Permitted Paid Engagement in the UK
A Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE) lets certain experts come to the UK as a Standard Visitor and be paid for a specific engagement, such as a lecture, performance, sporting event or court case, as long as the engagement takes place within the first 30 days of the visit.
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There is no longer a separate “Permitted Paid Engagement visa”. Instead, you travel as a Standard Visitor and carry out the paid engagement under the visitor rules.
Our solicitors advise artists, academics, lawyers, speakers and sportspeople on whether their trip fits the PPE rules. We also advise when a work visa is needed instead.
Call 0207 100 2525 or book a free consultation.
Who Can Do a Permitted Paid Engagement?
PPE is limited to seven groups of established professionals, each invited by a UK-based organisation or client. According to GOV.UK – Visit for a paid engagement or event, these are:
- professional artists, entertainers or musicians
- professional sportspeople
- qualified lawyers, for advocacy in a court or tribunal
- lecturers
- conference speakers
- academic examiners or assessors
- air pilot examiners
You must be 18 or over, have a formal written invitation from a UK-based organisation or client, and the engagement must relate to your expertise and your main job. Semi-retired people who still earn from lecturing or examining can qualify. Fully retired people cannot.
| Route | Who it is for | Minimum salary (2026) | Overseas employment needed | Maximum stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Senior or Specialist Worker | Senior managers or specialists moving to a UK branch of their employer | £52,500 or the going rate, whichever is higher | 12 months (waived if paid £73,900+) | 5 years in any 6 (9 years in 10 if paid £73,900+) |
Graduate Trainee | Graduates on a structured training programme leading to a senior or specialist role | £27,300 or 70% of the going rate | 3 months | 12 months |
UK Expansion Worker | Senior staff setting up a UK branch of an overseas business that is not yet trading in the UK | £52,500 or the going rate | 12 months (exemptions apply) | 2 years |
Service Supplier | Contractual service suppliers and self-employed professionals delivering a contract covered by a UK trade agreement | Set by the role | 12 months | 6 or 12 months, depending on the trade agreement |
Secondment Worker | Staff of an overseas business with a high-value contract (at least £50 million) with a UK business | Set by the role | Required (see GOV.UK) | 2 years |
The 30-Day Rule
You can stay in the UK for up to 6 months, but the paid engagement must take place within the first month of your arrival. You must also arrange the engagement before you travel. It cannot be arranged once you are in the UK.
Do You Need a Visa or an ETA?
- Visa nationalsapply online for a Standard Visitor visa. It costs £135 for up to 6 months (UK – Standard Visitor).
- Non-visa nationals(for example US, Canadian and EU citizens) need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling, and can carry out a PPE on that basis. Non-visa national creative professionals should also read GOV.UK’s guidance on visiting the UK as a creative professional.
Government and international organisation workers can stay up to 2 years. Private servants can stay up to 5 years in total.
| Category | Maximum per grant | Maximum total stay |
|---|---|---|
| Overseas government or international organisation worker | 2 years, or CoS period + up to 14 days (whichever is shorter) | 2 years |
| Private servant in a diplomatic or international organisation household | 2 years, or CoS period + up to 14 days (whichever is shorter) | 5 years |
If your job ends early, the Home Office may cut your visa short and give you 60 days to leave, unless less than 60 days remain.
Documents to Bring or Upload
- a valid passport
- the formal invitation letter, which sets out the engagement, dates and payment
- evidence of your expertise: publications, awards, media coverage, reviews or professional registration
- evidence of funds and of your plans to leave the UK at the end of the visit
Our checklist of documents needed for a UK visitor visa covers the general evidence.
What You Cannot Do
You cannot use PPE to take up employment, fill a vacancy, extend your stay beyond 6 months, or bring dependants on your visit. If you will be working in the UK for longer, or for one employer on a regular basis, you will need a work route such as the Creative Worker visa or the International Sportsperson visa.
PPE vs Other Visitor Activities
- Meetings, negotiations and site visits without a fee → Visit for business
- Academic research and sabbaticals → Visit as an academic
Our article on avoiding a UK business visa refusal covers the mistakes we see most often.
How We Help
- Checking whether your engagement qualifies as a PPE
- Reviewing invitation letters and expertise evidence
- Preparing Standard Visitor visa applications
- Advising on work visa alternatives where PPE does not fit
Call 0207 100 2525 or book a free consultation.
FAQs
Is there still a Permitted Paid Engagement visa?
How long can I stay for a permitted paid engagement?
How much does it cost?
Can lawyers come to the UK under PPE?
Can I bring my family?
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