If you are an expert in your profession and have been invited by a UK-based organisation or client to do a paid engagement in the UK, you may be allowed to enter the country as a Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor without having to apply for a visa. 

Whether or not you need a visa depends on your nationality.

If you do require a Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor visa, this costs £100 and allows you to stay for up to 1 month. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel and you won’t be able to extend your stay in the UK once you’ve arrived.

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

• entertainer, artist, or musician – where you will be undertaking activities such as performing; presenting your work to the public or other professionals; giving lectures; joining judging or debate panels; or taking part in a conference for professionals.
  • A ‘professional artist’ is defined by the UK Government as anyone working in the creative or performing arts, such as photographers, models, stylists, set designers, make-up artists, poets, etc.
• Athlete – where you will be paid to do an activity that directly relates to your sporting profession, such as taking part in a sporting event. 
• qualified lawyer – where you will be paid by a client to represent them in the UK at a court or tribunal hearing, arbitration, or some other form of legal dispute resolution.  
• to give a lecture or series of lectures about your area of expertise – though please note that you will not be able to accept any employment offers from your host organisation during your stay
• academic – where you may be assessing or examining students or are visiting in order to chair or take part in selection panels.
• air pilot examiner – where you are visiting on behalf of your country’s national aviation authority in order to examine UK-based air pilots to determine if they meet the national aviation regulatory requirements of your country.

• do any paid work that is unrelated to your main overseas job or area of expertise
• study
• live in the UK for extended periods
• claim any public funds (benefits)
• pass through the UK to another country (if you need to transit through the UK to another country, you can apply for the ‘Visitor in Transit visa’ for £64)
• marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership (you will need to apply for a Marriage Visitor visa)

• You must be at least 18 years old
• You must leave the UK at the end of your visit
• You must be able to support yourself financially during your stay or have secured funding for the full trip
• You must not have any intention of making the UK your main home
• If you’re eligible for entry without a visa as a Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor, you need to get a stamp in your passport from a Border Force officer when you enter the UK (you can’t use the ePassport gates)

If you have ever 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 might otherwise think you do not need one.

If you’re unsure whether you need a visa or how to apply, you can seek advice from one of our qualified migration agents below.