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Business immigration

Uk business visas | a 2023/24 application guide.

Table of Contents

  Focus Area Key Takeaway Visa Types Choose the right UK business visa type based on your professional needs Fees Be aware of the fee structure and the upcoming fee increase Application Process Seek professional guidance to ensure a successful application Documentation Gather all necessary documentation in advance  

The United Kingdom has long been a hub for international business, making it a desirable destination for entrepreneurs, investors, and professionals from around the globe. Obtaining a UK business visa is a crucial step towards launching or expanding your business ventures in the UK. This guide aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the UK business visa process, including the different types of business visas available, fee structures, challenges in visa acquisition, and much more.

Understanding Different Business Visa Types

The uk offers a variety of business visas to cater to different professional needs., here are some of the prominent business visa types:.

• Business Visitor Visa : Ideal for individuals looking to attend meetings, conferences or short-term business engagements in the UK.
• UK Start-Up Visa : Perfect for early-stage entrepreneurs looking to establish a business in the UK.
• UK Expansion Worker Visa : Designed for individuals tasked with expanding a foreign business into the UK market.

Each of these visas has its set of requirements, eligibility criteria, and benefits, which are crucial to understand before embarking on the application journey.

UK Business visa Fees Structure

Understanding the cost associated with applying for a business visa is crucial as it aids in financial planning for your UK venture. The fees for UK business visas vary based on the type of visa you are applying for. As of 2023, the visa fees for work visas in the UK are £259 for Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) visa, £259 for Tier 5 (Temporary Worker – Charity Worker) visa, and £626 for the Tier 2 (General) visa. It’s noteworthy to mention that there will be a fee increase effective from 4 October 2023.

This includes a 15% increase in the cost of most work and visit visas, and at least a 20% increase in the cost of priority visas, study visas, and Certificates of Sponsorship.

For a more detailed breakdown of the fee structure, you can visit our Fees page .

What Is The National Success Rate For Business Visas?

The success rate for UK business visa applications has shown promising trends. In the year ending March 2023, the number of work visas granted to main applicants significantly increased, totalling 299,891 grants. This was a 61% rise from the previous year, mainly due to the increasing demand for skilled worker visas. Additionally, from 2019 to 2022, the average success rate for the UK Start-up visa was 89.58%, and for the UK Innovator visa, it was 87.8%.

  Visa Type National Success Rate Start-Up 89.58% Innovator 87.8%

Starting The the Application Journey

Initiating the application process for a UK business visa requires thorough preparation. Meeting the specific requirements, proving your identity, and awaiting the application decision are crucial steps in this journey. It’s advisable to seek professional guidance to ensure all your documentation is in order and to improve the likelihood of a successful application.

Gathering the Necessary Documentation

Before applying, gather all the necessary documentation. This typically includes a valid passport, recent photographs, proof of enough personal savings to support yourself in the UK, and for an Innovator Visa, having at least £50,000 in investment funds.

Venturing into the UK business landscape can be a rewarding experience, opening doors to numerous opportunities. However, navigating the visa application process can be challenging. Being well-informed about the different business visa types, fee structure, and application process, along with having all the necessary documentation ready, can significantly smooth your path to obtaining a UK business visa.

Final Recap Table : Focus Area Key Points Visa Types Business Visitor, Short-term Business, Innovator, Start-up, Global Business Mobility visas Fees £259 for Tier 5 visas, £626 for Tier 2 (General) visa; Fee increase from 4 October 2023 Challenges Restrictive new visa schemes; success rate varies Success Rate Significant increase in work visas granted; Average success rates: 89.58% for Start-up visa, 87.8% for Innovator visa Application Process Meeting specific requirements, proving identity, awaiting application decision Documentation Valid passport, recent photographs, personal savings, investment funds for Innovator visa

Your journey towards securing a UK business visa is a meticulous process, but with the right guidance and preparation, you are one step closer to realising your business aspirations in the UK.

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BUSINESS VISIT VISA

The Business Visit Visa is for individuals who wish to come to the UK for the purpose of carrying out a permitted short-term unpaid business activity.

The Business Visit Visa is a sub-category of the Standard Visitor route, which is a route for persons who wish to visit the UK for a temporary period of up to 6 months.  

The route does not lead to settlement in the UK and all visitors must make a separate application, even when travelling as part of a group.

Requirements for a Business Visit Visa

In order to qualify for a Business Visit Visa you will need to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration that:

• You are a visa national (a non-visa national can normally seek entry as a Visitor on arrival at the UK border);
• You are genuinely seeking entry to the UK for a purpose that is permitted by the visitor routes;
• You will not undertake any prohibited activities;
• You have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs in relation to your visit (including maintenance and accommodation costs) without working or accessing public funds;
• You will leave the UK at the end of your visit;
• You will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home;
• Your application does not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal;
• You have obtained an Electronic Travel Authorisation, if required.

The exact requirements you will need to satisfy may vary depending on your circumstances.  You may want to speak to an immigration lawyer for expert advice.

To discuss your Business Visit Visa application with one of our immigration barristers, contact our UK Visit Visa lawyers on 0203 617 9173 or complete our enquiry form below.

Visa National Requirement

A visa national is someone who, by reason of their nationality, requires a Visit Visa in order to enter the UK as a Visitor.  Visa nationals must generally apply for a Visit Visa before travelling to the UK.

The Home Office has published a list of nationalities that are required to apply for a Visit Visa prior to travelling to the UK as a Visitor.  The list includes a number of exceptions, which allow certain visa nationals to seek entry as a Visitor on arrival in the UK.

A non-visa national can normally seek entry as a Visitor on arrival in the UK.  A non-visa national must still satisfy the requirements for entry as a Visitor and so, on arrival, should be prepared to explain, for example, the purpose of their visit and how they will be maintained and accommodated in the UK, as well as their return travel arrangements. 

EU citizens are non-visa nationals and can seek entry as a Visitor on arrival in the UK without needing to apply for a Visit Visa.

As well as preparing Visit Visa applications for visa nationals, our barristers regularly assist non-visa nationals to satisfy the requirements for entry as a Visitor on arrival in the UK.

Business Visit Visa Permitted Activities 

In order to qualify for a Business Visit Visa you will need to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration that you are genuinely seeking entry to the UK for a purpose that is permitted by the visitor routes and will not undertake any prohibited activities.

The Home Office will normally expect your business activities to be linked to your employment outside the UK in some way. In all cases the duration of your business activities must be less than 6 months and prearranged where possible.

Business Visit Visa holders may undertake a wide range of permitted activities in the UK:

General Business Activities 

Business Visit Visa holders may undertake the following general business activities:

• Attend meetings, conferences, seminars, interviews; 
• Give a one-off or short series of talks and speeches provided these are not organised as commercial events and will not make a profit for the organiser; 
• Negotiate and sign deals and contracts;
• Attend trade fairs, for promotional work only, provided the Visitor is not directly selling;
• Carry out site visits and inspections; 
• Gather information for their employment overseas;
• Be briefed on the requirements of a UK based customer, provided any work for the customer is done outside of the UK.

The Home Office will assess whether the period of leave requested is credible in view of the activities that you are seeking to take part in during your visit.

Intra-corporate Activities

Employees of overseas based companies engaged on a specific internal project with UK employees of the same corporate group may apply for a Business Visit Visa in order to:

• Advise and consult;
• Trouble-shoot;
• Provide training; 
• Share skills and knowledge;

Internal auditors may carry out regulatory or financial audits at a UK branch of the same group of companies as the Business Visitor’s employer overseas.

Intra-corporate activities should be of a short duration and linked to a specific project. The Home Office will expect you to be mainly based at your company’s offices in the UK and not at client sites.

Business visitors undertaking intra-corporate activities may work directly with clients.  However, any client-facing activity must be incidental to the visitor’s employment abroad and should not amount to the offshoring of a project or service to their overseas employer.

Manufacture and Supply of Goods to the UK

If you are an employee of an overseas company you may install, dismantle, repair, service or advise on machinery, equipment, computer software or hardware (or train UK based workers to provide these services) where there is a contract of purchase, supply or lease with a UK company or organisation.   The overseas company must either be the manufacturer or supplier or be part of a contractual arrangement for after sales services agreed at the time of the sale or lease, including in a warranty or other service contract incidental to the sale or lease.

The Home Office may wish to see evidence of the contract between the overseas and UK based company, which should specify the arrangements in place for the after sales service.

The Home Office will usually expect such visitors to stay in the UK for less than one month to carry out their activity because they will be in employment overseas.

Clients of UK Export Companies

If you are a client of a UK export company you may be seconded to the UK company in order to oversee the requirements for goods and services that are being provided under contract by the UK company or its subsidiary company, provided the two companies are not part of the same group.

The Home Office will expect to see a contract of service between the 2 companies for the UK company to provide goods or services to the overseas company.

Overseas Roles Requiring Specific Activities in the UK

If you are employed outside the UK you may visit the UK to take part in the following activities in relation to your employment overseas:

• If you are a translator and/or interpreter you may translate and/or interpret in the UK as an employee of an enterprise located overseas;
• If you are a personal assistant or bodyguard you may support an overseas business person in carrying out permitted activities, provided you will attend the same event(s) as the business person and are employed by them outside the UK. You must not be providing personal care or domestic work for the business person;
• If you are a tour group courier, contracted to a company with its headquarters outside the UK, you may enter and depart the UK with a tour group organised by your company;
• If you are a journalist, correspondent, producer or cameraman you may visit the UK to gather information for an overseas publication, programme or film;
• If you are an archaeologist you may visit the UK to take part in a one-off archaeological excavation;
• If you are a professor from an overseas academic institution accompanying students to the UK as part of a study abroad programme, you may provide a small amount of teaching to the students at the host organisation providing this does not amount to filling a permanent teaching role for that institution;
• If you are a market researcher or analyst you may conduct market research or analysis for an enterprise located outside the UK.

If you are driver on a genuine international route between the UK and a country outside the UK and you are either employed or contracted to an operator registered in a country outside the UK or are a self-employed operator and driver based outside the UK then you may deliver or collect goods or passengers from a country outside the UK to the UK and undertake cabotage operations.  The operator must hold an International Operators Licence or be operating on an own account basis.

Because the Business Visit Visa is a sub-category of the Standard Visitor route, Business Visitors may also undertake other activities that are permitted under other sub-categories of the Standard Visitor route. This includes permitted paid engagements, provided the paid engagement is arranged before travelling to the UK and is completed within 30 days of arrival in the UK.

Intention to Leave the UK Requirement for a Business Visit Visa

In addition to satisfying the Home Office that you are genuinely seeking to enter the UK for a permitted purpose, as part of your application for a Business Visit Visa you will also need to satisfy the Home Office that you will leave the UK at the end of your visit and will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home.

In assessing your application, the Home Office will consider a range of factors including:

• Your previous immigration history, including visits to the UK and other countries;
• Your financial circumstances as well as your family, social and economic background;
• Your personal and economic ties to your country of residence.

Factors which may cause the Home Office to doubt that you are a genuine visitor include having few or no family and economic ties to your country of residence, whilst having several family members in the UK, previous attempts to deceive the Home Office in an immigration application and discrepancies between statements made by yourself and your sponsor.

Business Visit Visa Financial Requirement

You will need to have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs in relation to your visit (including travel, maintenance and accommodation costs) without working or accessing public funds.

Your funds will need to be held in a permitted financial institution.

Your travel, maintenance and accommodation costs may be met by a third party if the third party has a genuine professional or personal relationship with you, they are not, and will not be, in breach of immigration laws and they can support you throughout the duration of your stay as a Visitor.

Business Visit Visa English Language Requirement

Business Visit Visa applicants do not need to satisfy an English language requirement.

Business Visit Visa Validity Period

If you wish to enter the UK for the purpose of a Business Visit you may apply for a Visit Visa that is valid for either 6 months, 2 years, 5 years or 10 years.  

You may enter and leave the UK multiple times during the validity period of your Visit Visa, unless your Visit Visa is endorsed for a single or dual entry.

Each visit to the UK must not exceed 6 months.

Business Visit Visa Right to Work

Business Visitors are not permitted to work in the UK or, with few exceptions, receive payment from a UK source for any activities undertaken in the UK.

This means that Business Visitors cannot take employment, establish or run a business as a self-employed person, work for an organisation or business in the UK, undertake a work placement or internship in the UK or otherwise provide or sell goods or services in the UK.

Business Visitors are permitted to work remotely while in the UK, but remote working must not be the primary purpose of the visit. The main purpose of the visit to the UK should be to undertake a permitted activity, rather than specifically to work remotely from the UK.

Business Visitors are also permitted to come to the UK to seek employment and attend job interviews. However, if successful in obtaining employment, you will be expected to leave the UK and seek the appropriate entry clearance prior to commencing work.

Business Visit Visa Application Fees

The Home Office application fee for a Business Visit Visa for a short stay of up to 6 months is currently £115.

If you wish to apply for a Business Visit Visa that is valid for either 2 years, 5 years or 10 years then the Home Office application fee will be £400, £771 or £963 respectively.

How Our Immigration Barristers Can Help

Our immigration barristers are experienced in assisting businesspeople from across the globe to secure visas to visit the UK for the purpose of carrying out permitted short-term business activities. 

Whether you are seeking advice on the merits of applying for a Business Visit Visa, assistance with preparing a Business Visit Visa application or legal representation to challenge a decision to refuse an application for a Business Visit Visa, our immigration barristers can assist.

We pride ourselves on being approachable and proactive in understanding and meeting our client’s needs. We are a highly driven team, dedicated to providing clear and reliable immigration advice to our clients as part of a professional and friendly service.

We can also assist with

The UK offers a range of long term work visas and short term work visas .

The main long term work visa routes include:

• Skilled Worker Visa
• Scale-up Visa
• International Sportsperson Visa
• Minister of Religion Visa
• Media Representative Visa

The main short term work visa routes include:

• Graduate Visa
• High Potential Individual Visa
• Youth Mobility Scheme Visa
• Temporary Work – Creative Worker Visa
• UK Ancestry Visa

Our team of business immigration barristers has experience in assisting employers and workers across a variety of industries in companies of all sizes.

Whether you require expert advice on the requirements of the Immigration Rules, an independent assessment of your prospects of qualifying for a visa or professional assistance with preparing an immigration application, our immigration barristers can help.

The UK offers a range of business visas (for those who wish to start a business in the UK) and global business mobility visas (for employees of overseas businesses who wish to be transferred to the UK temporarily).

The main business visa routes include:

• Start-up Visa
• Innovator Visa

The main global business mobility routes include:

• Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker Visa
• Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee Visa
• Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker Visa
• Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker Visa
• Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier Visa

Our team of business immigration barristers has experience in assisting employers, skilled workers and entrepreneurs across a variety of industries in companies of all sizes.

If your application for a Visit Visa has been refused, our immigration barristers can advise on the merits of making a fresh application or challenging the refusal decision.

In many cases, a professionally prepared fresh application will be the quickest and most economical way of securing a Visit Visa following a refusal decision.  Our immigration barristers have an excellent track record of securing Visit Visas for clients who have previously been refused a Visit Visa following a self-prepared application.

If the decision to refuse your Visit Visa application was unlawful, unreasonable or procedurally improper, our immigration barristers can advise on merits of applying for Judicial Review of the decision, draft grounds for Judicial Review and provide representation at Judicial Review hearings.

WHAT CAN WE HELP YOU WITH?

To discuss your Business Visit Visa application with one of our immigration barristers, contact our Short Stay Visit Visa team on 0203 617 9173 or complete our enquiry form below.

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UK: A Guide To The UK Business Visit Visa

The Business Visit Visa is for individuals who wish to visit the UK to undertake business activities on a short term basis. The Business Visit visa is a form of Standard Visitor visa. Before coming to the UK to carry out business activities as a visitor, you may wish to check what activities are permitted and what activities are prohibited. This post explains the requirements for a UK Business Visa visa, the application process for a Business Visit Visa and the activities that are permitted when travelling to the UK as a Business Visitor.

When Do Business Travellers Need a UK Business Visit Visa?

If you are a national from one of the countries listed here , you will need to apply for a Business Visit visa before travelling to the UK, although there are exceptions to this list.

For non-visa nationals, the Government has introduced an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme as a form of digital permission. An ETA costs £10.00 and permits multiple journeys and is valid for two years or until the passport holder's passport expires, whichever is sooner. It is noted that nationals of Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates need an ETA to travel to the UK now.

What Are the Requirements for a Business Visitor Visa?

To be eligible for a UK Business Visit Visa, you must show that you intend to leave at the end of your visit and have no intention to live in the UK for extended periods through frequent visits. The Home Office may consider your previous immigration history, your family and economic ties. In our previous post, UK Visit Visa: How to Prove That You Are a 'Genuine Visitor' , we explored the type of documents that might assist in proving that you are a genuine visitor.

You must satisfy UK Visas & Immigration that you will not undertake any prohibited activities. You must meet the suitability criteria as well as demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to cover all reasonable costs, including accommodation costs, without accessing public funds.

UK Business Visit Visa Application Process

To apply for a Business Visit Visa, an individual must use the correct application form and pay the relevant fee (the application fee has now been increased to £115 for a 6 month standard visitor visa). Long term Visit Visas are also available and more information is available here . The earliest you can apply is three months before you travel.

You will need to submit your passport or travel document to prove your identity and nationality. The processing time is usually three weeks from the date of your biometric appointment.

UK Business Visit Visa Permitted Activities

There are different permissible business activities and you may wish to seek legal advice to ensure that you have the correct supporting documents and that you will not be carrying out prohibited activities.

General Business Activities

In accordance with the Immigration Rules, the general business activities permitted include:

(a) attend meetings, conferences, seminars, interviews; and

(b) give a one-off or short series of talks and speeches provided these are not organised as commercial events and will not make a profit for the organiser; and

(c) negotiate and sign deals and contracts; and

(d) attend trade fairs, for promotional work only, provided the Visitor is not directly selling; and

(e) carry out site visits and inspections; and

(f) gather information for their employment overseas; and

(g) be briefed on the requirements of a UK based customer, provided any work for the customer is done outside of the UK; and

(h) undertake activities relating to their employment overseas remotely from within the UK, providing this is not the primary purpose of their visit.

Intra-corporate Activities

An employee from an overseas company may share knowledge or provide training when engaged on a specific internal project with UK employees of the same corporate group. The business visitors may work directly with clients but this must be incidental to their employment abroad and the activities are required for delivery of a project delivered by the UK branch.

Manufacture and Supply of Goods to the UK

An employee of an overseas based company may come to the UK to install, dismantle, repair, service or advise on machinery, equipment, computer software or hardware (or train UK based workers to provide these services) where there is a contract of purchase, supply or ease with a UK company or organisation. The overseas company must either be the manufacturer or supplier or is part of a contractual agreement for after sales services agreed at the time of the sale or lease, including in a warranty or other service contract incidental to the sale or lease.

Clients of UK Export Companies

Where there is a contract between a UK company and an overseas company (they are not part of the same group), a client of a UK export company may be seconded to the UK to oversee the requirements for goods and services that are being provided under contract by the UK company or its subsidiary company.

Overseas Roles Requiring Specific Activities in the UK

There are some roles which allow the individuals to visit the UK to take part in activities which relate to employment overseas. Some of these activities include:

• Translators or interpreters who are employed overseas;
• Personal assistants and bodyguards supporting an overseas business person and they are attending the same event and are employed by them abroad;
• a journalist, correspondent, producer or cameraman gathering information for an overseas publication, programme or film;

Permitted Paid Engagement Visit Visa

If you are aged 18 or over and wish to come to the UK to undertake a paid engagement that is relevant to your expertise, qualifications and your main occupation is in your home country, you may wish to consider the Permitted Paid Engagement Visit Visa .

In addition to the above mentioned requirements, the additional requirements for the Permitted Paid Engagement Visit Visa are:

• You have a written invitation from a UK based organisation;
• The event or engagement has been pre-arranged;
• Engagement is declared as part of your entry clearance application or permission to enter the UK;
• The event or engagement is directly linked to your full-time profession overseas;
• You have evidence of your expertise and employment, for example, any awards received and media coverage for an artist or musician;
• You intend to complete the permitted paid engagement within 30 days of your entry to the UK;

You will be allowed to receive a payment for your engagement which is directly linked to your profession.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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Business Customs

UK business customs are similar to those in the United States. The UK is a diverse and multi-ethnic society.

Some fundamental cultural differences between the U.S. and the UK remain. Variations in pace and style may be most noticeable, and sustained personal contact with potential business partners is expected. Prompt acknowledgment of correspondence, longer lead time for appointments, adherence to appointment schedules and greater formality in the conduct of business is the norm.

British executives typically communicate by phone and e-mail. The British are less likely to seek legal advice and guidance than their U.S. counterparts, although a litigation culture is developing along the lines of the U.S. model – i.e., no win, no fee cases have recently been permitted.

Travel Advisory

The State Department’s Consular Information Sheet for the United Kingdom provides information for travel to the United Kingdom. The State Department’s Travel Alerts provides information on travel warnings .

The U.S. Embassy London website has information for both U.S. visitors to the UK and for UK citizens seeking to travel to the United States.

Visa Requirements

UK Visa Information can be found on the UK Visas and Immigration website, as well as the British Embassy in Washington website.

The UK uses electronic gates at the border for UK citizens, EEA nationals, and citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States.

For nationalities not already using the e-gates upon entry, Registered Traveler is a fee-based service to expedite entry into the UK.

U.S. Companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States are advised that security evaluations are handled via an interagency process. Visa applicants should go to the following link(s): State Department Visa Website .

The local currency of the United Kingdom is the Pound Sterling (£, GBP). Visa and Mastercard are accepted widely throughout the UK, while American Express is only accepted in the major cities. Many businesses in the UK’s major cities are now cashless and accept contactless credit card payments. 

LINK is the primary ATM network in the UK and most ATMs offer free cash withdrawals, although foreign withdrawal fees may apply. In major cities, ATMs from US banks can be found.  Traveler’s checks may not be used in lieu of local currency and must be exchanged for cash at a bank before use.

Telecommunications/Electronics

Wireless internet connection is widely available across the UK in hotels, cafes/restaurants, and transportation hubs. Internet Service Providers also provide wireless connection in public areas for a small fee. 

Most U.S. cell phone carriers offer international plans that extend to the UK. Alternatively, SIM cards can be purchased at all major transportation hubs in the country. The UK power socket differs from that of the U.S. in both voltage and shape, with  the U.S. operating on a 120V supply voltage and the UK outlets provide a 240V. Depending on the U.S. appliance or electrical item voltage limit, either a plug adaptor will be required (for appliances capable of 110-240V) or a step-down Transformer (for items only capable of 110V).

Transportation

The UK is easily accessible from most major airports in the United States and Europe. The UK’s main access points are its airports in London (LHR, LGW, STN, LTN), Manchester (MAN), Edinburgh (EDI), Birmingham (BHX), Bristol (BRS), Glasgow (GLA), and Belfast (BFS). The UK can also be entered from Europe via train using the Eurostar high-speed rail service, which stops in London St Pancras, Ebbsfleet, and Ashford. It is also possible to drive from France to the United Kingdom via the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle.

Within the UK, there are several viable public transportation options, including the National Rail system, buses, and city specific railways. Taxi and car services are also available in major cities. 

The UK does not have an official language. Welsh is however the official language of Wales. English is the de facto language of the UK and is its primary business language. Please note that British English does differ from American English in both spelling and vocabulary. 

The UK is home to the National Health Service, which is a publicly funded healthcare system. While the NHS remains free for ordinary residents, travelers may be charged for using NHS services. Please consult the Department of Health and Social Care’s guidance for overseas visitors . UK private healthcare is alternatively available for those who wish to take out a private plan with an international provider. Overall, both countries have similar world class health outcomes.

Consult the Center for Disease Control Notice for Travel in the United Kingdom for information on recommended vaccinations and the current public health status of the UK. 

Local Time, Business Hours, and Holidays

From the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March, the UK follows Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). During the other half of the year, the UK uses British Summer Time. Both time systems are 5 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time. Note that the UK typically uses a 24-hour clock instead of the 12-hour clock used in the U.S. 

Business hours in the UK generally run from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The UK celebrates several Bank Holidays each year. The name and date of each holiday can be found on the government’s Bank Holiday website. In addition to these official holidays, some UK businesses close for extended periods during July and August as many UK workers take time off during this time. 

Temporary Entry and Personal Belongings

A government-issued passport is needed when entering the UK. You may also need to declare certain goods upon entry into the UK. Please see the governments advise on Entering the UK for more information.

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Our Guide to the UK Business Visit Visa

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Uk business visit visa requirements, what are the uk business visit visa “permitted activities”, general permitted business activities, intra-corporate permitted activities, clients of uk export companies, overseas roles requiring specific activities in the uk, do you have a way to calculate the visitor visa uk cost, permitted activities on a standard visitor visa, applying for a business visitor visa.

If you are planning a business trip to the UK for anything up to 6 months, the Business Visit Visa may be ideal for your needs. The Business Visit Visa, part of the Standard Visitor Visa scheme, is for those who wish to travel to the UK to carry out a permitted short-term unpaid business activity. If you think you may spend longer than 6 months in the UK on business or you may ultimately wish to settle here, it is advisable to look at alternative visa options such as the long-term Skilled Worker visa. In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about the UK Business Visit Visa, including the permitted business activities, eligibility requirements, period of validity, and how to apply.

Before applying for a Business Visit Visa, it is important to check whether you need a visa to visit the UK. Depending on your nationality, you may already be able to visit the UK for up to 6 months without needing a visa. If you need a Business Visitor Visa, you must be able to demonstrate that you:

• are genuinely coming to the UK for a permitted purpose
• will leave at the end of your visit
• will not undertake any prohibited activities;
• have sufficient funds to cover your stay
• you have the means to pay for your return or onward journey
• you will not live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits, or make the UK your main home, and
• do not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal (e.g. on the grounds of serious criminality or past immigration breaches)

UK Business Visit Visa holders are able to carry out any “permitted activity” while in the UK, as defined in the Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities . These permitted activities are broken down into several categories, as summarised below:

UK Business Visit Visa holder can carry out any of the following general permitted business activities:

• attend meetings, conferences, seminars, interviews
• give a one-off or short series of talks and speeches provided these are not organised as commercial events and will not make a profit for the organiser; and
• negotiate and sign deals and contracts
• attend trade fairs for promotional work only, provided the Visitor is not directly selling
• carry out site visits and inspections
• gather information for their employment overseas, and
• be briefed on the requirements of a UK-based customer, provided any work for the customer is done outside of the UK.

It is important to bear in mind that when assessing your application, the Home Office will check that the amount of time you have requested matches the stated purpose of coming to the UK for business.

UK Business Visit Visa holders who work for an overseas-based company can carry out any of the following permitted activities in relation to an internal project with UK employees of the same corporate group:

• advise and consult
• trouble-shoot
• provide training, and
• share skills and knowledge

The Home Office will want to be assured that you will not carry out any work directly with clients during your time in the UK on a Business Visitor Visa. The rules also allow internal auditors to perform regulatory or financial audits at UK branches of the same group of companies as their overseas employer, e.g. inspecting the quality of production at a manufacturing plant.

Manufacturing and supply of goodsUK Business Visit Visa holders can carry out certain business activities on behalf of overseas companies with a contract with a UK company or organisation. The immigration rules state that employees of overseas companies can use this type of visa to install, dismantle, repair, service or advise on machinery, equipment, computer software or hardware. It is also possible to provide training to UK-based workers to provide these services.

There must be a valid and eligible contract of purchase, supply or lease with a UK company or organisation. In addition, the overseas company must be the manufacturer or supplier or part of a contractual arrangement for after-sales services. This must have been agreed at the time of the sale or lease, including in a warranty or other service contract incidental to the sale or lease.

The UK Business Visit Visa enables clients of a UK export company to be seconded to the UK company to oversee the requirements for goods and services being provided under contract by the UK company or its subsidiary company. The two companies must not be part of the same corporate group.

To make a successful Business Visitor Visa application, a contract showing the supply of goods or services by the UK company to the overseas company must be provided.

The UK Business Visit Visa enables individuals employed outside the UK to visit the UK to take part in the following activities for their overseas employer:

• translate and/or interpret in the UK as an employee of an enterprise located overseas
• personal assistants and bodyguards supporting an overseas business person in carrying out permitted activities
• tour group couriers contracted to a company with its headquarters outside the UK, entering and departing the UK with a tour group organised by their company
• journalists, correspondents, producers or cameramen gathering information for an overseas publication, programme or film
• archaeologists taking part in a one-off archaeological excavation; or
• professors from an overseas academic institution accompanying students to the UK as part of a study abroad programme, providing a small amount of teaching to the students at the host organisation, and
• market researchers and analysts may conduct market research or analysis for an enterprise located outside the UK.

In addition, drivers on a genuine international route between the UK and a country outside the UK can use a Business Visitor visa to deliver or collect goods or passengers from a country outside the UK to the UK and undertake cabotage operations. In this scenario, drivers must be employed or contracted to an operator registered in a country outside the UK or be a self-employed operator and driver based outside the UK. The operator must hold an International Operators Licence or be operating on an own account basis.

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The immigration rules allow for certain activities to be undertaken on a Standard Visitor visa without the need for a Business Visitor visa. This applies to those who are employed overseas in any of the following job types:

• archaeologist
• artist, entertainer or musician
• camera operator
• internal auditor
• journalist or correspondent
• lawyer or expert witness
• market researcher or analyst
• personal assistant
• professor from an overseas academic institution
• religious worker
• scientist or researcher
• sports person or sports official
• tour group courier
• translator or interpreter
• member of a film crew, including actors, producers, directors or technicians
• member of the production team supporting an artist, entertainer or musician
• member of technical staff supporting an artist, entertainer, musician or sportsperson

Business Visitor Visa applications can be completed online on the UK Home Office website. Applicants have the option of applying for a visa duration of 6 months, 2 years, 5 years or 10 years. The long-term Business Visitor Visas are intended for those who come to the UK regularly on business for up to 6 months at a time. To apply, you will need to:

• Complete and submit the online application form
• Pay the application fee (6 months: £100, 2 years: £376, 5 years: £670, 10 years: £837)
• Book and attend an appointment at a visa application centre
• Provide your identity documents and any documents required to support your application.

In most cases, Business Visitor Visa applications take around 3 weeks to process.

A Y & J Solicitors is a specialist immigration law firm with extensive experience with all types of visa applications. We have an in-depth understanding of immigration law and are professional and results-focused. For assistance with your visa application or any other UK immigration law concerns, please contact us on +44 20 7404 7933 or contact us  today. We’re here to help!

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Business Visitor Visa

The Business Visitor sub-category of the Standard Visitor route allows applicants to come to the UK to carry out business activities.

Business Visitor visa application: Main requirements

In order to enter the UK as a Business Visitor, an applicant must demonstrate that:

• they intend to leave the UK at the end of their visit;
• they have sufficient funds for their visit;
• the activities which they intend to carry out in the UK are permitted activities as defined in the Immigration Rules; and
• they do not intend to take employment in the UK.

What are the conditions of stay for a Business Visitor visa?

Applicants can apply to come to the UK for a period of up to six months. There is no option to extend this visa from within the UK.

Applicants should not intend to live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits under this route or make the UK their main home. Applications can be refused if an immigration officer believes that this is the case.

Business Visitor visa: permitted activities

The general activities which a Business Visitor can carry out during their stay in the UK include the following:

• attend meetings, conferences, seminars and interviews;
• give a one-off or short series of talks and speeches provided these are not organised as commercial events and will not make a profit for the organiser;
• negotiate and sign deals and contracts;
• attend trade fairs to carry out promotional work providing they are not selling directly to the public;
• carry out site visits and inspections;
• gather information for their employment overseas;
• be briefed on the requirements of a UK based customer, provided any work for the customer is done outside of the UK; and
• undertake activities relating to their employment overseas remotely from the UK, provided this is not the primary purpose of the visit.

Applicants who are employees of an overseas business can also visit the UK to carry out certain intra-corporate activities in order to:

• advise and consult;
• troubleshoot;
• provide training; and
• share skills and knowledge on a specific project with UK employees of the same organisation.

Applicants who are employees of an overseas business may also undertake these activities directly with clients, provided the client facing activity is incidental to the visitor’s work abroad and does not amount to the offshoring of a project or service to their overseas employer.

This route can also be used by prospective entrepreneurs, employees of foreign manufacturers looking to install, repair, or service equipment and clients of UK export companies coming to the UK to oversee that their requirements for goods or services are being carried out correctly.

Business Visitor visa application: How our Immigration Solicitors can help

The Home Office will carefully scrutinise an application for a Business Visitor visa. If it does not consider that the applicant intends to leave the UK at the end of their stay or if it considers that any of the other requirements have not been met, the application will fall for refusal. It is therefore essential that the application is prepared thoroughly and carefully.

We are experienced in preparing visa applications for Business Visitors to ensure a successful outcome and will provide expert guidance and assistance to you throughout the process.

For further advice, please contact us .

More Business Visitor visa FAQs

What are the application fees for a Business Visitor visa? The Home Office fee to apply for a Business Visitor visa of up to six months is £115.

How long is a Business Visitor visa valid for? It is possible to apply for a Business Visitor visa of longer duration; applications can be made for a Business Visitor visa for the durations of six months, two years, five years, or ten years.

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UK Visitor Visa (Tourist Visa Advice!)

Anne morris.

• 2 October 2022

IN THIS SECTION

There are many reasons why you might require a UK visitor visa to come to the UK, from seeing the sights to seeing friends or family.

If you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, the Standard Visitor Visa allows you to visit the UK, usually for a period of up to 6 months.

The UK Visitor visa requires an application to be made from outside the UK, which will be assessed to assess whether you meet the requirements under the visitor rules and qualify as a genuine visitor. You will need to provide supporting documents that prove you qualify for a visitor visa. Failure to show that you meet the visa requirements will result in a refusal and loss of your application fee.

What is a UK visitor visa?

The UK Standard Visitor visa replaced a number of previous categories of visitor visas. It allows visitors to come to Britain for a short stay for a number of permissible reasons, including leisure (for tourism, visiting family and friends), for  business-related activities or sporting or creative events, and other reasons such as receiving private medical treatment.

It is not possible to switch into a different visa category from the visitor visa once you are in the UK; you would need to return to your home country and apply from there for a different visa.

How long does a UK visitor visa last?

The visitor visa generally lasts for 6 months.

You can apply to stay longer if you’re coming to the UK for private medical treatment (up to 11 months) or you’re an academic on sabbatical and coming to the UK for research (up to 12 months) but you will also need to apply for a biometric residence permit.

Under the Approved Destination Status (ADS) agreement, Chinese nationals are allowed to enter the UK with an approved tour group for up to 30 days.

Long term visitor visa 

The long-term visitor visa may be available if you are looking to make frequent visits over a longer period, such as 2, 5 or even 10 years, however you can only stay in the UK for up to 6 months at a time.

What are the permitted activities for visitors?

The visitor rules specify activities that are allowed under the route. The following are permissible activities:

• Tourism, for example on a holiday
• Visit family or friends
• Volunteering for up to 30 days with a registered charity
• Transiting through the UK to travel to another country
• Certain business activities, for example attending a meeting or interview
• Taking part in a school exchange programme
• Undertake a recreational course of up to 30 days, for example a dance course
• Study, do a placement or take an exam – this cannot be the main purpose of the visit and is limited to a maximum of 30 days
• Visiting as an academic, senior doctor or dentist
• For medical reasons

You are not allowed to do the following under a visitor visa:

• Undertake paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person
• Claim benefits or access public funds
• Reside in the UK for long periods using frequent and/or successive visits
• Get married or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership (instead, apply for the  Marriage Visitor Visa )

It may be that the visitor visa is not appropriate and alternative immigration options will need to be considered. For example, the permitted paid engagement visa may apply if a UK company is paying you to come to the UK as an expert in your profession.

Visitors should also prepare to travel with supporting documents as they may be asked to present proof of eligibility by UK border officials.

UK visitor visa requirements

The visitor visa is limited in its eligibility. Your stay must generally be for no longer than 6 months and you have to leave the UK by the expiry date.

Your reason for travel will also be critical to your eligibility and it will be important that you understand what is allowed under the UK visitor visa to ensure you do not breach these conditions for the duration of your stay in the UK.

Applying for the UK visitor visa

Applicants must ensure they comply with the regulations and evidence their eligibility through the visa application process.

To apply for the UK visitor visa, you will need to be outside the UK. You complete the online application form and provide supporting documents to evidence your status as a genuine visitor. You will be required to attend an appointment at a visa appointment centre in your country of residence, where you will be interviewed about your application and your biometric information will be taken.

As part of your visa application you will need to prove to the caseworker that you will not be staying for more than 6 months and that you have enough money to maintain yourself (and any dependants travelling with you) during your time in the UK and to fund your return travel.

Supporting documents

Your circumstances will dictate the exact documents to provide with your application to support your case. As a minimum, you will need to verify your identity with your current passport or other valid travel identification, valid for the whole of your stay in the UK and with a blank page for the visa.

Additional supporting documents should also be provided to prove:

• Planned travel dates and itinerary including accommodation details
• Personal information such as home address and parents’ names
• Travel history (past 10 years)
• Work information such as your employer’s name and address
• Contact information of the people you will visit
• You have a genuine relationship with the person you are visiting
• Details of any convictions
• Intention to leave the UK on visa expiry. Evidence could include proof of a job or studies in your home country, or family living in your home country.
• Sufficient funds to support you and your dependants in the UK for the duration of your visit. This could be funded by you of the person you are visiting in the UK. You will not be allowed to access public funds. Proof should include recent bank statements and payslips. An estimate of the total cost of the trip should be provided, as well as details of your income.

Any documents not in English or Welsh must be provided as certified translations.

After completing the form, you will need to attend a visa application centre overseas to have your fingerprints and photograph taken.

Visitor visa processing times

Under normal Home Office processing standards , visitor visa applications from overseas usually takes around 3 weeks. However, ongoing delays in processing services mean visit visa applications are currently taking 6 weeks, and in some cases longer.

You can apply up to three months before your intended date of travel. Fast tracked processing within 5 working days is available in some visa application centres for a premium fee.

How much does a visitor visa cost?

Currently, the UK visitor visa costs £100 for the standard 6 month stay. If you are travelling for medical reasons, the cost is £200 for six months, or £200 for academic visitors .

Longer-term visit visas cost £376 for the 2-year visit visa, £670 for the 5-year visit visa or £837 for the 10-year visit visa.

Can you stay in the UK for longer than six months? 

Generally speaking, all Standard UK visitor visas are short-term visas with a six-month maximum stay cap. Immigration regulations also prevent you from getting around this restriction by utilising a guest visa or making many, frequent, or consecutive trips, although you are free to enter and exit the UK whenever you like while your visa is still in effect.

However, citizens of China, Pakistan, India, and other non-EEA nations can apply for a long-term visit visa in order to go to the UK. These are chargeable extras that can be reserved for terms of two, five, or 10 years.

Be aware that you are still limited to a single visit lasting no longer than six months with these visas. You may, however, enter and exit the UK more than once throughout the permitted time. If you know you’ll need to visit the UK repeatedly over the course of a set amount of time, applying for a long-term visitor visa in the UK is a terrific option.

Academic visits from outside the EEA and people seeking private medical care in the UK do have another option for a longer stay. The Biometric Residence Permit is what it is called (BRP). You will need to provide biometric data about yourself, including your fingerprints, a photo, your immigration status, and more, but doing so will extend your stay in the UK over six months. This procedure, called biometric enrolment, still necessitates the presentation of proof of adequate financial support for your stay.

Visitor visa application refused?

If your UK visitor visa application. has been refused, your options could include reapplying and making a new application; submitting an appeal, where the grounds are on human rights; applying for a Judicial Review of the decision.

Your options will depend on your specific circumstances. Take professional advice to decide what you should do next.

Need assistance?

Travellers to the UK should note that even with a valid visitor visa in place, you may still be questioned at the UK border by immigration officials, to verify that you are a genuine visitor and will comply with the visitor visa rules. Where officials are concerned that you may stay longer than your visa date, or if your activities are prohibited under the visitor rules, you may be denied entry.

As a team of immigration lawyers and former Home Office employees, we have an established reputation for advising on the most appropriate immigration route for your needs, and supporting you with effective and efficient processing of your visa application. We also understand the stresses involved with making a visa application, and take great pride in playing a supportive role to ease the pressure.  Contact us  for advice.

Visitor visa FAQs

How much funds are required for uk visitor visa.

You will need to show you have sufficient funds to cover the cost of tickets, travelling, living and accommodation expenses while you are in the UK.

What documents do I need for UK visitor visa?

Your visitor visa application will need to include your current passport or other valid travel identification, as well as other documents that prove you meet the visa requirements, such as your intention to leave the UK and that your planned activities come within the visitor visa permissible activities.

Last updated: 2 October 2022

Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified solicitor and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.

She is a recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on business migration and compliance risk management as well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient processing of applications.

Anne is an active public speaker, immigration commentator , and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals

• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ Skilled Worker Visa Costs (Sponsor's Guide)
• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ Understanding the Human Rights Act 1998
• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ Navigating Asylum in the UK
• Anne Morris https://www.davidsonmorris.com/author/anne/ Family Visa UK: Explore Ways to Apply

About DavidsonMorris

As employer solutions lawyers, DavidsonMorris offers a complete and cost-effective capability to meet employers’ needs across UK immigration and employment law, HR and global mobility .

Led by Anne Morris, one of the UK’s preeminent immigration lawyers, and with rankings in The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners , we’re a multi-disciplinary team helping organisations to meet their people objectives, while reducing legal risk and nurturing workforce relations.

Legal Disclaimer

The matters contained in this article are intended to be for general information purposes only. This article does not constitute legal advice, nor is it a complete or authoritative statement of the law, and should not be treated as such. Whilst every effort is made to ensure that the information is correct at the time of writing, no warranty, express or implied, is given as to its accuracy and no liability is accepted for any error or omission. Before acting on any of the information contained herein, expert legal advice should be sought.

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UK Business Visitor Visa: UK Business Visa Requirements and How to Get it Easily

MY EXPERIENCE WITH UK BUSINESS VISA APPLICATION

By Nisha Singla last updated on January 15, 2021

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I traveled twice to the United Kingdom on a UK business visitor visa from India and went through all the paperwork to get this UK visa for business. It was super easy to get and both times, my immigration experience was pretty smooth as well.

UK business visitor visa is the same as a UK tourist visa or UK visitor visa. It’s also known as a UK business visa. The only difference here is the purpose of travel. If you are going sightseeing or meet up with friends and family, you mention that in the purpose and your interview. In my case, I got a business visitor visa for UK since the purpose of my travel was to give training in London.

Even though I applied a UK visa from India, the process for applying a business visa for UK is the same for all the nationalities that need a visa to visit the UK on business.

Things to Do in the UK

There are so many things to do in the United Kingdom that it will be an altogether new article. England is full of beautiful castles, historical landmarks, wonderful zoos, and a lot more. There are so many beautiful cities Cambridge, Durham, Chester, etc.

Well, I also got to see a lot of London and surrounding areas during my visit- so it worked out fine. I took my time to visit many places in England. And if you love the train, then here are some ideas for day trips from London .

Are you a Harry Potter fan (who isn’t!)? Then here are some of the best Harry Potter Experiences in the UK .

Don’t have a lot of time? Here is how to do London in a day .

And although the reason for my visit to UK was training, there are a lot other situations where you can apply for UK business visa.

Here are they.

Table of Contents

When to Get a UK Business Visitor Visa?

There are many business-related activities for which you can apply for UK visa for business.

You can apply UK visa for business if you’re coming to the UK for any of the following:

• For a training, business meeting or conference ( this was mine)
• For taking a clinical attachment or observer post as a doctor or dentist
• As an academic accompanying students on a study abroad program or coming to do research
• To perform as an artist or musician
• Carry out site visits and inspections.
• Gather information for employment overseas
• To take part in a sports event as a sportsman
• Seeking funding to start, join or buy a business in the UK

Different Types of UK Business Visa

A UK visa for business can either be short-term or long-term.

Short-term Business Visa

A short-term business visa for UK is valid for 6 months only.

Long-term Business Visa

The long term Business Visitor visa can be issuedfor 2,5 or 10 years,and it allows holders to stay in the UK for 6 months at a time.

UK Business Visa Requirements

The requirements for business visa in UK can vary a bit depending on your employment status and purpose of travel, but otherwise it will be same.

Here is the list of all the documents for UK business visa.

1. Passport

Your valid passport with at least one blank page, with a validity of three more months beyond the date you plan to leave the UK after your trip.

2. Proof of Accommodations in the UK

You will need to provide a the proof of hotel or hostel reservations for the duration of your stay. There is no need to pay for it, and you can make a refundable reservation.

If you would be staying with a relative or friend, then you can provide the ID information and passport number of any relatives living in the UK.

3. Proof of Financial Means for UK Visa

You must be able to prove that you have sufficient funds available to cover your living costs in the UK. You can provide

• bank statements from bank account
• salary slips or proof of earnings letter from employer confirming employment details (start date of employment, salary, role, company contact details)
• credit card statements

If your visit is sponsored by a friend or relative, then

• documents showing their financial stability and your relationship with them

4. Employment Proof

For the UK business visitor visa, you need to show proof of employment. As I was employed, I showed the offer letter from my employer and salary slips for the last 6 months.

If you are employed in your home country,

• a letter from your employer on company headed paper, detailing your role, salary and length of employment

If you are a student ,

• a letter from your school or university on the official letterhead, confirming your enrolment and leave of absence
• a copy of the ID card

If you are self-employed,

• business registration documents confirming the business owner’s name.

In case, you are apply for UK visa from India, you can show a CIN Certificate/ LLP certificate/ GST certificate/ Udhyog Aadhar Memorandum/ Import Export Certificate etc.

5. UK Visa Photo Requirements

You need two recent passport size color photos in white background.

Here are the entire guidelines for photo requirements for UK visa.

6. Proof of Previous Travel History

If you hold an old passport and have travelled outside of your home country or not, you need to provide copies of old passport, visas, entry/exit stamp. This has to cover the period of the last 10 years.

7. Travel Itinerary for UK Visa

Your travel itinerary for UK visa is the document that would contain a detailed travel plan with information on where you will be in the UK, what activities you will be part of, and your plans.

It must contain the travel dates, places you will visit, agenda for conferences or training, tours booked etc.

8. Confirmation of Legal Residence

If you are not a national of the country in which you are applying the Uk visa or your right to reside there is not reflected in your passport, then you need to provide a confirmation of legal residence.

Since I applied the UK business visa from India and I am an Indian citizen, I didn’t have to provide this.

9. UK Visitor Visa Application Form

You need to fill in the standard visitor visa application form for a UK visa.

UK Visa Application Process

The UK business visa application process is a five-step one.

• Get ready with all the documents for the UK business visa.
• Fill in the UK visa application form.
• Schedule a UK visa appointment with the UK embassy in the country where you are applying.
• Attend the UK visa interview.
• Receive the visa.

How to Apply for UK Business Visa from India?

If you are applying for UK business visa from India, you can’t directly apply for it through the UK embassy or consulate. You can only apply through a third party service provide : VFS Global.

But even then, you must fill in the application on UK government’s website.

Step 1 : Fill in UK Visa Online Application From on Gov.uk

The first thing you need to do is to apply online on UK government’s website. The process is the same irrespective of the country you are applying from. Please note that while you can read the questions in any language, your answers must be in English.

While you are filling in the form, you can edit any part of it any time by clicking on show and edit answers. And in case the application is not complete, you can always go back and make changes as long as you haven’t paid the fees for UK visa.

The application is saved in the gov.uk portal for 10 weeks, after which it will be deleted and you would need to start over.

You will be asked to fill in details including

• nationality, country of residence etc.
• your name & surname.
• personal phone number, address, marital status.
• passport number.
• details of the employer, job description and salary if you are employed.
• details of whether you have any savings and any other source of income.
• the reason for your visit and its details. Note that some paid assignments are allowed for the UK business visa. So you need to clarify whether you will be paid or not.
• name and date of birth, and nationality of your parents.
• your address in the UK: you can provide the address of the hotel or any other place you will be staying at.
• travel history of 10 years: you need to mention whether you have traveled to the UK or Australia, Canada, New Zealand, USA, Switzerland, and the European Economic zone in the last 10 years. If you have, then you need to provide the details of your travel.

You will also be asked to provide the details of money you usually spend during a month and the amount of money you will be spending in the Uk during your visit.

If your employer or someone is paying for your visit, you need to provide information about that as well. Since, my employer was sponsoring my trip, I filled in the details of my employer while applying for the UK visa from India.

In case your parents or spouse or a friend is sponsoring your visit, you need to mention it here.

If a company has invited you, you need to provide the details of that company as well. In case, there are multiple companies you will be visiting, you have to provide the details on that. Note that you would need to upload an invitation letter for this.

Once you are done with the application, you will be asked to make the payment for the UK visa. You can pay using a Visa/ Master Card/ Amex/ Discover/ Diners Club International card. If you personally don’t have a card, you can ask someone to make the payment on your behalf.

Step 2: Getting a UK Visa Appointment at VFS India

Since VFS India is the commercial partner for UK visa for Indian citizens, you need to book an appointment with them. You can choose the center that’s closest to you and fill in the details.

Note that VFS India charges extra service fees for processing your UK visa application. They also have a plethora of services like premium lounge and whatever, that you can use if you are too busy.

You can pay for it directly when you go for your appointment or while booking it.

Step 3 : Attend UK Visa Appointment at VFS India and Biometrics

Take a printout of your VFS appointment letter and original passport with you for your UK visa appointment at VFS India.

Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early at the VFS center. If you have not already uploaded your supporting documents yourself bring the originals, or high quality photocopies with you. I would say take the originals in case you need to make a copy there.

After you submit the documents, you will need to provide biometrics (fingerprints and facial photograph) at the VFS center.

Step 4: Attend UK Visa Interview

Depending on your purpose of travel, employment/marital status, and visa type, you might need to attend a UK visa interview at a UK embassy. If all your documents are in order and they have no questions, they wouldn’t even call you for an interview.

I wasn’t called for an interview.

Step 5 : Receive the Visa

Once a decision on your UK visa has been made, you will receive an email from VFS India and then you can collect your passport from them. In case of UK visa refusal, you can appeal for it as well.

What are the Fees for UK Business Visa?

The UK business visa cost will vary depending on the duration of the visa, but it’s same for every nationality.

How Long Does it Take to Get a UK Visa?

In my case, it took only two weeks to get the visa approved.

UK visitor visa processing time is usually three weeks from the time you submit your application. However, you might need to wait longer for a decision if your application is not straightforward and more information is required before a decision is made.

However, UK government also has priority and super-priority services using which you can get a decision on the visa within 24 hours to 5 days.

How Many Days Can You Stay in UK on Business Visa?

On a business visa, you can stay for up to 6 months at a time, whether you are on short-term ot long-term visa.

How to Extend UK Business Visitor Visa?

You can apply to for UK business visa extension only when you are inside the UK and only before your current visa expires. And to be eligible to extend it, your visa must have been issued for less than 6 months.

And you may be able to extend your business visa up to the 6-month maximum. So for example, if you’ve applied for a 4-month business visa, then you can apply to extend UK visa for business for another 2 months.

Can I Travel to Europe on a UK Visa?

The UK is not a part of the European union or the Schengen zone. You need to apply for a Schengen visa in UK or a Schengen visa from your home country if you want to travel to Europe.

• How to get a Schengen visa from India as a couple .

Is UK Business Visitor Visa same as UK Entrepreneur Visa?

No, the UK business visa is totally different from UK entrepreneur or innovator visa. The business visa is a standard visitor visa after all, that allows the holder to do some business-related stuff. It has a lot of limitations and unlike the UK innovator visa, it doesn’t allow you to make money.

Can You Work in UK on UK Business Visa?

No, you can’t work in the UK on UK business visitor visa. To work in the UK legally, you need to get the UK work visa.

• Take part in business-related activities like events, meetings or training
• Study for up to 30 days
• Transit through the UK
• Sight-see, meet family and friends
• Convert a civil partnership to marriage

Not allowed

• Paid or unpaid work, although there are exceptions to this
• marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership
• Get public funds
• Live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent visits

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About Nisha Singla

An Indian traveler in love with life and everything that it offers. When I am not traveling, I am either training others on different web technologies or making Youtube videos about them.

Reader Interactions

December 18, 2020 at 9:50 am

Hi hope you are ok I am a uk resident for 14 years , Could you send us information about what kind of guarantee visas from iran to uk we can apply for a member of family and friends . Thanks alot and looking forward to hear from you

April 4, 2023 at 2:21 am

I want to come on england.

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Business Visitor Visa

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Page contents.

• Business Visitor Visa overview
• Visitor visa requirements for US citizens
• Applying for a UK visitor visa from the US
• Seeking the help of IAS’ lawyers
• IAS’ immigration advice services

Frequently Asked Questions

Uk business visitor visa for us citizens.

If you plan on entering the UK for a short period on business and are a non-EEA or Swiss national, you may need a Business Visitor Visa UK. This type of UK short-term visa comes under the Standard Visitor Visa category and can be used if you are self-employed or working as an employee.

The UK Business Visitor Visa is different from the points-based Tier 1 Entrepreneur or Investor Visa. You are only allowed to enter for a short period of time and can only conduct certain types of business activity. The Business Visitor Visa can be granted for up to six months. If you are intending to visit as an academic business visitor, you may be able to visit for up to 12 months.

As a US citizen, you will not need a Business Visitor Visa for most business activities such as conferences or meetings in the UK as long as your stay is for less than six months. To work in any capacity in the UK, you will need to apply for a Tier 5 or Tier 2 Work Visa .

What is a Business Visit Visa for US citizens?

To be eligible to apply for a UK Business Visitor Visa you will need to be over 18 and want to visit the UK only for business purposes. Your stay must also only be for up to six months (or 12 for academic business visitors).

This application is based on the expectation that the applicant will be carrying out ‘permissible activity’ while in the UK. This could include acting as a news correspondent or engaging in any organized religious preaching or pastoral work. If applying for this visa category, you must be able to provide the relevant evidence of your activities to the Entry Clearance Office.

Business Visitor Visa requirements for American citizens

Before you apply for a UK visitor visa from US, you must make sure that you meet the following requirements:

• You must be able to demonstrate your willingness to leave the UK at the end of your visit
• You can support yourself an any dependents financially for the entire duration of your trip
• You can pay for any costs relating to your visit, including the return journey
• You have valid proof of any business activities you are going to perform once in the UK

How to apply for a Visitor visa from the US?

You can submit your application online. Once you have paid the application fee, you must book an appointment at your nearest visa application centre. Here, you will have your fingerprints and photograph taken.

You must also submit a bundle of supporting documents along with your application forms. If you fail to provide adequate documentation about your trip to the UK, your application may be rejected. For this reason, we recommend seeking the help of an expert US immigration attorney.

How can IAS help me visit the UK?

With our service, your lawyer will discuss with you your intentions for your visit to determine if this short-term visa UK is for you. If you are eligible, your lawyer can complete your application forms in full and gather your supporting evidence. You will also be provided with a Letter of Representation for your application. This is a detailed legal document which cites your supporting evidence and relevant UK case law to strengthen your case.

Get in touch today on +1844 290 6312 or make an inquiry online to receive professional advice from the expert immigration lawyers at IAS.

Last modified on June 17th, 2023 at 7:44 am

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Related pages for your continued reading.

Immigration attorneys, u.s citizenship, british citizenship, spouse visa uk, u.s. k1 fiance visa, can you extend a business visitor visa.

There is a possibility for an extension on the UK Business Visitor Visa.

This will, however, rely on your initial visa having not been granted for the full six months. The overall time length allowed for this type of visa is a maximum of six months.

What are the Business Visitor Visa restrictions?

To get Entry Clearance on this type of short-term UK visa, you must be genuinely entering the country to conduct business. This must be for a maximum of six months (12 for academic business visitors). You must also leave the UK before your leave has ended. Another requirement is sufficient maintenance funds and evidence of adequate accommodation. You must also be able to show that you can afford your journey to and from the UK.

Can I appeal a refusal of a Business Visitor Visa?

There is not presently any right of appeal for a refused UK short-term visa for business visitors.

The only way to appeal would be a Judicial Review in High Court.

What services does IAS offer?

Because there is no right of appeal again a Business Visitor Visa refusal, this application must be done right the first time. IAS hosts a team of lawyers with extensive experience in apply for all types of UK short-term visas, including the UK Business Visitor Visa.

With our service, we can assist by:

• Ensuring that you have sufficient, relevant evidence before submitting your application;
• Taking instructions on your proposed activities and confirming that they are eligible;
• Managing all contact with the Entry Clearance Office during the process;
• Producing a detailed Letter of Representation to be submitted with your application in support of your case;
• Filling your application forms in for you to the highest possible standard.

Get in touch now on +1844 290 6312 or make an inquiry to speak with a professional immigration adviser to learn more about your Business Visitor Visa UK application.

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Blog Home Office in the media

https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2024/04/17/media-factsheet-evisas/

Media factsheet: eVisas  

eVisas are a key part of delivering a border and immigration system which will be ‘digital by default’ by 2025. This process is already underway, and millions of people in the UK who applied for their visa through the EU Settlement Scheme or used the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app already have an eVisa (digital proof of their immigration status). These changes bring significant benefits to customers, deliver excellent value, and increase the UK immigration system’s security and efficiency.     

An eVisa is an online record of a customer’s immigration permission in the UK, and any conditions which apply. It can be viewed by logging into the online ‘View and prove your immigration status’ service using their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. It is usually linked to a customer’s passport to facilitate straightforward international travel.  

Using a phased approach to implementing digital services, the intention is that by 2025 most customers will have a secure and seamless digital journey when they interact with the UK’s immigration system.    

Over time this will see physical and paper-based products and services replaced with accessible, straightforward online and digital services (such as the ‘view and prove’ service) and products such as the eVisa.    

The Home Office has launched a phased rollout of eVisas to biometric residence permit (BRP). Initially this is to BRP holders by email invitation only, being sent in phases. The service will open to all BRP holders from summer 2024. Customers with BRPs do not need to do anything unless they receive an email, and don’t need to contact the Home Office if they do not receive an email immediately because the service will open to all in the summer.   

The latest information on eVisas is available at www.gov.uk/evisa .  Holders of other physical immigration documents, including (for those who hold indefinite leave to enter or indefinite leave to remain) passports containing vignette visa stickers or ink stamps, and biometric residence cards (BRCs), can also find information there on how to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. It is free, and straightforward for customers who hold physical and paper documents to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. Creating a UKVI account will not change, impact or remove customers’ current immigration status or their rights in the UK.    

Customers who already have an eVisa, including anyone granted status through the EU Settlement Scheme, do not need to do anything. This is also the case if a customer holds both a physical document, such as a BRP, and an eVisa. Customers who are not sure if they already have a UKVI account and eVisa can either check here on GOV.UK or refer to their original grant email or letter.   

Further information and future updates, including details of the support available, is available at www.gov.uk/evisa . This will be updated throughout 2024.  

An eVisa partner pack comprising further information and factsheets for stakeholders is also available here to download.     

What is an eVisa?  

An eVisa is an electronic record of a person’s immigration status.    

It removes the need for physical documents such as the biometric residence permit (BRP), ink stamps or vignette visa stickers in passports, or the biometric residence card (BRC).     

It explains the immigration status of the holder, including the conditions of the immigration permission such as any limitations on their right to work.   

Customers can view their eVisa by logging into the view and prove service using their UKVI account and share relevant information about their status securely with third parties, such as employers or private service providers such as letting agencies.  

What are the benefits of eVisas?  

eVisas bring significant benefits, deliver excellent value and increase the UK immigration system’s security and efficiency.  

They will also bring significant benefits to customers who hold an immigration status in the UK:  

• An eVisa cannot be lost, stolen or damaged.  
• Customers can prove their rights instantly, accurately and securely to anyone who requests it while sharing only necessary information.  
• With an eVisa, fewer customers will need to leave their passport with the Home Office while awaiting a decision. eVisas also mean that customers do not need to collect documents like BRPs or wait for these documents to be sent to them.  
• With a UKVI account, customers can easily keep the Home Office updated with any changes in their details or documentation. For example, customers can tell us about changes to their name and nationality, travel document (such as passport), email, telephone and postal address contact details.  
• Customers can access many UK government services and benefits without needing to present proof of immigration status. This is because selected government departments and authorities including the Department for Work and Pensions and the National Health Service in England and Wales, can securely access immigration status information automatically through system to system checks. Immigration data is held securely, and government will never sell customer data. Further information on how the Home Office handles customer data can be found here on GOV.UK .  

It is also simpler for those who need to check someone’s UK immigration status (such as employers and landlords), to use online services, rather than having to maintain awareness of, and look through, different types of physical immigration documents, some of which may be in bad condition, or even fraudulent. As more and more customers create UKVI accounts, checkers can increasingly conduct one quick and simple check using a secure online service on GOV.UK  

When are eVisas launching?   

Although millions of customers already have and use eVisas, including everyone granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme, throughout 2024 customers who currently use physical immigration documents to prove their status and rights in the UK, will be asked to take action to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa.   

This process launched in April 2024, with BRP holders emailed directly with instructions on how to create UKVI account to access their eVisa. These email invitations are being sent in phases, before the service is made available to all BRP holders in the summer. BRP holders who have not yet received an email should not worry as the process will soon be opened to all without an invitation, and there is no need to contact the Home Office in the meantime.  

As we rollout the online process for BRP holders to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa we will send emails to BRP holders when they are able to take action. BRP holders who have not yet received email instructions but have been made aware of the process by friends, family or online forums may find the process does not yet work for them. There is no need to contact the Home Office in this case as the online process will be open for all BRP holders in summer 2024 at www.gov.uk/evisa .  

Holders of other physical immigration documents, such as a passport containing ink stamps or vignette visa stickers, or BRCs can take steps to acquire an eVisa now, and further instructions are available at www.gov.uk/evisa .   

Will this impact British citizens?  

British passport holders and Irish citizens, including those who previously held an immigration status but have since acquired British citizenship, do not need to do anything. British citizens who do not have a British passport because they are dual nationals (excluding Irish passport holders) may need to take action in future regarding how they prove their right of abode. Updates on this will be provided in due course.    

Will the Home Office be communicating about eVisas?   

A comprehensive range of communications activity on the implementation of eVisas is underway and will be delivered throughout 2024.   

This includes a range of direct emails which will be sent, in phases, to BRP holders with instructions on how to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. We are also proactively engaging with a wide range of targeted stakeholders to engage those impacted by the move to eVisas, and have developed a range of partner pack content (see above) to equip them to communicate widely about eVisa changes.   

We will also be using official communication channels, including videos and regularly updated content on gov.uk to communicate these changes.   

What is a UKVI account? How is it different to an eVisa?    

A UKVI account is a secure way for customers to log into online services such as view and prove, whereas an eVisa is an electronic record of a person’s immigration status.   

Using their UKVI account, customers can view their eVisa and share the relevant information via the online view and prove service, by generating a share code, which provides time-limited access to the relevant data. A person can have a UKVI account but no eVisa, for example, where the application for permission to stay in the UK was refused or expired.   

A customer can also update personal details such as address and contact details in their UKVI account. This service is free, unlike updating physical immigration documents for which customers may be charged. This service is available at: www.update-your-UK-Visas-and-immigration-account-details .  

The UKVI account is currently created automatically for everyone who uses the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check mobile App’ to make an immigration application.    

Customers who already hold a physical document will need to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa and to be able to use the full range of online services.   

As physical documents that evidence immigration status expire, the view and prove service, accessed via the UKVI account, will be the way people can view and prove their immigration status and associated rights in the UK.  

Can you still use a physical document if it expires, and you don’t get an eVisa?    

The expiry of a physical document, for example, a BRP card, does not affect a customer’s immigration status. However, how they prove their status will change from 2025. Customers will have to use our online services to prove their rights in the UK and to do so they will need to create a UKVI account.   

What do customers need to do if they hold a BRP that expires at the end of 2024?  

Customers who have a BRP and are living in the UK will need to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa unless their immigration leave expires before 31 December 2024. From April 2024, BRP holders are being emailed directly with instructions on how to do this. These email invitations are being sent in phases, before the service is made available to all BRP holders in the summer. BRP holders who have not yet received an email should not worry as the process will soon be opened to all without an invitation, and there is no need to contact the Home Office in the meantime. BRP holders should visit www.gov.uk/evisa for the latest information.  

For now, customers should continue to use their BRP as they have previously and visit www.gov.uk/evisa for updates. This includes taking their BRP with them when they travel internationally.     

The expiry of their BRP card does not affect their immigration status. However, how they prove their status will change from 2025.   

Customers who already have an eVisa (a digital immigration status) as well as a BRP, will not need to create a UKVI account, as they already have one. Customers can find out if they already have a UKVI account by checking the email or letter that they were given when they were granted immigration status in the UK or go to www.gov.uk/evisa for further information.   

Should customers whose BRP expires on 31 Dec 2024 before their immigration leave is due to expire, apply now to renew their BRP?    

No, customers should not apply to renew their BRP, as all BRPs issued to customers who hold immigration leave beyond 2024, including renewals, are due to expire on 31 Dec 2024 and will be replaced by the eVisa.    

What should customers do if they’ve lost their BRP?   

If a customer has lost their valid BRP then they should apply for a replacement in the usual way. As with all BRPs, if their leave extends beyond the end of 2024, their replacement BRP will expire on 31 December 2024, and they will need to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa to prove their rights.    

Once you have received your replacement then you should visit www.gov.uk/evisa for details of how to create a UKVI account and access your eVisa.   

If a customer has a BRP but it expires before the end of 2024 what do, they need to do?    

If a customer’s BRP expires before 31 Dec 2024 then their immigration leave may also expire at that point. If it does, and if they plan to remain in the UK then they should make a visa renewal application in the usual way.    

Will a BRP holder be able to use an expired BRP to generate a share code after it has expired but while they still have immigration leave?      

How a customer proves their status will change from 2025 and they should take action to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa before their BRP expires.   

Information on what steps a BRP holder will need to take to create a UKVI account and access their eVisa is available at www.gov.uk/evisa .    

We would encourage all BRP holders to create an account and access their eVisa as soon as it is possible for them to do so.  Where individuals have not created an account before their BRP expires at the end of 2024, we will put in place mechanisms to ensure they are still able to prove their rights while they create an account. Holders of expired BRPs will still be able to use these to create an account.  

BRP holders should take steps to create a UKVI account and access their eVisa before it expires to prevent any unnecessary delays in proving their rights.   

What do legacy paper document holders need to do to evidence their rights in the UK – and what do they need to do to get an eVisa?    

Customers who have indefinite leave to enter or indefinite leave to remain and prove their rights using a passport containing an ink stamp or vignette visa sticker or use another type of legacy paper document should make a ‘No Time Limit’ application.  

As part of the application process customers may need to travel to a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services Centre (known as a UKVCAS) to provide a photograph, and in some cases provide fingerprints.   

Once an application has been processed successful No Time Limit applicants will be issued with a biometric residence permit (BRP), which can then be used to prove the customer's rights and to create a UKVI account.  

By the end of 2024 No Time Limit applicants will receive an eVisa, rather than a BRP. Further updates on this change will be available in due course.

It is free to make a No Time Limit application, and information on how to do so is available at http://www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits/replace-visa-brp  

Why do holders of legacy documents such as passports containing ink stamps or vignette visa stickers need to get an eVisa?    

The border and immigration system is becoming ‘digital by default’, a change that will enhance the customer experience, deliver excellent value, and increase the immigration system’s security and efficiency. This move also reflects a broader societal move towards a digital approach.    

The phasing out of legacy documents, such as passports containing ink stamps or a vignette visa sticker, is a key part of this process, but will bring a range of benefits to customers. This includes the fact that an eVisa cannot be lost or damaged, like a vignette, and there is no need for a potentially costly replacement.   

Customers who replace their legacy document with an eVisa will benefit from the automated access that public bodies, including the Department for Work and Pensions and the National Health Service in England and Wales will securely have to their immigration status, which will streamline access to key services.    

Creating a UKVI account to access an eVisa will also help to prevent unnecessary delays when travelling internationally (if travelling on the document linked to the UKVI account).    

If legacy document holders do not acquire an eVisa by 2025, then they may experience challenges and delays in proving their rights and when travelling internationally.    

What do eVisas mean for international travel?   

Customers should continue to carry their in-date physical immigration documents with them when they travel internationally. Customers who already have an eVisa should tell the Home Office about any travel document on which they intend to travel using the Update your UK Visas and Immigration account details’ service at www.gov.uk/update-uk-visas-immigration-account-details .‘ if this is not already linked to their account.   

During 2024, the Home Office is taking steps to allow carriers, including transport operators such as airlines, ferry, and international train operators, to securely and automatically access the immigration status of passengers travelling on their services when they present their travel document which is linked to their UKVI account.   

This will automate the existing routine checks completed whenever a passenger presents their travel document when travelling internationally. This will provide a more convenient customer journey, and enhanced border security.   

While the UK government is delivering a digital border and immigration system including plans to trial contactless entry using facial recognition only, there are no current plans to replace physical passports with digital equivalents.  

Will all international carriers have automatic access to immigration details? Or will it just be airlines?    

From later this year, carriers operating across air, rail & sea will be able to securely access passenger immigration information. Further updates will be provided in due course.  

Is there help and support for vulnerable groups?   

We are developing our digital products and services for use by all, including vulnerable users.     

Customers can contact the UK Visas and Immigration Contact Centre, which provides telephone and email support to those using the online immigration status services.    

This includes supporting users through the online journey by:    

• helping them to access or recover their account.  
• helping them to update their personal details.   
• sharing status on behalf of individuals if they are unable to do so themselves.

The UK Visas and Immigration Contact Centre will also be able to assist users who are experiencing technical issues with their online immigration status, and where necessary, enable individuals’ status to be verified through alternative means.  

Individuals can nominate a ‘helper’ and give them limited access to their account, so that they can assist with creating a UKVI account, completing details to access an eVisa, and with any immigration application. Where a person is unable to manage their own affairs due to, for example, age or disability, a ‘proxy’, who is authorised, can create and manage the account on behalf of the person.  

Our Assisted Digital service is also available to provide individual support by phone and email to individuals who require assistance with IT-related aspects of creating a UKVI account.    

Additionally, we work collaboratively with a range of third-party stakeholders on the move to eVisas. Many of these organisations offer support to individuals requiring assistance in creating a UKVI account and accessing their eVisa.    

We are exploring options to provide additional eVisa support and will provide further updates in due course.   

What support is there for those who are digitally excluded?   

Assisted Digital is a free service provided by UKVI to support customers in the UK who are digitally excluded to create a UKVI account and access their eVisa. Customers are classified as being digitally excluded if they have access needs or if they have low or no digital skills.     

Access needs can include any disability that requires support to use online services, a lack of device or a lack of internet access.   

Will children be impacted by the move to eVisas?   

In the case of children, the expectation is that their parent or guardian will have access to their UKVI account and use the online services on their behalf, as they would have looked after and used a BRP/C on the child’s behalf. They can subsequently transfer ownership of the account and access to the online services when the child reaches majority.   

Parents and guardians can create a UKVI account for their children at the same time they create an account for themselves.   

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Visa types available to work in the UK

29 April 2024

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There are a number of different visa routes available that allow individuals to travel to the UK to work in an unsponsored role.

Please note, there are separate web pages for the sponsored routes of  Skilled Worker visa and the  Health and Care visa , that cover details such as applicable job roles and minimum salary thresholds. 

Below are some of the routes used to give people a generic right to work in the UK (other routes such as  family visas and dependents are also available):

• Youth Mobility Scheme visa.
• Student visa.
• Graduate visa.
• British National (Overseas (BNO)) visa.
• Global Talent visa.
• Temporary Worker route.

Immigration Health Surcharge 

Please note, each of these visas require the Immigration Health Surcharge to be paid per person per year, unless they take up a role in public sector healthcare where they will be eligible for a  refund . The current cost is £1,035 per person.

Refugees can work in the UK without any restrictions. Most refugees were working before arriving in the UK and have a background in many different roles. Many refugees want to find work in the UK and to make a contribution.  

International recruitment and retention toolkit

The  international recruitment toolkit also hosts a wide range of information on recruiting from overseas with top tips and good practice examples. The toolkit is updated quarterly to keep in line with any developments in the international recruitment space. 

The international retention toolkit includes useful information on retaining overseas staff. This includes good practice examples, steps on how to make overseas recruits feel welcome and supporting their professional growth. 

Right to work 

The visa routes outlined below all come with a right to work and therefore are subject to  right to work checks . An online checking portal is available for holders of certain types of right to work, such as biometric residence permits (BRPs).  Evisas will be rolled out over 2024 and replace BRPs. 

The  Youth Mobility Scheme visa is a temporary route that provides young people, from participating countries, with an opportunity to experience life in the UK and gives young people the opportunity to live and work in the UK for up to two years. 

Eligible applicants must be aged between 18 and 30 or 18 and 35* at the time of application, have £2,530 in savings and citizens of countries within the arrangements or are a British Overseas Citizen, British Overseas Territories Citizen or British National (Overseas). The application fee costs £298.

The scheme exists between certain countries, which enables young British citizens to benefit from similar opportunities overseas. 

Applicants cannot apply for the Youth Mobility Scheme if they have children under the age of 18 who live with them or who they are financially responsible for.

The UK currently operates youth mobility scheme arrangements with: Andorra, Australia*, Canada*, Monaco, Japan, New Zealand*, San Marino, Hong Kong, South Korea*, Uruguay, Iceland and Taiwan.

Applicants from Hong Kong or Taiwan must be selected in the  Youth Mobility Scheme ballot  before they can apply for a visa.

*The Youth Mobility Scheme visa is available for applicants from New Zealand, Australia, Canada or South Korea if you’re aged 18 to 35. You must be aged 18 or over when your visa starts, or 35 or under when you apply for it. 

For more information, please visit the  GOV.UK website .

The  Student visa is available for individuals who are over 16 and have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor. A student who has been granted permission to work in the UK should have an endorsement which states that they are able to work for 20-hours per week during term time and full time during holidays. This information can be available on their passport, or electronically on their eVisa or a biometric residence permit (BRP).

The student route requires the individual to have: 

• a sponsor 
• English language capability
• the ability to financially support themselves
• have consent from parents/guardians.

Students may need to prove that they can  support themselves financially and be able to pay for their course. The application fee for a student visa is £490.

Dependents may be allowed to come to the UK or stay longer in the UK if a government-sponsored student starting a course that lasts longer than 6 months or a full-time student on a  postgraduate level course (RQF level 7 or above) that lasts 9 months or longer.

Employers can check  a job applicant’s right to work details  on GOV.UK.

More information about sponsored work and student categories can be found on the  GOV.UK website  Annex C.

For more information, please visit the  GOV.UK website. 

The  Graduate visa  is available to international students who have completed a degree in the UK and is an unsponsored route.

This route enables international students to remain in the UK and work at any skill level for two years after they have completed their studies (or three years if they have a PhD).

Individuals cannot extend a Graduate visa but may be able to switch to a different visa including the  Skilled worker or Health and Care visa .

For eligibility and application details, please visit  GOV.UK .

On 4 December 2023, the UK government announced that the Migration Advisory Committee will review the graduate route. We will keep employers informed of any further developments and you can view more details on the GOV.UK website.

The  British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) visa gives applicants a generic right to work in the UK. The BN(O) visa applies to those who were British Overseas Territories citizens by connection with Hong Kong and registered as a British national (overseas) before 1 July 1997. 

The BN(O) visa allows those who are eligible and their family members to live, work and study in the UK but cannot usually access public funds.

When applying, they will need to show that they have enough money to pay for housing and prove that they can support themselves (and their family) for 6 months.

Once individuals have a BNO visa, they might be able to  apply for access to benefits  if, for example, they:

• do not have a place to live and cannot afford one
• have a place to live but cannot afford essential living costs like food or heating
• are at risk of losing your place to live or being unable to afford essential living costs
• have a very low income, and not having access to benefits would harm your child’s wellbeing.

Under this route, applicants can stay in the UK from two years and six months up to five years. Their stay can also be extended as many times as they wish, and they have the right to apply to settle in the UK or for British citizenship. 

The BN(O) visa costs £180 for two years and six months or £250 for five years. Applicants will need to show they have enough money to pay for housing and to support themselves and their family for six months. 

On entry, there will be no English language requirement. However, applicants must demonstrate a commitment to learn English in the UK and require a good knowledge of the English language if they choose later to make an application for settled status (indefinite leave to remain) after five years. 

To work in an NHS skilled role, applicants will also have to meet the English language requirements of the relevant regulator, such as the  Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)  or the  General Medical Council (GMC) . 

East Midlands Council has produced a  promotional video  and has a  Hong Kong BNO Welcome Hub  available online.

There is also the national  Hong Kong Nursing Association UK .

Individuals can apply for a  Government Authorised Exchange visa if they want to come to the UK for a short time for work experience, training or to do an Overseas Government Language Programme, research or fellowship through an  approved government authorised exchange scheme . They also need to make sure to have:

• meet the other  eligibility requirements
• at least £1,270 available.

A certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor is needed before applying to come to the UK to work. They will also need to pay the application fee of £298.

Depending on the scheme applied for, the visa can be for a maximum of 12 months or 24 months. On this visa applicants cannot take on a permanent job, however, they can study, work in a secondary job or do a job on the immigration salary list for up to 20 hours per week. Applicants may be able to apply to extend their visa if they meet the  requirements . 

The  Global Talent visa allows highly skilled individuals, such as top scientists and researchers who achieve the required points, to enter the UK without a job offer. Individuals need to be endorsed by a relevant and competent body and can stay in the UK for up to five years at a time. 

Applicants can also work in the UK on a Global Talent visa if they’ve won an  eligible award , and can benefit from a quicker endorsement process as part of a fast-track STEM scheme. 

To get a Global Talent visa, individuals may need to apply for an ‘endorsement’, as well as for the visa itself. However, they do not need to apply for an endorsement if they’ve won an  eligible award , this will allow them to  apply for the visa  straight away.

If an endorsement is needed, the application process will depend on whether an eligible job offer as an  academic or researcher  is in place, whether they have an  individual fellowship , a  research grant  approved by UKRI, or an application that is being  peer reviewed .

The total cost for the visa, and endorsement, is £716. If you’re including your partner or children in your application, they’ll also each need to pay £716. 

For more information, please visit the  GOV.UK website.

The  High Potential Individual (HPI) visa  is intended to attract overseas individuals who demonstrate exceptional promise and are at the early stages of their careers. These individuals help to provide an additional pool of talent from which UK employers can recruit.

To be eligible, candidates must have been awarded a qualification by an  eligible university  in the last five years. Individuals can apply from within or outside the UK. They will not need a sponsor for work purposes and will have a general right to work for most jobs.

The HPI visa usually gives individuals the right to work for two years. If they have a PhD or other doctoral qualification, this will be extended to three years.

After that time, they will not be able to extend their HPI visa but may be able to switch to other routes such as  Skilled Worker  and the  Health and Care Visa . 

Individuals can only apply for a HPI visa once and cannot apply for a HPI visa if they have already been granted a  graduate visa .

As part of their application, individuals will need to ensure that they have enough money to pay for fees, £210 for  Ecctis  (an organisation which provides official UK national agency services on behalf of the UK Government in qualifications, skills, and migration), to check that the qualification is valid, pay the £822 application fee, and be able to support themselves on arrival in the UK with at least £1,270 available.

For more information on visas, please visit the  GOV.UK website . 

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Money latest: JD Sports introducing tagging sprays in stores

JD Sports is introducing tagging sprays across its stores nationwide as part of a ramping up of security measures. Read this and all the latest consumer and personal finance news below, plus leave a comment in the box.

Tuesday 30 April 2024 21:02, UK

• State pensions 'could be in doubt for future generations'
• Average UK rents hit new high
• Higher food prices warning as new Brexit checks begin
• JD Sports introducing tagging sprays in stores

Essential reads

• Turns out supermarket boss was right about self-checkouts
• Swap rates are the reason mortgage rates are rising - what are they?
• Gameboys and 1950s furniture: Items in your attic that could be worth small fortune
• Money Problem : 'Builders won't repair dodgy work - what are my rights?'  
• '£2,000 landed in my account' - The people who say they're manifesting riches
• Train strikes in May - everything you need to know

Ask a question or make a comment

Taxpayers will be forced to cover £85bn of losses made by the Bank of England on its quantitative easing programme, estimates suggest. 

The £895bn bond-buying scheme was carried out between 2009 and 2021, and had aimed to support the UK during economic shocks - but it has been blamed by some for allowing inflation to take root. 

Recent chancellors have agreed to indemnify the Bank against any losses on the scheme - meaning the taxpayer will be paying for them.

Greene King is moving from its 200-year-old brewery in Bury St Edmunds. 

The pub chain will be opening a new £40m facility in a town that will produce more modern, fizzy craft beers alongside its traditional cask ales. 

The majority of Greene King's brewing will be moved to the new site, as part of a wider shift away from traditional cask beers. 

It will take about three years to complete. 

Butlin's has launched legal action against its insurance company Aviva over who foots a £60m bill.

The holiday park operator's Minehead resort was forced to close in September 2023 because of flooding caused by heavy rainfall.

It has said the incident cost the business £60m and has filed a claim at the High Court against Aviva for not covering the entire bill.

In legal documents seen by  The Telegraph , Butlins have questioned the definition of a "storm" and argued that a "named storm" had not been declared when the flooding happened.

Oil traders working for the US firm Exxon Mobil Corp in Brussels could lose their job if they refuse to move to London, according to reports.

Under the new proposal employees moving to the UK capital would be expected to be in the office five days a week.

But traders working for the oil giant said in an internal union-led survey they did not want to move to London due to "uncompetitive" pay and a "lack of flexibility", a union statement reads, according to  Bloomberg .

Up to 37 trading employees now face having their contracts terminated as a result of this.

ExxonMobil has said it "remains open to resolving the situation".

The sports retailer is introducing tagging sprays across its stores nationwide as part of a ramping up of security measures. 

It will start using SelectaDNA sprays, which can be misted on property and criminals. 

The sprays work by leaving a synthetic DNA and UV marker which does not wash off and can be used to link assets to owners and criminals to crime scenes. 

JD Sports said the measure was in response to a significant increase in shoplifting in UK.

In particular, it said it had seen a rise in "steaming" - where large gangs run into stores, threaten staff with violence and then run off with armfuls of stolen products.

The SelectaDNA spray reportedly does not cause any harm or damage to skin, clothing or property.

Lidl plans to open hundreds more supermarkets across Britain.

The German discount chain, which is now the UK's sixth biggest supermarket, is targeting thousands of new shoppers as it continues its expansion.

It currently has about 960 stores but is targeting more than 1,100 across England, Wales and Scotland.

In the coming months, the chain will welcome shoppers to new stores across the country, from Bristol, Birmingham and Berwick in Scotland. 

In London, it will be opening new stores in Wandsworth, Fulham, Hoxton and Canning Town.

But it says it is eyeing growth in more locations. If it successfully finds a good location, it is willing to pay a finder's fee of 1.5% of the total freehold purchase price, or 10% of the first year's rent for leaseholds, which would equate to £22,500 for a completed £1.5m site purchase.

A finder's fee can be paid to any member of the public who identifies a suitable site for it to open a new store.

Richard Taylor, Lidl Great Britain's chief development officer, said the company was "continuing to invest in new locations whilst exploring innovative routes to expansion".

"As we look ahead, we're excited to welcome even more new shoppers to our existing stores, as well as those we're planning to open across the country in the coming months and years," he said.

Mortgage approvals rose to 61,300 in March - the highest number since September 2022.

They had been at 60,500 in February, according to the Bank of England.

While this is positive, industry experts are reporting that uncertainty over the direction of interest rates this year is prompting caution.

Mortgage rates have risen in the last few weeks as markets went from pricing in a base rate cut in June to thinking it may be August.

US inflation proving stubborn has led to concern here that the path to the 2% target may be bumpy - meaning the base rate may have to stay high in order to constrain spending and thus ease price rises.

Forecasts of three cuts this year from the current 5.25% have been scaled back to two.

Hina Bhudia, partner at Knight Frank Finance, said: "The sun is out and buyers are returning from their Easter break, so we'd usually expect these to be the busy weeks before the summer; however, the uncertain outlook for mortgage rates will undoubtedly weigh on activity.

"It's not just buyers that are frustrated. The lenders are eager to rebuild their businesses after a subdued 2023; however, they are constrained by stubborn inflation and the resulting impact on their cost of funding."

Following Sainsbury's boss Simon Roberts' claim that Britons like self-checkouts...

...we asked Money blog readers, and followers of our LinkedIn page , for their views.

While our inbox was filled with a lot of hate for self-checkouts, our poll of 2,613 people on LinkedIn shows that, overall, Mr Roberts was right...

We have rounded up some of your views here...

Self-checkout is the worst thing to ever happen. Standing like a child with your hand up, one person running up and down to deal with this, underpaid and understaffed. Janice Karaaziz, Money reader

I'll go out of my way to find a cashier, largely because my five-year-old will make a beeline for pressing the scales. I've noticed my local store having fewer and fewer cashiers on - and on many occasions there have been none. We need to think about inclusivity here. There will be some customers who will need a cashier for various reasons, so would expect there to always be at least one on, so stores are accessible for everyone. KaraS, LinkedIn

I try and limit my social interactions as much as possible, out of choice, so most of the time self-checkouts are convenient. Alasdair Corton, LinkedIn

They induce a level of irritation. Sometimes I can be heard answering them back. In general I choose to have my items flung at me by Lidl checkout staff. Siobhan W, LinkedIn

Self-checkout provides a great alternative to customers, especially those with smaller quantity purchases, but personally I think it's sad to see them dominate the front of Sainsbury's stores. In my opinion, it's the removal of one of the greatest ways to provide good customer service. Tom Tregay, LinkedIn

Self-checkouts are great, I will always choose to use one instead of a normal checkout. Some are easier to use than others, the Co-op and Tesco have easy-to-use interfaces whereas Morrisons is a bit more complicated. They'll evolve over time and there's always staff to help out. CG, LinkedIn

They're useful, but when they trigger a "basket check" on nearly every single shop, they begin to lose attractiveness Nicola Bradley, LinkedIn

I tend to argue with them lol. Especially when I can't get it to scan a particular item or you need approval for something so you have to wait for assistance anyway! Plus as a disabled customer I have to juggle my crutch, shopping, scanning and packing. With reduced staff in shops you can't always get the help you actually need. Elizabeth Graney, LinkedIn

Definitely not. So when I go to Sainsbury's I see a lot of older people and no way do they want to use self-checkouts. My mother lives in assisted living and all of them say they hate them. Get a grip, Simon - they are not faster, they are saving you employing more staff. I know my aunt has stood at an Asda til they put a staff member on there. Andrea Robinson, LinkedIn

Robots should never replace humans. Interaction is essential... if machines replace people no one will work, it's a crazy dangerous road. Nicola van Eerten, LinkedIn

The self-checkout is a money-saving exercise. They cut back everywhere. No staff on the shop floor to help. Paper bags in the veg section now cost 30p - for absolutely no reason. Mark, Money reader

Average advertised rents have hit a new high in the UK, according to Rightmove .

Across Britain, excluding London, the average monthly rent being asked for a property coming on the market in the first quarter of 2024 was £1,291, the property website found. This was 8.5% higher than a year earlier.

The average advertised rent in London also hit a fresh high in the first quarter of 2024 at £2,633 per month but this was just £2 higher than the average asking rent in the fourth quarter of 2023.

While average rents have climbed, the property website says there are signs that the pace of the increases is slowing.

There are also indications that more landlords are having to reduce their asking rents, particularly for bigger homes, to meet what tenants can afford.

Rightmove's director of property science, Tim Bannister, said the rental market was "no longer at peak boiling point" but it "remains at a very hot simmer".

By James Sillars , business reporter

The index rose by 0.3% to 8,174 points at the open.

Only real estate stocks were proving any kind of drag.

Among the companies leading the gainers was HSBC.

It climbed by more than 2.6% in London after the Asia-focused bank announced a rise in shareholder awards despite a slight drop in quarterly profits.

The share price reaction also reflected news that chief executive Noel Quinn is to retire - read the full story of that here ...

Among the other gainers in early dealing was Whitbread.

The Premier Inn owner's annual results revealed a sharp rise in annual profits but also a new focus on hotel investment at the expense of its restaurant brands.

That was placing 1,500 jobs at risk, it warned - read the full story here ...

By Jess Sharp , Money team

We first came across Tom McPhail when he posted this on X... 

The pensions expert appeared to be suggesting state pensions were at risk of disappearing.  

After speaking to him on the phone, he confirmed that was exactly his concern, warning something needed to be done sooner rather than later to avoid a "catastrophic" situation.  

He described state pensions as a social contract – each generation pays taxes and national insurance, which funds the pensions of today's older people, and they hope the following generation will do the same for them.

But with population growth slowing, there's a worry there may simply not be enough people to keep the system afloat in the future.  

"There's a significant demographic shift going on in the UK. It started before the Second World War, cohorts of people born in the 1930s have been experiencing significantly longer lives than was the case prior to that, so people now in their 80s are living quite a lot longer," he said. 

"But at the same time, we've got fewer children coming through. And so this exacerbates the shift in the age of the population."

He said if he was 20 today, he would be "sceptical" about the promise of a state pension because he isn't sure how it's going to be paid for.  

At the moment, the state pension system costs around £120bn a year and more than half of retired people rely on it to make up at least 50% of their income, he added.  

Over the next 50 years, Tom predicts the proportion of GDP the state spends on older people will increase from around 16% to 25%.  

"I hesitate to use the word unsustainable, but it will certainly start to look challenging," he said.  

"If we suddenly switched off the state pension or significantly reduced it, people would be in trouble, so the government can’t do that. 

"You can't keep on progressively ratcheting up a more and more generous state pension. The costs of state pensions is going to become increasingly difficult for the younger cohorts to bear."

He pointed to a few ways to potentially salvage the state pension – policy change, more babies being born or people working until they are in their 70s.  

"Politicians are going to have to make decisions about how to get out of this kind of political bind," Tom added. 

"Time and time again it's just kick the can down the road on the pension question, just put a sticking plaster on it and let the next government deal with the problem. 

"You can't keep doing that. So I would really like to see, on the other side of this forthcoming general election... whoever's in power, in collaboration with whoever's in opposition, to just really open it up to some honest conversations about where the demographics are going to take us." 

He does note there is one piece of good news: "This happens quite slowly, so we do have time on our side." 

Basically, swap rates dictate the pricing of fixed-rate mortgages.

Lenders, such as banks and building societies, borrow in order to lend.

They borrow from financial markets and often these transactions are made using Sterling Overnight Index Average (SONIA) swap rates, which can move around.

By contrast, most domestic mortgages are set on what is known as a "term" rate – in other words, the borrower knows how much interest they will be paying for a set period of time.

To avoid a situation where the SONIA rate goes above the rate it is charging borrowers, which would leave the bank or building society lending at a loss, the lender will seek to enter a "swap" arrangement which protects them from such a situation.

Under such agreements, two parties exchange cash flows with each other. The lending bank will swap the variable payments it may make to service a mortgage (which is fixed to the SONIA rate) for payments at a fixed rate. This insulates the lending bank from unexpected increases in the SONIA rate.

Once a deal is struck based on the swap rate, mortgage providers set their fixed deals for customers, with their own profit margin priced in.

How are swap rates decided?

Swap rates are based on what the markets think will happen to interest rates in the future.

When they go up, so do the rates being offered on the high street, as we have seen in the last week or two amid uncertainty over whether forecasts for a summer base rate cut are accurate.

Read other entries in our Basically... series:

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eVisa rollout begins with immigration documents replaced by 2025

Millions are being invited to switch from physical immigration documents to an eVisa – a key step in creating a modernised and digital border.

Photo: Getty Images

The next stage in the government’s plan to modernise the border and introduce a digital immigration system is under way, as the Home Office moves closer to the implementation of eVisas for nearly all visa holders living in the UK by 2025.

From today (17 April 2024), the Home Office will begin to send emails to all those with physical immigration documents, called biometric residence permits (BRPs), inviting them to create a UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI ) account to access their eVisa, a digital proof of their immigration status.

Invitations will be issued in phases before the process opens to all BRP holders in summer 2024.

eVisas are central to making the UK safer by reducing the risk of fraud, loss and abuse of physical documents, strengthening border security, and providing a more secure way to prove immigration status. This will pave the way for increased automation to deliver the government’s vision for a contactless border.

It is free and straightforward for customers who hold physical and paper documents to create a UKVI account to access their eVisa. Creating a UKVI account will not change, impact or remove customers’ current immigration status or their rights in the UK.

Minister for Legal Migration and the Border, Tom Pursglove MP, said:  

We’ve already taken really significant steps to digitally transform the border and immigration system, and this wider rollout of eVisas is a key part of that process.  Replacing physical immigration documents with eVisas will ensure firm control over who comes here to live, work or study, strengthening border security and preventing abuse of the immigration system, while delivering cost savings for UK taxpayers.

eVisas bring substantial benefits to the UK public and to visa customers. They are secure, and, unlike a physical document, cannot be lost, stolen or tampered with. They can be accessed anywhere and in real time, putting customers in control of their own data and allowing them to swiftly update the Home Office with new contact or passport details.

An eVisa is securely linked with the holder’s unique biometric information in the same way as a BRP or BRC , to protect against identity fraud.

People checking immigration status will be able to conduct one quick and simple check using a secure online service on GOV.UK. Selected public bodies are already able to access immigration status to determine eligibility for public services automatically through system to system checks.

eVisas are tried and tested, with millions of customers already using them across routes including the EU Settlement Scheme ( EUSS ). Most physical documents, such as biometric residence permits or cards (BRPs or BRCs), are being gradually phased out, with most BRPs expiring at the end of 2024.

This move to eVisas is in line with other countries which have replaced, or are planning to replace, their physical immigration documents with digital forms of immigration status.

Customers who already have an eVisa do not need to do anything as we make this change, but should continue to update their UKVI account with any changes to personal information, such as a new passport or contact details. Customers should continue to carry their in-date physical immigration documents with them when they travel internationally, until they expire.

Physical immigration documents will be gradually phased out by 2025, as we transition to a fully digital border and immigration system for new and existing customers. This will deliver enhanced security and cost savings for the UK public and greater convenience for customers and status checkers. 

Customers who already have an eVisa should tell the Home Office about any passport on which they intend to travel using the online Update your UK Visas and Immigration account details service on GOV.UK, if this is not already linked to their account, to avoid delays when travelling.

As part of the wider transformation of the UK border and immigration system, the government has already introduced the Electronic Travel Authorisation ( ETA ) scheme. ETA is a digital permission to travel to the UK for those wanting to visit but who do not need a visa. It gives the government greater ability to screen travellers in advance of travel and prevent those who pose a threat from coming here.

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