Overviews of UK Business Visitor Visas

It’s essential to note that if you’re coming to the UK as a business visitor, you cannot work for a UK company directly. While you can visit for up to 6 months, you can only undertake paid or unpaid work covered under the listed business activities below: 

• Attend interviews, meetings, conferences, and seminars.
• Negotiate and finalise deals or contracts.
• Participate in trade fairs to promote your business (selling items is prohibited).
• Receive work-related training if employed overseas, provided the training is unavailable in your home country.
• Deliver a one-off or short series of talks, as long as they are not for profit or part of a commercial event.
• Conduct site visits and inspections.
• Supervise the delivery of goods or services by a UK company to your overseas company or organisation.
• Provide training or share expertise on internal projects with UK employees of your overseas company.
• Install, dismantle, repair, service, or advise on equipment, computer software, or hardware under a contract between your overseas company and a UK company or organisation.

If you want to conduct activities not included on this list, you’ll likely need to apply for a Skilled Worker Visa. If you’re self-employed, you will not be able to work in the UK under a Business Visitor Visa unless you enter for a ‘permitted paid engagement’.

If you’re coming to the UK as a self-employed individual, you can undertake specific paid engagements or events (known as a ‘permitted paid engagement’). To be eligible to operate in this way, you’ll need to meet the following criteria:

• You have a written invitation from a UK-based organisation or client for a pre-arranged event or other approved engagement.
• You can demonstrate expertise in your profession.
• You are aged 18 or older.

The engagement must align with your professional expertise, qualifications, and primary occupation in your home country. If you’re able to satisfy this criteria, you can stay in the UK for up to six months, but the permitted paid engagement must take place within the first month of your visit.

You may be invited to the UK for roles such as:

• A professional artist, entertainer, or musician.
• A professional sportsperson.
• A qualified lawyer representing a client.
• Delivering a lecture or a series of lectures.
• Speaking at a conference.
• An academic acting as a student examiner or assessor.
• An air pilot examiner.

The type of invitation you need and the evidence required to prove your expertise depends on your profession. You can find out the specifics on the government web page for paid engagement events.

Some business visitors may undertake certain additional activities in the UK if they are employed overseas in the same role. The following roles are all included covered under this scheme:

• Archaeologist
• Artist, entertainer, or musician
• Bodyguard
• Camera operator
• Driver
• Internal auditor
• Journalist or correspondent
• Lawyer or expert witness
• Market researcher or analyst
• Personal assistant
• Pilot or cabin crew member working in the UK under a ‘Wet Lease Agreement’ approved by the Civil Aviation Authority
• Professor from an overseas academic institution
• Religious worker
• Scientist or researcher
• Seafarer (someone whose usual workplace is a ship)
• Sportsperson or sports official
• Tour group courier
• Translator or interpreter
• Member of a film crew, including actors, producers, directors, or technicians
• Member of a production team supporting an artist, entertainer, or musician
• Technical staff supporting an artist, entertainer, musician, or sportsperson

The specifics of what is permissible under each of these professions are detailed in a document known as Appendix Visitor. You should refer to this document for guidance on exactly what is and isn’t allowed under the visa. 

Depending on your nationality, you may not need to apply for a visa to come to the UK as a business visitor. Alternatively, you may need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) instead, which permits you to visit the UK for up to six months. Therefore, before starting an application, you should check the requirements using the UKVI visa eligibility checker.

If you do need to apply for a visa, the following costs apply:

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before you intend to travel. Applications are generally processed relatively quickly, with most applicants receiving a decision back within 3 weeks.  

When applying for a Business Visitor Visa, you’ll need to make an online application. Before you apply, you should check that you require a visa and that your nationality cannot obtain a visa on arrival.

If you do need to make an application, you should ensure you can meet the following requirements:

• The business you’ll be conducting in the UK is within the permitted guidelines and rules.
• You have sufficient funds to support yourself for the duration of your stay.
• The visit is intended to be short-term in nature, and you plan to leave at the end of your visit.
• You don’t have any adverse immigration history or convictions that could result in you failing the good character requirement.

Providing these requirements are met, your visa application should be successful. If you have any doubts about your eligibility or if you need assistance with your application, please get in touch.