Business Visitor Visa
- Q. What is a business visitor?
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This is a non-EEA foreign national who visits the UK for a short period to conduct business on behalf of their employer, or for other business purposes.
The most common business visitor will engage in activity directly linked to their employment by attending the UK for a specific purpose. They will often spend time at a Host UK company which is a branch of the same multinational organization they are employed by overseas.
- Q. I’m visiting a UK branch of my company. I won’t be doing any work for them and I’ll be paid by my overseas employer. Do I still need a visa?
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Yes. If you are a ‘visa national’ you will need a visa, also called entry clearance, before you can travel to the UK as a business visitor, even though you are not being paid for work by the UK company you are visiting. Visa nationals are individuals from any of the countries on this list.
You must also be very careful about what activities you undertake whilst in the UK, as it can be easy to accidentally cross the line between ‘visiting’ and ‘working.’ If you mistakenly breach the terms of your visa by carrying out work, your employers may face large penalties and your visa could be revoked. For more detail on this, see below or view our article which discusses the topic in greater depth.
- Q. What activities may I legally carry out in the UK as a Business Visitor?
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You can attend meetings, conferences, seminars, arrange deals or negotiate and sign contracts. Other permitted activities include conducting site visits, interpreting or translating for visiting business persons and delivering goods and passengers from abroad as a coach or lorry driver.
You may also come to the UK on this visa if you are part of a film crew on a location short, a representative of overseas news media, an academic visitor or a religious visitor providing you do not intend to take up an office, post of appointment in the UK.
Again, it is important to remember that if your activities exceed those permitted in this visa category, then you may have breached the terms of your visa which would have implications for both yourself and the company you are visiting.
- Q. I have been asked to complete training in the UK for three months. Can I enter as a business visitor?
- No, training is strictly prohibited under the business visitor rules. If you are coming to the UK on this basis you will need to be sponsored through the points based system, and should consider the Tier 2 ICT Skills Transfer visa or a visa under the Tier 5 category.
- Q. How long can I stay in the UK on a business visa?
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Business visas are usually issued for a maximum of six months because it is expected that a genuine business visitor will not need to enter the UK for more than 180 days during any 12 month period.
- Q. What if I need to be here for more than six months?
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In some instances a business visitor may need to stay in the UK for longer than 180 days in any 12 month period. This is permitted in certain circumstances and if you think you will need to be in the UK for longer than 6 months we can discuss your options with you.
However, not all business visitors will be able to benefit from returning to the UK for lengthy periods on this visa because an immigration officer may question your motives for frequent re-entry.
- Q. What documents will I need to submit with my application?
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If you are a non visa national, such as an Australian or American or Japanese, you will not need to obtain a prior visa before entering the UK. A letter of support from your employer and the company you are visiting should suffice if questioned at the airport on arrival.
If you are a visa national such as Indian, Russian or Chinese, you will need to obtain a visa in advance before you travel to the UK. In such circumstances, you will need to provide evidence that you have enough money to support yourself throughout your stay in the UK, proof that your salary will continue to be paid by your overseas employer and evidence that you will return to your home country at the end of the visit.
Some of these applications can be challenging due to the nature of the supporting documentation that is required, and we would recommend seeking professional advice before submitting an application.