Paid Permitted Engagement visa

This visa permits short paid engagements for those with defined skills and expertise.

This includes some academic activities. They may apply to come to the UK for an engagement of up to one month without the need to be sponsored under the points-based system.

Permitted activities include:

• Student examiner or assessor
• Taking part in selection panels for the education, arts or research organisation they are invited by as a highly qualified academic
• Giving lectures, as long as they are not in a formal teaching role

Visiting Examiners and Assessors

The individual must be highly qualified in their own field of expertise and be invited by a UK higher education institution to:

• Examine students
• Chair or participate in selection panels as part of that institution's quality assurance processes.

Visiting Lecturers

The individual must be invited by a UK higher education institution to give an individual or series of lectures in their field of expertise.

A formal invitation is required to undertake the pre-arranged engagement to show that the engagement relates to:

• the individual's expertise and/or qualifications
• their full-time occupation in their home country

Letters of Invitation

The individual will need a letter of invitation from the University in relation to their paid engagement.

The letter should be produced by the department, signed of by the Head of Department, and should clearly state in a non-technical manner the purpose and duration of the engagement.

Applications

Applications for permitted paid engagement visas are made directly by the individual to to UK Visas and Immigration using the on-line application system. The application does not require University sponsorship.

Getting a passport stamp

Those coming to the UK to carry out Permitted Paid Engagements (including academic, professors, guests speakers or people coming for a PhD) from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United States of America will need to see an immigration officer at the port of entry and get a stamp in their passport.

These travellers will require a specific grant of leave, which has to be given by an immigration officer (in the form of a stamp) at the port of entry. Without this passport stamp these individuals will be unable to do the activities they are coming to the UK to do.