The Permitted Paid Engagement Visa allows industry experts to participate in paid work for a UK-based organisation or client. This visa does not require the applicant to meet sponsorship or point-based requirements. However, in order to qualify for a Permitted Paid Engagement Visa, you must be established in your industry.
This visa will allow you one month of stay in the UK. As one of the shorter Work Visa options, it is a great choice for professionals who only intend on participating in short-term work engagements. If you are residing in the UK on a Permitted Paid Engagement Visa and would like to return for a longer period of stay, you will have to pursue one of the alternative visa routes that are available.
Permitted Paid Engagement Visa requirements
In order to successfully apply for a Permitted Paid Engagement Visa, you must meet certain requirements. As you will not have to meet the sponsorship requirements, you must be able to prove that you intend on spending your stay in the UK working in your area of expertise.
Those who are working in specific roles, such as examiners, lecturers, athletes, entertainers, artists and professional models, who have been invited to work by a UK-based organisation or client are the ideal applicant for this visa option. However, in order to successfully apply, you must make sure that you meet the following requirements.
An eligible candidate must:
- Be over the age of 18.
- Intend to stay in the UK for less than 1 month.
- Intend to leave the UK at the end of your engagement.
- Have been formally invited by a UK organisation or client to partake in a paid engagement.
- Not frequently live in the UK over several successive visits.
As well as the general requirements that must be met, an applicant must be able to provide evidence of available finances in order to support themselves. This includes proof that an applicant can both support their own living expenses as well as the finances required to pay for a return or onward trip following the end of their stay.
Additionally, applicants will be required to provide proof of their paid engagement with a UK-based business or client in order to prove that they intend to stay for work. This may include proof of any business and other activities that you will be carrying out during your month of stay.
If you would like to make sure that you meet all of the eligibility criteria and wish to submit an application that highlights that you are an applicable candidate, please contact QC Immigration.
With our extensive experience, our team will be able to make sure you are pursuing the right visa with a strong application that has a good chance of being accepted.
Documentation
As well as meeting the requirements needed to successfully apply for a Permitted Paid Engagement Visa, you must be able to provide documentation supporting your application. This includes proof of finances and paid work with a UK business or client.
Your paid engagement must relate to your area of expertise and your activities outside of work must be in line with the UK Visitor Rules.
The presentation of your application and its supporting documents is important. If you meet all of the relevant requirements, you must be able to clearly highlight this through a well-presented visa application in order to receive a quick decision with a better chance of acceptance. Contact QC Immigration today to put together a strong application.
If you wish to return to the UK
If you spend a month in the UK on the Permitted Paid Engagement Visa and wish to return to carry out further work for the UK-based employer – or to work for the UK based employer on a full-time basis – you will have to pursue a visa with a longer period of stay. Those who would apply for the Permitted Paid Engagement Visa would likely apply for another type of Work Visa should they wish to return for a more permanent stay to work.
Visas that may be applicable for those following a month’s stay in the UK on a Permitted Paid Engagement Visa include:
You may be granted a longer period of stay, as long as you meet sponsorship requirements as well as other additional requirements. Many of these visa routes may also offer an eventual path towards ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) through the 5-year route.
Please note that you must return to your home country while waiting for a decision on a visa application following the end of your Permitted Paid Engagement Visa’s period of stay.
How QC Immigration can help
If you are pursuing a Permitted Paid Engagement Visa, our experienced team at QC Immigration has both the experience and expertise to assist you to put together a strong application that has a good chance of success.
We will be able to provide the practical guidance that is needed to ensure your applicable traits for the Permitted Paid Engagement Visa are highlighted.
Please get in touch with us online or book a consultation. Alternatively, you can phone us on 0203 637 8633 or email us at info@qc-immigration.com.
FAQs
How much does the Permitted Paid Engagement Visa cost?
The Permitted Paid Engagement Visa itself will only cost £100, however, in order to prove that you are established in your industry and qualify for the visa, it is highly advisable to bring on legal support. This is because you do not want to go through a potentially lengthy and costly appeal process for 1 month of stay. You will also need to consider additional fees such as certified translations of documents.
How long will it take for me to receive my Permitted Paid Engagement Visa decision?
Typically, you will receive your Permitted Paid Engagement Visa decision within 3 weeks of your application. You will increase your chances of a quick response by submitting a well-presented application that clearly highlights why you meet the requirements for a Permitted Paid Engagement Visa. You may also opt for a Priority Service to get a faster decision.
