What is a permitted paid engagement?

A permitted paid engagement is a specific, pre-arranged paid activity that an expert in their profession may do in the UK as a Standard Visitor, on the written invitation of a UK-based organisation or client. It is an exception to the rule that visitors cannot work, and the engagement must take place in the first month.

How a permitted paid engagement works

A Standard Visitor cannot do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person. There is one exception: a permitted paid engagement.^{[3]Home Office, Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor} It allows an expert in their profession to be paid for a particular event or activity while visiting. Our visitor visa page covers the wider visitor rules.

GOV.UK sets out what you need. You must have a written invitation from a UK-based organisation or client for a pre-arranged event or other permitted engagement. You must be able to show you are an expert in your profession. You must be 18 or over. The engagement must be relevant to your expertise, qualifications and main job in your home country.^{[1]Home Office, Standard Visitor: Visit for a paid engagement or event}

You can come to the UK for up to 6 months, but you must do the engagement in the first month.^{[1]Home Office, Standard Visitor: Visit for a paid engagement or event}

Depending on your nationality you may need a Standard Visitor visa, which costs £135, or you may be able to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA), which costs £20. Both allow a stay of up to 6 months. You must meet the eligibility requirements even if you do not need a visa.^{[4]Home Office, Visit the UK on a business trip}

Who can be invited and by whom

GOV.UK lists seven kinds of engagement. Each has its own rule about who must invite you.^{[1]Home Office, Standard Visitor: Visit for a paid engagement or event}

The same page describes a ‘professional artist’ broadly. It can be anyone working in the performing or creative arts, such as poets, make-up artists, stylists, set designers, photographers and fashion models.^{[1]Home Office, Standard Visitor: Visit for a paid engagement or event}

You must also show your expertise. Artists and musicians can use published work, publicity material, media coverage, reviews and awards. Sportspeople can use proof of recent performances, awards and media coverage. Lecturers can use a letter from their employer confirming where they work and their area of expertise, published work and evidence of lectures already given.^{[1]Home Office, Standard Visitor: Visit for a paid engagement or event}

A semi-retired lecturer or examiner who earns an income from regular lectures or examination work can visit for a permitted paid engagement. A retired person cannot.^{[1]Home Office, Standard Visitor: Visit for a paid engagement or event}

Example

Ravi is a professional photographer based overseas. A UK gallery invites him in writing to speak at a pre-arranged event and to join a panel. He is over 18 and the event relates directly to his full-time profession. He gathers published work, media coverage and awards to show he is an established photographer. He checks whether he needs a Standard Visitor visa or an ETA. He may stay for up to 6 months, but the event must take place in his first month.^{[1]Home Office, Standard Visitor: Visit for a paid engagement or event[4]Home Office, Visit the UK on a business trip}

Elena is a qualified lawyer from overseas. A UK client asks her to represent them in an arbitration. The client’s invitation shows she has been asked to represent them. She also gives confirmation of her right of audience or ‘temporary call’. She can be paid to attend the hearing and to visit the UK to prepare.^{[1]Home Office, Standard Visitor: Visit for a paid engagement or event}

What people get wrong

Many visitors think an invitation to work in the UK means they can take any paid work during the trip. A permitted paid engagement covers only the engagement named in the invitation and listed in the rules. Other paid or unpaid work, or self-employment, is not allowed.

GOV.UK says you must apply for a work visa if you want to do any other paid or unpaid work in the UK.^{[2]Home Office, Standard Visitor: Visit on business} Our page on other work visas gives an overview.

A second mistake is the timing. The engagement must be done in the first month, even though a stay can last up to 6 months.^{[1]Home Office, Standard Visitor: Visit for a paid engagement or event} A third is the lecturer rule. You can be paid to give a lecture or series of lectures, but you cannot take a full-time or part-time teaching post for your host organisation.^{[1]Home Office, Standard Visitor: Visit for a paid engagement or event}

The bottom line

A permitted paid engagement lets an expert be paid for a specific, pre-arranged event while visiting the UK as a Standard Visitor. It needs a written invitation from the right kind of UK organisation or client, proof of expertise and an engagement that takes place in the first month. It does not open the door to any other work during the visit.