Permitted Paid Engagement Visa
For established professionals to undertake specific paid engagements in their area of expertise for up to 1 month in the UK.
Validity
- Stay up to 6 months
- But complete engagement in the first month
Who it’s for
- Established experts invited by a UK organisation
- No sponsorship under work routes; no general employment
About the visa
The Permitted Paid Engagement visa allows established experts to enter the UK for a short, pre-arranged, paid professional engagement in their field of expertise, without sponsorship under a work route.
Eligibility & key rules
Applicants must be recognised in their field, 18+, and invited by a UK organisation for a specific activity that aligns with their expertise. The engagement must be pre-arranged and evidenced by a formal invitation.
What you can / cannot do
Permitted: deliver the invited paid engagement (e.g., lecture, examination, performance). Not permitted: general employment, repeated engagements, extending beyond 1 month, or switching to other routes from within the UK.
Fees, documents & process
Apply online, provide biometrics, and include the formal invitation and evidence of expertise and overseas employment. Typical decisions are in around 3 weeks.
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