Can you work on a UK visitor visa?

The general position is that you cannot work whilst in the UK as a visitor. It is considered a breach of the UK Immigration Rules, and if you are found to have worked in the UK as a visitor, it can affect your ability to apply for UK visas in future.

Working in the UK includes taking employment in the UK, establishing or running a business as a self-employed person, completing a work placement or internship and providing goods or services to the public. The prohibition on working covers both paid and unpaid work.

The immigration rules do, however, permit visitors to undertake certain, limited business activities in the UK. These include attending meetings, conferences, seminars and interviews, negotiating and signing contracts and carrying out site visits and inspections.  

Generally, the UK visitor visa rules are a grey area and it is difficult for a traveller to work out if they can undertake the business activities they wish to, or not. In assessing this, it does not only matter which activities they want to undertake, but also how they want to undertake them. For example, training in a boardroom setting may be acceptable, training on the job may not be.

The UK Immigration Rules in relation to visitors apply regardless of the length of the visit, including even if it lasts only one day.

How Gherson can assist

Gherson’s Immigration Team are highly experienced in advising on UK visit 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 Twitter, Facebook, 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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