UK Permitted Paid Engagement Visa

What are the requirements for a Permitted Paid Engagement Visa?

The Permitted Paid Engagement Visa is a type of visa that allows you to come to the UK for a maximum duration of one month. You can apply for this visa if you have been invited to a paid engagement as a leading expert in your field.

You must meet a wide range of requirements to be eligible for this visa. You are also prohibited from bringing dependents to the UK on this visa or applying for an extension.

General eligibility requirements

You must meet a rigorous set of eligibility requirements to be considered for this visa category. This is mainly due to the short duration of the visa. Here’s a look at the key requirements you need to meet:

You must demonstrate that you are at least 18 years old.

Duration of the visit. You must demonstrate that your intended stay in the UK will not last longer than one month. The Home Office may also ask you to provide evidence that you will be leaving the country before your visa expires.

Formal invitation. You must have a formal invitation from an organization to attend an event in the UK. The invitation may also concern a short and paid commitment of another nature. In both cases, your commitment must be related to your professional background and your field of expertise.

Financial means. You are required to demonstrate that you have the financial means to support yourself once you are in the UK after obtaining your visa. You must also demonstrate that you can finance your trip home once your visa expires.

You may also need to meet other criteria, depending on the specifics of your case. Our Expertise London visa lawyers can review your case and help you determine exactly what requirements you need to meet. You can also consult our top immigration lawyers for assistance with other work visas.

What are the requirements for a Permitted Paid Engagement Visa?

The Permitted Paid Engagement Visa is a type of visa that allows you to come to the UK for a maximum duration of one month. You can apply for this visa if you have been invited to a paid engagement as a leading expert in your field.

• You must meet a wide range of requirements to be eligible for this visa. You are also prohibited from bringing dependents to the UK on this visa or applying for an extension.
• This particular visa is suitable for professionals, artists, academics and other specialists who wish to attend an event in the UK. You will also need to meet the eligibility requirements for intended work in the UK.
• Here at Adam Bernard Law Firm based in London, our top immigration lawyers can advise you on whether or not you are eligible for this visa. Our experienced Visa Lawyers in London will also guide you on how to submit an application online.

Who can apply for a Permitted Paid Engagement Visa?

This type of visa is typically intended for specialists or experts in specific fields. You can apply for this visa if you are one of the following:

• A guest lecturer who is to undertake a temporary assignment in the UK
• An individual who works in the creative industry, such as an entertainer, performer, or performer
• A renowned sportsman
• Television journalist with significant experience
• A student examiner
• A lawyer or other professional related to the legal sector
• A stylist or model in the fashion industry
• An academic researcher or guest speaker for an event
• A specialist pilot invited by an organization that falls under the regulation of the Civil Aviation Authority

Other roles and professions may also benefit from this visa category. You can consult our top immigration lawyers to see whether your occupation is eligible for this visa or not.

Invitation for paid engagement

One of the key requirements of the Permitted Paid Engagement Visa is that you must have a formal invitation from a UK-based organization or client. Your invitation must meet the following requirements:

• It must state the position you will hold or the activities you will undertake once you are in the UK
• The invitation must be related to a paid engagement
• The paid engagement listed in the invitation must be temporary, such as an event, and must not last more than one month
• The invitation may be from a higher education institution, a customer, an aviation training organization that falls under the regulation of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, a creative arts or entertainment-related organisation, a research organization, or a legal client
• You may need to provide evidence to demonstrate that you have the necessary qualifications, skills and background relevant to your intended role in the UK.

Such evidence may include past publications, previous awards won, media coverage related to your work, and reviews of your past work or performances.

Documents required for visa application

You will need to provide several supporting documents as part of your visa application. These include the following:

A travel document as valid as a passport. Your passport must have at least one blank page to receive your visa in case your visa application is successful.

A formal invitation. The formal invitation you receive from the UK organization inviting you must be provided as part of your visa application.

A qualifying test. You must provide relevant evidence to demonstrate that you are qualified for the intended job or role in the UK. Such proof can be in the form of academic qualifications, work history, work experience, previous achievements in your field, and so on.

Trip details. You are asked to provide details regarding when you intend to come to the UK, your intended departure date and where you intend to go after you leave the UK. This also serves as evidence that you intend to leave the UK at the end of your paid commitment.

Proof of financial means. You must provide evidence that you have the financial means to support yourself after arriving in the UK. You can provide bank statements or pay stubs as proof.

Other documents may also be required for the visa application. You can consult our visa lawyers in London to see the exact list of documents you need to provide as part of your visa application.

What can you do with a Permitted Paid Engagement Visa?

You can carry out various paid activities related to your specific field or industry after arriving in the UK on this visa. These activities include the following:

• Represent a client as an attorney
• Perform various duties as a pilot examiner
• Work as a student evaluator or examiner
• Holding one or more lessons
• Work on a relevant job as a professional sportsperson
• Undertake relevant work as an artist, entertainer or musician
• You are also prohibited from engaging in several activities with this visa. With this visa it is not possible to carry out the following operations:
• Request for public funds and benefits
• Living in the UK for longer periods
• Study in the UK
• Carry out any paid work unrelated to your profession or work experience
• Getting married in the UK or registering a civil partnership
• Use the visa as a means of transiting through the UK to another country

Apply to have any dependents join you in the UK

You can consult our top immigration lawyer to understand the precise limitations that may apply to your visa.

Visa application and fees

You can apply for a visa up to three months before your intended travel date. You must receive an invitation from an eligible UK organization when applying for your visa. It’s best to apply as early as possible so you have plenty of time to address any issues with your application.

• The standard fee for this visa category is £100. The Home Office typically takes three months to process your application after you have paid the visa fee and met other requirements.
• You can use premium services to speed up the visa application process. For a fee of £212, you can get a decision within 5 working days. If you want a decision sooner, you can pay £956 to get a decision on your visa application within one working day.

If you want to make an early decision for an urgent commitment to the UK, you can consult our visa lawyers in London for your options.

How do I apply for a Permitted Paid Engagement Visa?

To apply for a DPI visa, you must have an invitation to join you in the UK from an organization or client.

• This invitation must be to carry out specific paid work with them. This work can range from working as an artist, to working as a visiting lecturer.
• You can make an application through the Home Office, by post or online. For this, you will need evidence of this invitation and evidence that you are capable of carrying out the work to the standard required by the client or UK-based organisation.

What is a Permitted Paid Engagement Visa?

A Permitted Paid Engagement Visa is a type of temporary visa to the UK. In a way, it is a cross between a tourist visa and a work visa. The visa allows its holders to enter the UK for up to one month for the purpose of carrying out work in their specialist profession.

The route is perfect for people who need to visit the UK to work on an event (for example, as a guest artist or speaker) and also for broadcast journalists.

Who can apply for the Permitted Paid Engagement Visa?

• a student examiner or evaluator;
• a guest speaker or academic speaker;
• a guest lecturer (provided not part-time/full-time);
• a specialist pilot exam (provided invited by an organization regulated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority)
• a legal professional;
• an artist, entertainer, sportsman or broadcaster; AND
• a model/stylist

How much does a Permitted Paid Engagement Visa cost?

The UKVI application fee for a Permitted Paid Engagement Visa is £100.

If an applicant wishes to receive their offer quicker than the usual three weeks, they may be able to pay a premium fee to receive the response in five working days (£500); or one working day (£800).

What evidence do I need to apply for a Permitted Paid Engagement Visa?

The documents you need to show when applying for a Permitted Paid Engagement Visa are as follows:

• your passport/travel identification (must have a blank visa page);
• evidence that you can support yourself financially during your stay in the UK (such as a pay slip from the last six months);
• information about where you intend to stay during your stay in the UK;
• information about your travel plans (for example where you plan to go after being in the UK);
• a formal invitation for the position you wish to fill (must be from a client or UK-based organization and the person by whom you will be paid if your application is accepted; and

evidence that you are qualified to take on the position (such as evidence of relevant qualifications or employment).

If you are a professional in the arts, entertainment or sport, you will also need to demonstrate the following:

• your publications;
• advertising material;
• prizes you have won;
• reviews of your work;
• media coverage of your work;
• evidence of your recent performances.

How can the IAS help you with your Permitted Paid Engagement Visa application?

Our lawyers can assist you with this type of visa application in the following ways:

• evaluate your eligibility by reviewing your invitation, qualifications and other potential supporting documents/evidence;
• helping you acquire more documents from the relevant authorities;
• complete application forms professionally and accurately to ensure they meet the standards required by the Home Office;
• work with UKVI on your behalf;
• compile supporting evidence in a portfolio of questions – this presents your case comprehensively to immigration officials and allows them to review it easily;

write a detailed representation letter that serves as a cover letter and supports your application.