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    Business Visitor Visa

    The UK business visitor visa permits the conduction of specific business activities in the UK by the foreign nationals from non-EEA countries. For the UK travel, various types of business visas are available although the business visitor visa falls into the standard visitor visa category. This visa allows specific business- related activities to be conducted as the individual stays in the UK, for a short time period of no longer than six months. 

    It is important to have a clear understanding of all the different types of work and business visas available for the non-EEA nationals, so that you can fulfill the very purpose for your travel to the UK. For example, for paid work in the UK you should apply for the tier 2 work visa, and for the purpose of starting and running a business in the UK, the tier 1 entrepreneur visa should be applied.

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    What Is A UK Business Visitor Visa And What Can You Do With It ?

    The UK Business Visitor Visa will permit only certain business activities to be conducted by a non-EEA country so it is quite important to know about it in detail. It is highly recommended for you to visit and properly look into the details available in the gov.uk website and if there are any difficulties then you can contact our immigration lawyers.

    The business related activities that you can perform under this visa in the UK are as follow: 

    • Attend business appointments: You should abide by the business visa in the UK immigration rules, if you are not applying for your short term travel visa for paid or unpaid work. Under this visa you are permitted to attend conferences, meetings, training, seminars and interviews.
    • Perform a one-off or short series of talks and speeches: You are restricted from any kind of paid work while in the UK. The activities that you perform should be promotional work only and not some kind of commercial event that intends to make profit for the organiser.
    • Negotiate and sign business deals or contracts: The Home Office immigration rules allows you to negotiate and sign business deals or contracts for yourself or an overseas employer while you stay in the UK under this visa.
    • Checking international goods and services: You might require to make a short term visit to the UK to check the goods and services, while conducting business for an overseas employer, overseas company or international business. You will be allowed to travel to the UK for this very purpose if you plan to receive international business payments for services and trade conducted overseas. 
    • Attend exhibitions for business purposes: Under the condition that you are in the UK strictly for promotional purposes and not for making sales and profits you are permitted this visa.
    • Gather information and conduct research: Activities that support the growth of the company such as market, industry, technology research are permitted under this visa.
    • Site visit and inspections: There might be the necessity to travel overseas for general evaluation and estimation generally for the international projects, which is permitted with the business visitor visa.
    • Collaboration with the UK customers: You can travel to the UK for briefing on UK-based customer requirements or needs as long as you do not intend on any profitable activities within the country.
    • Scouting funds for a UK business: To start, take over or run a business in the UK, you might have the need to look for fundings. The business visitor visa permits you to visit the UK for scouting the sponsors for the funds. Although for the formal conduction of the business activities for the business you will need the tier 1 innovator visa. 
    • Accompany international students or perform academic research: The business visitor visa allows you to be a part of a study abroad programme, to perform unpaid work as long as you do not seek gainful employment in the UK.
    • Take examinations: To work as a professional in the UK such as doctor, dentist and so on, coming from a foreign non-EEA country, you will need to make some preparations beforehand. For such preparations such as taking tests like the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) or Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE), you may come to the UK with this visa. To start the work you will have to apply for other visas.

    What You Cannot Do With A Business Visitor Visa

    The UK immigration laws are quite stern and thus, it should be clearly and carefully filled in for application. This business visa falls under the standard UK visitor visa and comes with many limitations. 

    The Home Office requirements for eligibility, if not fulfilled and submitted properly will result in its rejection or refusal by the immigration authorities. The UK business visitor visa has strict limitations on the business duties that you are permitted to perform during your temporary stay in the UK, although it may seem to be comprehensive.

    It is crucial to have proper knowledge regarding the different work visas, so you can choose the one which is most applicable for you, as there are many available for the nationals of the United States, the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Australia and other non-EEA countries. 

    The restrictions you have under the business visitor visa are as follow:

    • Paid or Unpaid work: During your stay in the UK you are not allowed to do any kind of profitable employment activities. There are strict limitations on the work that you can perform during your temporary visit in the UK if you are working for an overseas company.
    • Work or Live in the UK: The business visitor visa falls under the standard UK visitor visa. Accordingly, there are restrictions regarding how long you can work in the UK that needs to be followed. 

    If you are an overseas national and need to have frequent visits to the UK for work then it is suggested for you to apply for long-term visit visas, for the business visitor visa permits only six months stay and no longer. You should have a clear understanding that the standard business visa does not permit frequent visits to the UK.

    • Claim public funds: Trying to claim any benefits, grants or bursaries from the UK government will be an act of breaching the immigration rules. To prevent this, evidence that demonstrates you have enough funds for your travel and stay in the UK, should be provided while applying for the visa. 

    It can be strenuous for you to understand the type of visas available and choose the right one for your situation. To assist you in this task, Rubens Immigration and our qualified immigration lawyers are available to assist you throughout your application process.

    We even have an advice package service available to guide you professionally, and also an application package which provides you a thorough and comprehensive service assisted by a dedicated lawyer to help you build a proper profile that maximises your success.

    How Long Will The Visa Processing Time Take ?

    It is better to be early than late. Accordingly, it is suggested for you to apply three months before you travel to the UK. Before you travel to the UK, you will be required to submit your business visitor visa application forms between three months and 48 hours. 

    The expected time period for you to receive the decision on your visa is likely to be around three weeks of applying if you have applied from outside the UK being a non-EEA national. You could trail your visa status with a guide that we have provided during its processing period.

    Although, if there is a case where you need to visit the UK immediately such as business conference, or dealings, and you agree on paying the extra cost that will be required then the processing time can be shortened with priority services such as:

    The Priority Service: This service will shorten your processing time to 5 working days time period after application. You should check your local visa application centre as this service is not available in all the countries.

    The Super Priority Service: It is a premium service and is quite costly, but is the best available option if you are in a hurry. This guarantees that you will be hearing the decision within 24 hours of applying. You should check beforehand if this service is available in your country or not by visiting your local embassy or the visa application centre. 

    If you are in a rush to attend an important business appointment in the UK and are confused and struggling then you can get help from our professional lawyers at Rubens Immigration. We understand the situation that you are in and your need as well for which we even have a Fast Track Application Service. We will assist you to make a comprehensive application that is complete and accurate and then reserve you one of the Home Office’s Same-Day Premium slots and to maximise the success of your application write a supporting Letter of Representation. To know more details you can contact us.

    What Required Documentation Do I Need To Include For A Successful Visa Application ?

    The Home Office requires you to provide some documents and evidence to prove your eligibility for the UK business visitor visa. The basic requirements are as follow:

    • You do not intend to stay and will be leaving the UK at the end of your visit.
    • You have enough funds to support yourself and any other dependents during your visit in the UK and so will not be claiming any public funds.
    • You must convince the immigration authorities that you can cover all the expenses for your inward and outward journey to the UK.
    • You have documents or evidence that demonstrates the business activities for which you are travelling to the UK.

    UK immigration rules are strict with many requirements to be fulfilled which might be rather confusing. For this Rubens Immigration offers the advice and application packages, to prepare your portfolio with the required supporting documents that makes you an eligible candidate increasing your chance of success.

    Details of your current passport or other valid travel documents are crucial. Other documents and evidence that show that you fulfill all the requirements are needed. All the documents that you are to submit should be in either English or Welsh and if not should be translated by a certified professional.

    The following may also be required:

    • Travel documents that show the date and time details of your visit to the UK.
    • Your travel history information and immigration records of the past ten years.
    • If you are an overseas employer, employee or associate then the details of the company.
    • The UK residence and contact details while you stay in the UK. 
    • The details of your current overseas contact and address.
    • Evidence of possessing enough budget to finance your trip with its cost estimation.
    • Your personal details such as your biometrics, parents’ details, passport number and so on.
    • If you have had any past criminal or immigration offences then information about it. 

    For the success of your visa applications these requirements are a must and should be gathered and submitted as per the requirement without any errors. If you have problems in understanding the process or you have any difficulty then you should get in touch with our team of qualified, dedicated professionals, who have adequate knowledge and experience in these fields and can be of great help assisting and guiding you through your application journey.

    Get in touch with our expert immigration lawyers to learn how to apply for a Business Visitor Visa.

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      Our UK Business Visitor Visa Services

      Advice Package

      Do you need any assistance putting together your business tourist visa application? Often all you need is a little guidance to help you make an applicable decision and build a successful application.  Our advice package at Rubens Immigration aims for the same thing. It is all about: providing you with the details and assistance that you might need to make the application process more understandable. We will assist you in making sense of it all so you can move forward with optimism.

      You will get an untimed one-on-one Advice Session with one of our experts if you choose our advice package. This can be done in person, over the internet, or via Skype at your convenience. Rubens Immigration is well  equipped to assist you with your application than our immigration solicitors, who are all OISC-regulated, fully trained, and have a wealth of experience.

      Among the services we provide are:

      • The chance to go over all of the particulars of your case, including your eligibility and the documentation you will need to support your claim. It will improve your application for a UK visitor visa if you provide travel documents, work contracts, birth certificates, current passport information, and other relevant information.
      • Advice on various visa categories as well as a determination of whether the business visitor visa is appropriate for your requirements.
      • A timetable for you to work from in the future.
      • After your one-on-one Advice Session, you will receive continuous support. You will have a week after your session to contact us if you have any follow-up questions.

      Application Package

      Initially, it might seem that all you have to do is go to your local embassy or visa application center and fill out a few online forms. But it is not that easy and simple. Often visa applications are turned down by the Home Office because they are not thorough enough to fulfill the minimum requirements. We recognise the problem that you do not have the time to complete a comprehensive application, for which we have our services. We are  here to give you the guidance and support you need to get your application well prepared which is most likely to be accepted with less problems along the way.

      A great service that aims to meet your needs are designed by our team, to help take some of the weight off your shoulders and handle some of your application process for you. If you want to use our application package service, we will assist you in filling out forms and documents, assembling a portfolio of supporting documentation, and providing advice on visa eligibility and fees. You will meet with a dedicated caseworker for a one-on-one meeting who will work with you during the application process.

      You will get the following benefits from our application package:

      • An evaluation of your business visitor visa eligibility and suitability.
      • A well-thought-out strategy for going forward. Our solicitors are both OISC-registered and completely trained, so they will be able to assist you in making informed decisions.
      • To make your application a success, we will help you gather supporting evidence and all of the necessary documents.
      • To be sent to the Home Office a letter of representation will be written by our lawyers. This  emphasises the merits of your case, to improve your application for submission.
      • Assist with the completion of all necessary paperwork and application forms.

      Fast Track Application Package

      You might be applying for a UK business visitor visa because you need to attend an urgent appointment in the UK, such as an interview, conference, or meeting. The team at the Rubens Immigration understands that these problems can happen at any moment, so we are here to help you apply and process your application as quickly as possible. You would not want to miss an important business meeting because your application was denied or took too long to process.

      If you do not have enough time to spend on putting together a detailed application and then wait for it’s approval, Rubens Immigration offers a fantastic service to relieve such stress. If you need to get to the UK quickly for a deadline or an important meeting, we have a fast track application package where our immigration lawyers will work around the clock to expedite your application.

      In the past, we’ve been able to handle applications in as little as 24 hours. The quality of the application will not be compromised for the fast service , we’ll have an unrivaled level of speed and thoroughness service.

      Choose our expedited application package and we’ll get things started as soon as possible. This contains the following:

      • On your behalf, we’ll book a Home Office Same-Day Premium slot. This means that your application is placed at the top of the queue and processed as soon as possible.
      • Putting the application together quickly. We’ll help you complete your business visa application quickly and accurately.
      • One of our qualified lawyers who has been assigned for your case will prepare a Letter of Representation addressed to the Home Office that will work as an extra boost to your application.
      • An Advice Session which is one to one and untimed will be conducted where the dedicated caseworker will collect the required details and documents to assist in submitting a promising application.

      Appeal Package

      Refusals of UK business visitor visas are unfortunately common. UK immigration laws are rigid, and in order to be accepted, you must present a compelling and detailed argument to the Home Office. It’s all too easy to overlook crucial evidence or use inaccurate or misleading information, particularly if you are in a hurry to visit the UK for business. At Rubens Immigration the experienced team of OISC-regulated immigration lawyers, on the other hand, has a lot of experience appealing denied visas – if you are dissatisfied with your decision, we can help you reverse it.

      A good portfolio of supplementary material and proof is without a doubt beneficial to visa applicants, and a lack of this will often be the cause for visa refusal. Although, if you receive a rejection letter from the Home Office, it will state if you are eligible to appeal and have a deadline for doing so. In these situations, it’s always best to act quickly. For such a situation we have our appeal package on standby : our immigration solicitors will work with you to address any problems with your application, improve your case, and develop an appeal strategy. You will be assigned a caseworker who will walk you through the appeals process and, if appropriate, represent you at a hearing or tribunal.

      Fortunately, the Home Office’s refusal letter does not end your business visa application. The following items are included in our appeal package:

      • Examining the factors that led to your visa denial. Your dedicated caseworker will look over your application and point out any issues, as well as investigate your chances of winning an appeal.
      • Wherever possible, strengthen your case. Our immigration solicitors will review the facts and assist you in assembling a portfolio of supporting documents that will improve your chances of winning your appeal.
      • Taking care of your appeal case. The immigration lawyers at Rubens Immigration are all experienced in immigration law and are OISC-certified, so you can rest assured that your application will be comprehensive and completed to a high standard.
      • In-person representation for you. Visa appeals are often decided by a hearing or tribunal. If you choose not to attend in person, our immigration solicitors will do so on your behalf.
      • Keeping in touch with the Home Office throughout the appeals process. We will keep in touch with the Home Office from the start of your appeal until it’s over to ensure that things keep going forward.

      Our Packages

      Advice Package
      Advice Package

      Tailored comprehensive immigration package to your circumstances and goals.

      Application Package
      Application Package

      Feel stress-free with the package designed just for your convenience.

      Fast Track Package
      Fast Track Package

      With this package; you are sure to submit the visa application within deadline.

      Appeal Package
      Appeal Package

      We ensure you have the higher chance of a successful appeal.

      Frequently Asked Questions

      Both regular visitor visas, including the Business Visa, have the same visa fees. A six-month short-term stay visa in the UK costs £95. If you want to apply for one of the long-term visit visas, the cost will be determined by how long you want to stay:

      £261 for a two-year visa

      £655 for a 5-year visa £822 for a 10-year visa

      All regular UK visitor visas, including the business visitor visa, are restricted to stays of no more than six months in general. Short-term visas cannot be used to make multiple or consecutive visits to the UK, but if you have a business visa, you can enter and leave the UK as many times as you like during your six-month visa. There are, however, options that allow you to stay in the UK for longer if necessary.

      Long-term visit visas, for example, are valid. These can be purchased for two years, five years, or ten years at an additional rate. These allow you to enter and exit the UK without having to apply for a new visa during that period. However, even with a long term visit visa, you are only limited to a maximum stay of six months for each person visit – you are not allowed to stay in the UK for long term single visits. The immigration laws in the UK are extremely stringent in this regard.

      If you're an academic visitor coming to the UK for study, you will be able to stay for up to twelve months if you apply for a business visa. It is possible to apply for a Biometric Residence Permit for academic tourists from non-EEA countries such as America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South America, and Australia (BRP). Instead of the normal six-month limit, you will be able to continue for up to twelve months. You will also be needed to provide proof that you have adequate funds to support yourself during your stay, and you will not be able to access public funds while in the UK.

      Academic visitors who stay longer than six months in the UK must also demonstrate that they are highly skilled in their field or industry. You are also unable to work for a living, whether by paid or unpaid work. You'll need to show that you're either doing your own studies, assisting someone else's, or teaching in the UK on a temporary and unpaid basis.

      If you have come to the UK on a UK business visitor visa to seek funding or investment, you are probably looking to start a new business there. The standard visitor visa (which includes the business category) is a six-month visa that does not allow you to work for pay or unpaid while in the UK. If you want to start a new business in the UK, you will have to go the new innovator way.

      The tier 1 entrepreneurship visa has been replaced by the tier 1 innovator visa programme, which was announced by the UK government in April 2019. The latest tier 1 innovator visa enables new and established business owners to start a new business or relocate an existing one to the UK. This is the path to take if you are a current business owner in the United States, China, India, Australia, the Middle East, or another non-EEA zone who wants to set up shop in the UK.

      The financial criterion is the other major distinction between the entrepreneurship and innovator visas. To be considered, you have to show that you have £200,000 or more in your bank account, but that has since been reduced to £50,000. You will need a governing authority's recognition and support to proceed with this visa application. Unlike other visa applications, the tier 1 innovator visa will scrutinize your business concept and model. Before making a decision, the Home Office will review and evaluate the company's creativity, feasibility, and scalability. You will also need to be able to communicate in English at a B2 level.

      If you need more information on how to improve your case and increase your chances of getting a visa, we have trained immigration lawyers on staff who can help.

      You are probably looking for your next move if you are a visa national who recently graduated with an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in business, such as finance and accounting, economics, marketing, or analytics. If you have been studying in the UK on a student visa, you may be tempted to try your hand at starting a new company. Fortunately, there is a visa path that is tailored to your requirements.

      You may be able to apply for a visa that gives you a year to put your plan into action and start a new company. This is known as the startup visa, and it is open to all recent graduates. It recently replaced the tier 1 graduate entrepreneur visa. If your plans work out, the visa can be extended for another year.

      Since this is an exclusive route with just 2,000 applicants per year, it is critical that your visa application be as good as possible. In comparison to traditional entrepreneur visas, the startup visa has no investment requirement. If your application is approved and your new UK-based company succeeds, you will be able to extend your stay in the UK by applying for a tier 1 entrepreneur visa or a tier 1 innovator visa. If you are granted these visas, you will have an additional three years to live and work in the UK, cultivating and growing your company.

      There is an alternative to the regular visitor visa if you want to visit the UK to invest a large amount of money in a UK company (business category). You should instead apply for a tier 1 investor visa, which allows you to access the UK if you invest at least £2 million in UK companies. This is a high-value migration path, so you do not need a job offer or funding to take it. Your ability to produce documentation and supporting documents that demonstrate your ability to spend at least the necessary amount within three months of obtaining your visa would be the most important factor in your visa application.

      You will not require to show your English language skills, which makes the tier 1 investor visa a perfect choice for investors and opens the door to eventual British citizenship. The investor visa allows you to work and conduct business in the UK, with the exception of property growth. You will not be able to invest in real estate development or management firms, and you will not have access to public funds while in the UK. If you meet the following criteria, you may be qualified for a tier 1 investor visa:

      • Are at least 16 years old.
      • You would like to spend £2 million or more in companies around the UK.
      • You are a visa national from a country that is not part of the European Economic Area, such as China, India, or the United States.
      • You will need to show that you have ample funds for investment and that these funds are free to be transferred to the UK while putting together your investor visa application.

      The investor visa, unlike the regular visitor visa (business visa), is a long-term option that allows you to remain in the UK for a period of three years and four months, with the option to extend for another two years. After this time, you will have the option to stay in the UK permanently with additional investment.