Every year, a large number of people enter the UK using a standard visitor visa (business). Many assume that this type of visa allows them to work unrestricted in the UK for a period of time. The activities that can be done and the amount of time that visitors are permitted to stay in the UK are severely limited with a standard visitor visa (business).

The standard visitor visa (business) allows foreign nationals who live and work overseas to enter the UK for short stays (maximum 6 months) to carry out specific "Permissible Activities."

Before coming to the UK to carry out business activities as a visitor, you need to check which activities are permitted and which are prohibited.

Who needs a UK Business Visitor visa?

Depending on your nationality and whether you are considered a "visa national" or "non-visa national," you may need a Business Visitor visa.

In order to undertake business activities in the UK, the majority of visa holders are required by law to apply for a Business Visitor visa. Any citizen of countries listed in the Immigration Rules as requiring a visa in order to enter the UK is considered a visa national.

On the other hand, citizens whose nationality does not appear on the visa national list, or non-visa nationals, will not require a visa in advance of visiting the UK, but they still need to apply for entry clearance at a UK port of entry.

What work is permitted with a business visitor visa?

If you are travelling to the UK under a Business Visitor visa, or visa-free but for business purposes, you must be coming to the UK to engage in activities permitted under the visitor rules. The different business activities permissible include:

General Business Activities

• Attending pre-arranged meetings, conferences, seminars and interviews;
• Speaking at a conference on a one-off basis or giving a short series of talks and speeches (but only where it is not run as a commercial event and will not make a profit);
• Negotiating and signing deals and contracts;
• Attending trade fairs (if it is restricted to promotional work and does not involve selling directly to the public);
• Carrying out site visits and inspections;
• Gather information about the visitor’s 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.

Corporate Business Activities

• Board-level directors attending board meetings in the UK provided they are not employed by a UK company
• An employee of an overseas-based company may advise and consult, troubleshoot, provide training and share skills and knowledge, on a specific internal project with UK employees of the same corporate group provided no work is directly carried out for clients
• An internal auditor may carry out regulatory or financial audits at a UK branch of the same group of companies as the visitor’s employer overseas
• A journalist, correspondent, producer or cameraman gathering information for an overseas publication, programme or film
• An employee of a foreign manufacturer or supplier may install, dismantle, repair, service or advise on equipment, computer software or hardware where it has a contract of purchase or supply or lease with a UK company or organisation
• A client of a UK export company 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; and
• Interpreting or translating for visiting business persons

What are prohibited work activities?

A variety of work activities are expressly prohibited under visitor visa rules and business visitors should be aware of the following areas of prohibited work activity to avoid breaching the conditions of their visa:

• take employment in the UK, including undertaking work which amounts to filling a role or providing short-term cover;
• do work for an organisation/business in the UK (other than the permitted activities as set out above);
• establish or run a business as a self-employed person;
• do a work placement or internship;
• directly sell to the public, and provide goods and services

Undertaking any of the above activities will constitute a breach of a visitor’s visa conditions. This may negatively impact future visa applications.

Visitors should further note that except in relation to reasonable expenses to cover travel and subsistence, they should generally receive no payment from a UK source for any activities undertaken in the UK.

This is not a definitive list and individuals are advised to take legal advice about whether their activities in the UK will amount to a “Permissible Activity”, particularly as there are certain rules regarding “Permissible Activities” that apply only to specific sectors.

If an individual is carrying out activities which do not fall within the list set out above, it is highly likely that an alternative visa will be required.

What are alternative visa options for business visitors?

With the exception of the permitted activities listed under the rules, a business visitor must not engage in any other employment-related activities in the UK. Therefore, doing paid work would be classed as a prohibited activity and in breach of the visitor rules.

If you wish to engage in paid work as a business visitor, you could look at the Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE) Visitor visa. To be eligible for this visa, you must be an expert in your profession, and you will be paid by a UK-based organisation or client to attend an engagement or event in the UK. You must also only intend to do permitted paid engagements relating to your area of expertise overseas, and any engagement must be arranged prior to travelling to the UK evidenced by a formal invitation.

• When it comes to what constitutes a permitted paid engagement, the scenarios are relatively limited as below: examining or assessing students as a qualified academic
• giving a lecture or series of lectures in your specialised subject area
• assessing pilots as a pilot examiner
• providing advocacy for a client as a qualified lawyer in the context of legal proceedings
• carrying out an activity directly relating to your profession as an artist, entertainer or musician
• carrying out an activity as a professional sportsperson

As a PPE visitor, you cannot do work that is unrelated to your main overseas job role or area of expertise, or that otherwise falls outside the activities permitted under the rules. To do so, you would instead need to apply for a suitable work visa. This could include, for example, the Skilled Worker visa, the UK Expansion Worker visa or the Innovator Founder visa, although securing expert advice from an immigration specialist is strongly advised.

The Standard Visitor Visa (Business Visitor) is a fairly restricted visa. Visitors can only stay in the UK for a maximum of six months and can only carry out “permissible business activities”. Visitors should also be cautious of their tax position especially if they are making frequent trips to the UK. If you have a long-term work commitment, it is also important to note that once you enter the UK on a standard visitor visa (business), you will not be able to switch to a different visa category while you are in the UK.

For expert advice and assistance in relation to a Business Visit Visa application, please contact us on 0203 865 6219 or leave a message on our website.