Bishop & Sewell

What is it?

The Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor sub-category of the Standard Visitor route allows applicants to come to the UK to carry out specific engagements for which they may receive payment.

What are the main requirements?

In order to enter the UK as a Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor, an applicant must demonstrate that:

  • they intend to leave the UK at the end of their visit;
  • they have sufficient funds for their visit;
  • the activities which they intend to carry out in the UK are permitted activities as defined in the Immigration Rules; and
  • they do not intend to take work in the UK other than in relation to the permitted paid engagement.

How long can I stay and what are the conditions of my stay?

Applicants can apply to come to the UK for a period of up to 1 month. There is no option to extend this visa from within the UK.

Applicants should not intend to live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits under this route or to make the UK their main home. Applications can be refused if an immigration officer believes that this is the case.

All permitted paid engagements must be arranged in advance. The engagement must relate to the applicant’s area of expertise and occupation overseas and should be evidenced by a formal letter of invitation.

Permitted Paid Engagements include:

  • highly qualified academics coming to the UK to examine students and take part in chair selection panels within their field if invited to the UK by a Higher Education Institution or a UK based research or arts organisation;
  • experts coming to the UK to give lectures in their subject area provided this does not amount to filling a teaching position;
  • examiners coming to the UK to examine UK based pilots to ensure they meet the aviation requirements of other countries;
  • qualified lawyers coming to the UK to provide advocacy if they have been invited by their client; and
  • professional artists, entertainers, musicians or sports persons coming to the UK to carry out activity directly relating to their profession if they have been invited by a UK based organisation.

How we can help

The requirements of the Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor visa are highly prescriptive and the Home Office routinely refuse applications that do not fully comply with the Immigration Rules and guidance. Our highly experienced team of immigration lawyers will assist in preparing and submitting your application to achieve the best possible outcome.

If you’d like to discuss matters further, please email our Immigration team on immigration@bishopandsewell.co.uk or complete the online enquiry form on this page.

Make a quick online enquiry


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