What you can do in the UK

You can visit the UK for up to 1 month to do a paid engagement or event if you: have a written invitation from a UK-based organisation or client can show you’re an expert in your profession meet the other eligibility requirements You can also do all the activities allowed as a Standard Visitor , except for studying and transiting to another country. Professional artists, entertainers or musicians You can be paid to do an activity that relates directly to your profession including: performing talking about, presenting or launching your work to other professionals or the public giving lectures joining judging panels or debate panels taking part in professional conferences A ‘professional artist’ can be anyone working in the performing or creative arts. For example, poets, make-up artists, stylists, set designers, photographers and fashion models. Your invitation You must have an invitation from a UK-based: creative organisation, such as a gallery, university arts faculty, school or events venue agent or agency broadcaster Your expertise and employment The event or engagement must relate directly to your full-time profession. You must be able to show you’re an established artist, entertainer or musician in your home country, for example: your published work publicity material for recent performances, screenings, concerts, talks, readings or exhibitions media coverage and reviews awards you’ve received Professional sportspeople You can be paid to do an activity that relates directly to your sporting profession. For example, taking part in a sporting event. Your invitation You must have an invitation from a UK-based: sports organisation that organises or hosts sporting events or matches agent or agency broadcaster Your expertise and employment The event or engagement must relate directly to your full-time profession. You must be able to show you’re an established sportsperson in your home country, for example: proof of recent performances, awards and media coverage media coverage awards you’ve received Qualified lawyers You can be paid by a client to represent them in the UK at a court or tribunal hearing, arbitration or other form of legal dispute resolution. You can also be paid to visit the UK to prepare for the hearing. Your invitation You must have an invitation from your client, showing you’ve been asked to represent them in the UK. You must provide confirmation of your right of audience or ‘temporary call’. Your expertise and employment You may need to show that you’re a qualified lawyer, such as a practising certificate or certificate of good standing. Lecturers You can be paid to give a lecture or series of lectures about your area of expertise. You cannot take a full-time or part-time teaching post for your host organisation. Your invitation You must have an invitation from a UK-based: higher education institution research organisation arts organisation, such as a museum, theatre, art gallery, arts festival or other arts venue Your expertise and employment Your work overseas must be relevant to the lecture or lectures that you’re giving. You must be able to show you’re highly qualified in your area of expertise. For example, you can provide: a letter from your employer confirming where you work and your area of expertise examples of your published work evidence of lectures you’ve already given If you want to give a lecture on a subject not relevant to your current role, you may need to provide evidence of: any previous employment or posts held in this area publications on the subject other recognised qualifications You can visit for a permitted paid event or engagement, if you’re semi-retired and earning an income from giving regular lectures. You cannot do this if you’re retired. Academic examiners or assessors You can be paid to: examine or assess students chair or take part in selection panels Your invitation You must have an invitation from a UK higher education institution or a UK-based research or arts organisation. Your expertise and employment Your work overseas must be relevant to the role you’ve been invited to do. You must be able to show you’re highly qualified in your area of expertise. For example, you can provide: a letter from your employer confirming where you work and your area of expertise examples of your published work evidence of lectures you’ve already given You can visit for a permitted paid event or engagement if you’re semi-retired and earning an income from regular examination work. You cannot do this if you’re retired. Air pilot examiners You can be paid to examine UK-based air pilots, so they meet the national aviation regulatory requirements of your country. Your invitation You must have an invitation from a UK-based approved training organisation regulated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority. Your expertise and employment You must be able to show that you’re in full-time employment overseas with your country’s national aviation authority.

Visit the UK for a Permitted Paid Engagement

Overview

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

You can visit the UK for up to 1 month. You cannot extend your stay in the UK.

What you need to do

Check if what you plan to do in the UK is allowed.
Check you meet the eligibility requirements.
Prepare your invitation and other documents.
Check if you need to apply for a visa to visit the UK.
Apply for a Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor visa online - if you need one.

What you can and cannot do

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

as a professional artist, entertainer or musician
as a professional sportsperson
as a qualified lawyer - to represent a client
to give a lecture or series of lectures
as an academic - to be a student examiner or assessor
as an air pilot examiner

Check if what you’re being paid to do in the UK is allowed.

You cannot:

do paid work unrelated to your main overseas job or area of expertise
study
live in the UK for extended periods
claim public funds (benefits)
pass through the UK to another country (‘in transit’)
marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership - you’ll need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa

Check you meet the eligibility requirements

You must be able to show that:

you’ve been formally invited by a UK-based organisation to attend a pre-arranged event or other permitted engagement
the event or engagement relates directly to your expertise, qualifications and main job in your home country
you’re 18 or over
you’re visiting the UK for no more than 1 month
you’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit
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’ll not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home

The rules on what you’ll need to enter the UK may be different if you’re travelling from Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man.

Prepare your invitation and other documents

You must have a passport or travel document to enter the UK. It should be valid for the whole of your stay.

You need a formal written invitation from a UK-based organisation. The invitation letter could be from:

an organisation in the creative arts or entertainment industries
a sports organisation, agent or broadcaster
a higher education institution
a research organisation
an aviation training organisation regulated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority
a client, if you’re a lawyer

You must show the event or engagement relates to your expertise, qualifications and main job in your home country. For example, you could show a letter from your employer.

You may need additional documents depending on what you’re being paid to do in the UK.

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

Check if you need a visa to visit the UK

Depending on your nationality, you’ll either:

have to apply for a Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor visa before you travel to the UK
be able to visit the UK for up to 1 month without needing a visa

You can check if you need a visa before you apply.

If you do not need a visa

You must get a stamp in your passport from a Border Force officer when you enter the UK. You cannot use the ePassport gates.

The Border Force officer will check that:

you meet the eligibility requirements
you have an invitation from a relevant UK-based organisation or client
the paid engagement relates to your expertise, qualifications and main job

If you’ve previously been refused entry to the UK or have a criminal record, you may want to apply for a Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor visa (even if you do not need one).

If you have to apply for a Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor visa

You must apply for a Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor visa online before you travel to the UK.

A Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor visa costs £115 for up to 1 month. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Visit the UK for a Permitted Paid Engagement

Overview

What you need to do

What you can and cannot do

Check you meet the eligibility requirements

Prepare your invitation and other documents

Check if you need a visa to visit the UK

If you do not need a visa

If you have to apply for a Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor visa

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Visit the UK for a Permitted Paid Engagement

Overview

What you need to do

What you can and cannot do

Check you meet the eligibility requirements

Prepare your invitation and other documents

Check if you need a visa to visit the UK

If you do not need a visa

If you have to apply for a Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor visa

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