Can I enter the UK on a Standard Visitor visa to look for work?

22 Aug 2023, 03 mins ago

Visitors travelling to the UK are allowed to conduct certain narrowly defined activities. Certain business activities are not permitted; therefore, business visitors need to be aware of which activities they can undertake without requiring a work visa.

If you are a ‘visa national’, you will be required to apply for a Standard Visitor visa before you can visit the UK. Although non-visa nationals do not need to apply for a Standard Visit visa, both visa and non-visa nationals are subject to the same visitor restrictions. The Home Office has a specific list of visa nationals, which can be found here.

Generally, as a visitor you are permitted to enter the UK for tourism, visiting family and friends, business, or undertaking short-term study – this is not an exhaustive list and contains many restrictions. If your main purpose of travel is looking for work, you need to ensure that the activities you plan on conducting are permitted activities.

On a Standard Visitor visa, you are permitted to attend interviews, meetings, conferences, and seminars, as well as negotiate and sign contracts as part of your work search. However, you need to bear in mind that you are not permitted to undertake substantive or productive work in the UK, or to be paid by a UK source (subject to some exceptions).

Individuals should seek legal advice before conducting business activities in the UK, as undertaking activities beyond the permitted scope can impact future UK immigration applications.

How Gherson can assist

Gherson’s Immigration Team are highly experienced in advising on UK visa matters. If you have any questions arising from this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on TwitterFacebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

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