On 31 January 2024, the Government introduced changes to Appendix Visitor and accordingly the rules regarding Permitted Paid Engagements (PPE) were also modified.
The changes merged the previous PPE Visitor route into the Standard Visitor route, meaning that a specific PPE visa is no longer needed in order to take part in PPE in the UK. As a result of this change, individuals visiting for PPE purposes, are now considered a ‘standard visitor’ and will be granted 6 months permission to stay in the UK.
However, the rules have not changed in regard to when PPE must be carried out. It remains that the engagements must be completed within 30 days of the visitor’s entry to the UK.
Further changes to the rules are as follows:
The Applicant must be aged 18 or over when they enter the UK.
Previously applicants had to be aged 18 on the date of application, but now must only be 18 on the date that they enter the UK. This means that 17 year olds can apply for the Standard Visitor visa if they will turn 18 years old when they enter the UK.
The Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor, explains that:
The Applicant must intend to carry out one of the permitted paid engagements, which must have been:
- Arranged before the applicant travels to the UK
- Declared as part of the application for permission to enter the UK
- Evidenced by formal invitation
- Relate to the applicant’s area of expertise
Requirement (d) dictates that the event or engagement must relate directly to your full-time profession. For example, you must be able to show you’re an established artist, entertainer or musician in your home country if wishing to perform in the UK.
This is where the route now differs for visa-nationals (those who require a visa to enter the UK) and non-visa nationals (those who do not need a visa to enter the UK). You can check this visa requirements for your specific country on GOV UK Visa National List.
Visa Nationals
If you are a visa national, you must apply for a standard visit visa to the UK, as there is no longer an exclusive route for PPE visitors. As part of this application, you must declare that you wish to conduct PPE in the UK and what type of PPE you will be carrying out. You must provide evidence to the Home Office of points (a) – (d) described above.
Non-Visa Nationals
For non-visa nationals, you do not need to make a specific visa application to enter the UK. However, the above rules translates as a requirement to hold and be able to produce, either physically or electronically, relevant documents proving the above points (a)-(d) are met.
As explained below, guidance still requires that those eligible to enter the UK via e-gate must present to a Border Force officer if seeking PPE entry.
The permitted paid engagements remain the same as previously confirmed within Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor, with the new addition of ‘a speaker coming to the UK to give a one-off or short series of talks and speeches, where they have been invited to a conference or other event’. This is a long-awaited change, enabling people to receive payment from a UK source in return for speeches or talks at a specified conference, festival or event.
As a reminder, the exhaustive list of Permitted Paid Engagements is now as follows:
- highly qualified academics, examining students or participating in selection panels;
- experts giving lectures in their subject area;
- pilot examiners assessing UK-based pilots;
- qualified lawyers providing advocacy for legal proceedings, where invited by a client;
- professional artists, entertainers and musicians invited by a UK-based creative organisation, agent or broadcaster;
- professional sportspersons invited by a UK based sports organisation, agent or broadcaster;
- And the new addition - a speaker coming to the UK to give a one-off or short series of talks and speeches.
For more specific information about how you must evidence each of these engagements, you may find the updated GOV UK PPE webpage or general Visit Visa Guidance helpful.
UK Government officials have confirmed visitors that are eligible to use the e-gates as a standard visitor can also do so for the purposes of PPE activity, with online guidance to be updated soon.
For the time being your passport must be stamped by a border force official, who may ask you questions about the PPE you wish to undertake. It is stated that without a stamp you will not be allowed to carry out the activities you came to the UK to do.