What is a Permitted Paid Engagement Visa?
A Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE) visa is a sub-category of the Standard Visitor visa.
It is aimed at individuals outside the EEA and Switzerland who are formally invited by a UK-based organisation or client to carry out specific paid work from a particular profession or area of expertise. Individuals on a PPE visa can come to the UK for up to 1 month and can perform prearranged, paid work without having to apply for a points-based visa.
The Home Office’s application fee for a PPE visa is £93 and it takes approximately 3 weeks to reach a decision.
What are the requirements for a Permitted Paid Engagement visa?
Individuals wishing to apply for a PPE visa must meet the following requirements:
- Be aged 18 or over
- Be outside the EEA and Switzerland
- Have sufficient funds to support themselves without help from public funds and to pay for their return journey
- Want to come to the UK for no more than 1 month and will leave at the end of visit
- Want to come to the UK to do specific paid work in their field of expertise
- Have a formal invitation from a UK-based organisation or client
What type of work are you allowed to perform on a Permitted Paid Engagement visa?
The following activities and roles are usually permitted on a PPE visa on the invitation of a relevant UK-based organisation or client (this list is not exhaustive):
- Acting as a student examiner or assessor
- Lecturing at a higher education institution, provided it does not amount to a part-time or full-time teaching role
- Providing advocacy in a particular area of law
- Engagements in the arts, entertainment and music industries
- Participating in sporting activities
What are the limitations of a Permitted Paid Engagement visa?
The following things are not permitted on a PPE visa:
- Performing specific paid work which is unrelated to the applicant’s job or area of expertise
- A PPE visa cannot be extended and it is not possible to switch from a PPE visa to a different visa category
- PPE visas may not be used to spend prolonged periods of time in the UK or for frequent and successive visits
- Entering into a marriage or civil partnership
- Bringing family and/or dependants along; they must submit a separate application in their own right.
How can NA Law Solicitors help with a Permitted Paid Engagement visa?
If you wish to come to the UK on a PPE visa, you must ensure that you are aware of the types of activities you are allowed to perform. Carrying out a non-permitted activity, whether deliberately or by accident, can lead to the revocation of your visa and your potential deportation. As the rules regarding this are complex and change frequently, you should seek legal advice when making your application. It may be appropriate in some circumstances to apply via the Tier 2 route for longer assignments.
NA Law Solicitors are a niche immigration law firm specialising in individual migration and can advise you on your visa options and guide you throughout the entire application process. Please get in touch for an initial 15-minute consultation.