Business Visitor Visa

The Business Visitor Visa caters to individuals intending to visit the UK to conduct short-term, unpaid business activities.

This visa permits a temporary stay of up to 6 months. It’s important to note that this route doesn’t lead to UK settlement, and individual applications are required, even for group travellers.

Requirements for a Business Visitor Visa:

To qualify, you must demonstrate to UK Visas & Immigration that you meet the requirements of a Standard Visitor Visa including:

• You are a visa national (or a non-visa national seeking entry as a Visitor upon arrival in the UK);
• You are a genuine visitor;
• Your visit is genuinely for a purpose allowed by visitor routes;
• You won’t engage in any prohibited activities;
• You have adequate funds for all visit-related expenses, excluding employment or public funds;
• You intend to leave the UK after your visit;
• You will not reside in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits;
• Your application does not violate any general refusal reasons.

Visa nationals generally need to apply for a Visit Visa before traveling to the UK. The Home Office provides a list of nationalities requiring a Visit Visa in advance.

Non-visa nationals can typically seek entry as a Visitor on arrival in the UK but must meet Standard Visitor requirements on entry. This includes being prepared to explain their visit’s purpose and how they will be supported during their stay in the UK, including their return travel arrangements.

Permitted Activities on a Business Visitor Visa:

Eligibility requires proving the intent to enter the UK for a purpose allowed by visitor routes without engaging in prohibited activities. Business activities should be linked to employment outside the UK, lasting less than 6 months and prearranged where possible.

Business Visitor Visa holders may:

• Attend meetings, conferences, seminars, and interviews;
• Give non-profit talks or speeches;
• Negotiate and sign deals and contracts;
• Attend trade fairs for promotional work;
• Conduct site visits and inspections;
• Gather information for overseas employment;
• Receive briefings on UK-based customer requirements, with work for the customer done outside the UK.

Intra-corporate Activities:

• Advising, consulting, troubleshooting, training, or sharing skills and knowledge;
• Internal auditors conducting audits at a UK branch of the same corporate group.

Other Activities:

• Install, repair, service, or advise on machinery, equipment, or software where there’s a contract with a UK company;
• Represent clients of UK export companies overseeing contract fulfilment;
• Engage in specific activities related to employment outside the UK (e.g., translators, personal assistants, journalists).

Whether your intended activity amounts to a permitted activity may depend on your circumstances, and consulting an immigration solicitor for expert advice is advisable.

How We Can Help:

Our solicitors are skilled in helping business individuals worldwide secure UK visas for short-term business activities and understand permitted activities. We offer advice, application assistance, and legal representation for challenging refusals. We pride ourselves on being approachable, proactive, and committed to providing clear, reliable immigration advice as part of our professional service.