Permit Free Festival Or Permitted Paid Engagement Visa?

When entering the UK on a Standard Visitor visa, you will generally not be allowed to accept payment equivalent to a salary (i.e. beyond reasonable expenses incurred for travel and living costs) for any activities undertaken in the UK whilst here as a visitor. The only exceptions to this are listed under paragraph 4.6 of Appendix Visitor.

This allows for payments to be accepted when the visitor:

1. Is an artist, entertainer or musician attending a Permit Free Festival in the UK; or
2. Has permission as a Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor.

In this post we consider the circumstances in which you can apply to visit the UK for either a Permitted Paid Engagement or to attend a Permit Free Festival, and what you should have in mind when making your application.