Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor
Visit for a paid engagement or event
You can visit the UK for certain paid engagements or events (a 鈥榩ermitted paid engagement鈥�) if you:
- have a written invitation from a UK-based organisation or client for a pre-arranged event or other permitted engagement
- can show you鈥檙e an expert in your profession
- are 18 or over
The engagement must be relevant to your expertise, qualifications and main job in your home country.
You can come to the UK for up to 6 months, but you must do the engagement in the first month.
You can be invited:
- as a professional artist, entertainer or musician
- as a professional sportsperson
- as a qualified lawyer - to represent a client
- to give a lecture or series of lectures
- to speak at a conference
- as an academic - to be a student examiner or assessor
- as an air pilot examiner
You should:
- check you meet the basic eligibility requirements for a Standard Visitor
- check if you need a visa to visit the UK
- apply for a Standard Visitor visa online - if you need one
Who can invite you and what you can use to show you鈥檙e an expert depends on your profession.
Professional artists, entertainers or musicians
You can be paid to do an activity that relates directly to your profession including:
- performing
- talking about, presenting or launching your work to other professionals or the public
- giving lectures
- joining judging panels or debate panels
- taking part in professional conferences
A 鈥榩rofessional artist鈥� can be anyone working in the performing or creative arts. For example, poets, make-up artists, stylists, set designers, photographers and fashion models.
Your invitation
You must have an invitation from a UK-based:
- creative organisation, such as a gallery, university arts faculty, school or events venue
- agent or agency
- broadcaster
Your expertise and employment
The event or engagement must relate directly to your full-time profession.
You must be able to show you鈥檙e an established artist, entertainer or musician in your home country, for example:
- your published work
- publicity material for recent performances, screenings, concerts, talks, readings or exhibitions
- media coverage and reviews
- awards you鈥檝e received
Professional sportspeople
You can be paid to do an activity that relates directly to your sporting profession. For example, taking part in a sporting event.
Your invitation
You must have an invitation from a UK-based:
- sports organisation that organises or hosts sporting events or matches
- agent or agency
- broadcaster
Your expertise and employment
The event or engagement must relate directly to your full-time profession.
You must be able to show you鈥檙e an established sportsperson in your home country, for example:
- proof of recent performances, awards and media coverage
- media coverage
- awards you鈥檝e received
Qualified lawyers
You can be paid by a client to represent them in the UK at a court or tribunal hearing, arbitration or other form of legal dispute resolution.
You can also be paid to visit the UK to prepare for the hearing.
Your invitation
You must have an invitation from your client, showing you鈥檝e been asked to represent them in the UK.
You must provide confirmation of your right of audience or 鈥榯emporary call鈥�.
Your expertise and employment
You may need to show that you鈥檙e a qualified lawyer, such as a practising certificate or certificate of good standing.
Lecturers
You can be paid to give a lecture or series of lectures about your area of expertise.
You cannot take a full-time or part-time teaching post for your host organisation.
Your invitation
You must have an invitation from a UK-based:
- higher education institution
- research organisation
- arts organisation, such as a museum, theatre, art gallery, arts festival or other arts venue
Your expertise and employment
Your work overseas must be relevant to the lecture or lectures that you鈥檙e giving.
You must be able to show you鈥檙e highly qualified in your area of expertise. For example, you can provide:
- a letter from your employer confirming where you work and your area of expertise
- examples of your published work
- evidence of lectures you鈥檝e already given
If you want to give a lecture on a subject not relevant to your current role, you may need to provide evidence of:
- any previous employment or posts held in this area
- publications on the subject
- other recognised qualifications
You can visit for a permitted paid event or engagement, if you鈥檙e semi-retired and earning an income from giving regular lectures. You cannot do this if you鈥檙e retired.
Speakers at conferences
You can be paid to speak at a conference or seminar.聽
Your invitation
You must have an invitation to speak from the organiser of a conference or seminar in the UK.
Your expertise and employment
You must be able to show that the conference or seminar is relevant to your area of expertise and profession in your home country.
Academic examiners or assessors
You can be paid to:
- examine or assess students
- chair or take part in selection panels
Your invitation
You must have an invitation from a UK higher education institution or a UK-based research or arts organisation.
Your expertise and employment
Your work overseas must be relevant to the role you鈥檝e been invited to do.
You must be able to show you鈥檙e highly qualified in your area of expertise. For example, you can provide:
- a letter from your employer confirming where you work and your area of expertise
- examples of your published work
- evidence of lectures you鈥檝e already given
You can visit for a permitted paid event or engagement if you鈥檙e semi-retired and earning an income from regular examination work. You cannot do this if you鈥檙e retired.
Air pilot examiners
You can be paid to examine UK-based air pilots, so they meet the national aviation regulatory requirements of your country.
Your invitation
You must have an invitation from a UK-based approved training organisation regulated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
Your expertise and employment
You must be able to show that you鈥檙e in full-time employment overseas with your country鈥檚 national aviation authority.