A business visitor is someone who will visit the United Kingdom in order to undertake activities which are directly linked to their employment or business abroad. A business visitor will also receive their salary abroad. However, they may receive travel and living expenses from sources in the UK. If you would like further information and personal advice on the business visitor visa, please complete this simple query form.
The aim of this scheme is to give people the opportunity to take part in certain types of business and business related activities for a short period of time. This is a response to the growing global nature of business and the need for non-EEA nationals to take part in short business visits to the United Kingdom.
Eligibility
In order to qualify as a business visitor to the UK, you must be able to prove the following:
- That you only intend to stay in the UK for up to six months;
- That you intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit;
- That you can support yourself without relying on public funds;
- That you usually live and work abroad and you have no plans to base yourself in the United Kingdom; and
- That you do not intend to work, produce goods or provide services in the United Kingdom.
What type of business can successful applicants undertake in the UK?
If you are a business visitor to the UK you may engage in the following activities:
- Attend meetings, conferences, seminars and trade fairs;
- Purchase things, and negotiate contracts with businesses in the United Kingdom;
- Take part in fact finding missions, examine goods check details; and
- Receive training only through classroom instruction and observation.
It is also possible to enter the United Kingdom under the business visitor visa if you take part in the following:
- If you are delivering goods from abroad; such as an international lorry driver;
- If you are coming as a representative of a foreign IT company in order to service, modify or install their product;
- If you are coming as a representative of a foreign machine manufacturer to repair, service or install machinery; (It may be part of a contract of purchase and supply, in which case you are allowed to install machinery that is too big to be delivered in one piece)
- Applicants coming as advisors or consultants to a UK firm; (Applicants will need to be employed abroad, directly or under contract, either by the same company or group of companies that the client firm belongs to)
- If you are coming to provide certain types of training; (The training has to be for a specific reason and not go beyond classroom instruction. It is also required to be relatively inaccessible anywhere else in the United Kingdom.)
- If you are coming as a guest speaker at a seminar or conference; (It has to be a single or occasional event and must not be a commercial project that you are part of.)
- If you are coming to lead a seminar or conference; (Events cannot be more than five days. They need to be single or occasional, involving a specialist subject that attracts a wide audience, including people from outside the United Kingdom.)
- If you are coming as a specialist in a specific area to present to United Kingdom businessmen about overseas export requirements; or
- If you are coming as an entertainer or sports person to participate in trials or auditions, or for personal appearances which must not involve performances.
Is there a limit to the number of visits I can make to the UK?
Any visitors to the United Kingdom whether they come to the UK for business or social reasons on a visitor visa are only allowed to remain in the UK for a period of six months. There is no limit on the amount of times applicants can visit the UK but it is expected that you will not spend more than six months of any year in the United Kingdom. If you are staying for long periods, it may look as though you are basing yourself in the UK and working without permission. If this is suspected, you may be refused entry. Leave as a business visitor does not lead or count towards Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Rules and restrictions
As a business visitor to the United Kingdom, you are not permitted to take part in the following activities:
- You are not permitted to take on paid or unpaid employment
- You are not permitted to produce goods or provide services in the UK
- You are not permitted to sell goods and services to members of the public
If you are in the UK because you have been invited by a UK company, it may be necessary for you to obtain a letter from the company which explains the purpose of your trip. If your company or the UK is covering the costs of your trip, this should be added in the letter. For full details of all the required documents, contact us.
