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 the simple query form below.

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

how do I qualify as a business visitor?

In order to qualify as a business visitor to the UK, you must be able to prove the following:

1) That you only intend to stay in the UK for up to six months;

2) That you intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit;

3) That you can support yourself without relying on public funds;

4) That you usually live and work abroad and you have no plans to base yourself in the United Kingdom; and

5) That you do not intend to work, produce goods or provide services in the United Kingdom.

what type of business can I do in the UK?

If you are a business visitor to the UK you may engage in the following activities:

1) You my go to meetings, trade fairs, conferences and seminars;

2) You may buy things, and negotiate contracts with United Kingdom businesses;

3) You may undertake fact finding missions, check details or examine goods; and

4) You may receive training through observation and classroom instruction only.

It is also possible to enter the United Kingdom as a business visitor if you engage in the following activities:

1) If you are delivering goods from abroad; for example, if you are an international lorry driver;

2) If you are coming as a representative of a foreign IT company in order to service, install or modify their product;

3) If you are coming as a representative of a foreign machine manufacturer to install, service or repair machinery; (As part of a contract of purchase and supply, you may install machinery that is too large to be delivered in one piece)

4) If you are coming as an adviser or consultant to a UK firm; (You must be employed abroad, either directly or under contract, by the same company or group of companies that the client firm belongs to)

5) If you are coming to give certain kinds of training; (The training has to be for a specific purpose, not go beyond classroom instruction and must not be readily available anywhere else in the United Kingdom.)

6) If you are coming as a guest speaker at a conference or seminar; (It has be a single or occasional event and not a commercial venture that you are part of.)

7) If you are coming to run a conference or seminar; (Events can not be more than five days. They must be single or occasional, involving a specialist subject that attracts a wide audience, including people from outside the United Kingdom.)

8) If you are coming as an expert to talk to United Kingdom businessmen about overseas export requirements; or

9) If you are coming as a sports person or entertainer in order to take part in trials or auditions, or for personal appearances which do not involve performances.

is there a limit to the number of visits I can make to the UK?

All visitors to the United Kingdom regardless of whether they are here for business or social reasons are only permitted to stay in the UK for six months. There is no limit on the amount of times you can visit the UK but it is expected that you will not spend more than 6 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:

1) You are not permitted to take on paid or unpaid employment

2) You are not permitted to produce goods or provide services in the UK

3) 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.

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