Do I need a Business Visitor visa to come to the UK?

This is Part 3 of our series of blogs on visiting the UK. Part 1 and Part 2 of this series are entitled “How do I come to the UK as a visitor?” and “What is a UK Standard Visitor visa?” respectively.  

If you need to travel to the UK for a short-term business activity that falls in one of the permitted categories, you can apply for a Business Visitor visa. Not all visitors will need to apply for a physical visa before coming to the UK. So called ‘non-visa nationals’ (citizens of countries which can obtain a stamp at the border) can travel to the UK, explain the purpose of their visit at the border, and receive a stamp in their passport allowing them to enter the UK.

What is a Business Visitor visa?

A Business Visitor visa allows you to visit and stay in the UK for up to 6 months and carry out certain very narrowly defined business activities. If you plan to visit the UK regularly, you may apply for a long-term visitor visa, which may be valid for either 2, 5 or 10 years. However, it will be down to the government caseworker processing your application to grant you the full visa length you have applied for.

Following submission of your application and enrolling of biometrics, it would normally take 3 weeks to get a decision on this visa. However, due to the Home Office currently prioritising applications made under the Ukraine visa schemes, it may take longer to get a decision, with processing times being extended to 7 weeks. 

What business activities are permitted as a Business Visitor?

There are numerous activities, which a Business Visitor is generally allowed to undertake while in the UK. They include attending interviews, meetings, conferences and seminars, negotiating and signing deals and contracts, and attending trade fairs to promote a business. In addition, you may get work-related training if you are employed overseas and the training is not available in your home country. This is a non-exhaustive list of activities, which includes other more technical activities (such as carrying out site inspections) that would be allowed to be undertaken in the UK.

However, it is very important not only to understand what activities are permitted, but also to be aware of how they must be undertaken. For example, training should generally take place in a boardroom setting, while on-the-job training is not permitted.

There are further activities that may be permissible under this visa category for members of certain professions, including archaeologists, journalists and internal auditors, amongst other professions.

It is very important for all involved in business visits to the UK to understand their roles and responsibilities. Getting it wrong may incur serious consequences for all parties, be it the sending overseas entity, the receiving UK entity or the visiting individual. It is therefore advisable to seek legal advice before a visit to ensure all activities will be undertaken in a compliant manner.

How can we help?

Gherson’s immigration team is experienced in advising on permissible business activities and Business Visitor visa applications. Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your options, 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 don’t 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.

©Gherson 2022