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If you are looking to visit and conduct business in the UK, there is no specific Business Visitor Visa. Instead, the Standard UK Visitor Visa encompasses many different reasons for coming to the UK, including short term visits to do business, subject to certain rules and restrictions.Â
Therefore, if you want to come and do business in the UK for a short period of time, then you will need to get a Standard UK Visitor Visa. We can assist you by guiding you through the application process.Â
Please note that if the activity you wish to undertake is not classed as a Permitted Paid Engagement under the visa rules, then the Standard UK Visitor Visa option may not be suitable. Keep reading to find out more, and see how we can help you with your visa application.
Valid business activities for a visa
To qualify for a Standard UK Visitor Visa for business purposes, your visit to the UK must involve certain types of activities.Â
These activities are:
- Attend interviews, meeting and conferences
- Attend business fairs to promote your company
- Carry out a Permitted Paid Engagement
- Do a site visit or inspection
- Get work training if you cannot get it in your home countryÂ
- Give a talkÂ
- Install, service or advise on equipment, computer hardware and software
- Negotiate business deals
- Oversee the delivery of goods from the UK to your company abroad
- Provide training for UK employees of an overseas company
Please note that if you are planning to give a talk or perform a similar engagement, thenyou cannot receive payment unless it is a Permitted Paid Engagement. We will provide more detail on this in the next paragraph.
Certain job roles can also carry out activities on a Visitor Visa, such as people carrying out academic research and journalists visiting for news stories. You can find out more about this on the Government’s webpage regarding visiting for business.
What are Permitted Paid Engagements for a Standard UK Visitor Visa?
Permitted paid engagements are activities that you must carry out within your first month of being in the UK on your Visitor Visa if it is the reason behind your visit. They must also be relevant to your specific expertise and career.Â
To be able to come to the UK on a UK Visitor Visa for the purpose of a paid engagement, you must be 18 or over and have:
- A written invitation from a UK-based client or organisation for an eventÂ
- Proof you are an expert in your field
Types of Permitted Paid Engagements include:
- Academic student examiner
- Air pilot examiner
- Conference speaker
- Lecturer to give a lecture
- Qualified lawyer representing a client
- Perform as a professional entertainer, or do a talk
- Perform as a professional sportsperson, or do a talk
Additionally, to prove your expertise in the above areas, you can provide various types of proof, such as previous employers, your qualifications, published work, and a letter of confirmation from your current employer.Â
Other requirements for a UK Visitor Visa
Along with needing a valid Permitted Paid Engagement, you will also need to meet the general requirements of the Standard UK Visitor Visa.Â
These general requirements are proof that you:
- Can afford to pay for your return or onward journey, or proof someone else is covering the cost for you
- Have funds to support yourself and any dependants you bring during your stay, or proof someone else is supporting you
- Will leave the UK at the end of your visit
- Will not make the UK your main home or visit for extended periods of time that the visa does not allow forÂ
Please note that people from some countries may not need to apply for a Visitor Visa. Please check on the UK government website.Â
What can I not do on a UK Visitor Visa?
Now you know what you can do for business on a Standard UK Visitor Visa, we will take you through some of the things that you are not allowed to do.Â
We have already mentioned that you cannot use this visa to stay in the UK for an extended period of time. However, there are other acts you cannot do as well.
In addition to what has been mentioned, you also cannot:
- Carry out work outside of your paid engagement
- Get married
- Get public funds
- Study for over 30 days
If you breach any of the rules, then you will find it difficult to get a UK visa in the future.Â
Countries that do not need a UK Visitor Visa
There are various countries that do not need a UK Visitor Visa to enter the UK for different reasons.Â
Some countries and territories are a part of the Common Travel Area (CTA), and so, do not need a visa to enter the UK.Â
The CTA includes:
- Guernsey
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Jersey
- The UK
Other countries that do not need a visa are those that are included in the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme.Â
Currently, the ETA includes the following countries:
- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- United Arab Emirates
However, this list will soon expand to include more countries from around the world.
How we can help
If you are interested in coming to the UK to carry out business on a UK Visitor Visa, then we are here to help.
Our expert law team has guided countless clients through the complexities of the UK’s immigration system, and they can help you as well. All you need to do to talk to a team member is call us, email us, message our website chatbot, or book a free 10-minute assessment. This allows our team to see how they might be able to help assist you.Â
After your initial contact with our team, you can then book a paid consultation that lasts either 30 minutes or an hour. It can be with either one of our Immigration Specialists, or with our Principal Solicitor, Nathan Woodcock.Â
We have a webpage on what to expect during your consultation if you would like to learn more.Â
Get in touch with us today to see how we can help you with a UK Visitor Visa.
Ready for assistance?
If you have any questions, or want to book an appointment with one of our legal experts, contact Woodcock Law today. Call us on +44 (0)20 7712 1705 or email info@woodcocklaw.co.uk.
