paid by a client to represent them at a court, tribunal hearing, arbitration, or other forms of legal dispute resolution in the UK.

Lecturers can be paid to give a lecture or series of lectures about their area of expertise. However, they cannot take a full-time or part-time teaching post for their host organisation.

Academic examiners or assessors can be paid to examine or assess students or participate in selection panels.

Air pilot examiners can be paid to examine UK-based air pilots to ensure they meet the national aviation regulatory requirements of their home country.

Depending on your nationality, you may not need a visa to visit the UK. Check with us if you need a visa before you apply.

The application  cost for a Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor Visa is £100 for up to 1 month.

No, if you want to bring family members, each person must apply for a Standard Visitor Visa separately. Dependents are not allowed under a Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor Visa.

Once we have applied for you online, proved your identity, and provided your documents, you should receive a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

Yes, you can change or cancel your application by contacting UK Visas and Immigration. However, please note that you'll only get your fee refunded if the application has not yet been processed.