BUSINESS VISITORS

Can I do business in the United Kingdom as a visitor?

As a visitor, you may do business that is directly linked to your employment or business abroad. You must not do work for which you would need a work permit. You should get your salary from abroad. You may receive reasonable travel and living expenses from sources in the United Kingdom.

What type of business can I do in the United Kingdom?

As a visitor you may:

• go to meetings, trade fairs, conferences and seminars;
• buy things, and negotiate contracts with United Kingdom businesses;
• undertake fact finding missions, check details or examine goods; and
• receive training through observation and classroom instruction only.

You may also enter the United Kingdom as a business visitor if you:

• deliver goods from abroad; for example, if you are an international lorry driver;
• come as a representative of a foreign IT company to install, service or modify their product;
• come as a representative of a foreign machine manufacturer to install, service or repair machinery; (As part of a contract of purchase and supply, you may install machinery that is too large to be delivered in one piece)
• come as an adviser or consultant to a UK firm; (You must be employed abroad, either directly or under contract, by the same company or group of companies that the client firm belongs to. Advisers must not get involved in project management.)
• come to give certain kinds of training; (The training must be for a specific purpose, not go beyond classroom instruction and must not be readily available anywhere else in the United Kingdom.)
• come as a guest speaker at a conference or seminar; (This must be a single or occasional event and not a commercial venture that you are part of.)
• come to run a conference or seminar; (Events must last no more than five days, and be single or occasional, involving a specialist subject that attracts a wide audience, including people from outside the United Kingdom.)
• come as an expert to talk to United Kingdom businessmen about overseas export requirements; or
• come as a sports person or entertainer for trials or auditions, or for personal appearances which do not involve performances.

How do I qualify to come to the United Kingdom as a business visitor?

You must be able to show that:

• you only want to visit the country for up to six months;
• you plan to leave the United Kingdom at the end of your visit;
• you will not need help from public funds;
• you normally live and work abroad and you have no plans to base yourself in the United Kingdom; and
• you do not plan to work, produce goods or provide services in the United Kingdom.

All visitors to the United Kingdom, whether they are here for business or social reasons, can only stay for six months.

Is there a limit to the number of visits I can make to the United Kingdom ?

There is no limit to the number of times you can visit; but we would not expect you to spend more than six months of any 12-month period in the United Kingdom.

A long stay might suggest that you are basing yourself here and working without permission, and we might refuse you entry.

Do I need a visa to visit the United Kingdom?

If you are a visa national, you will need a visa to enter the United Kingdom. For more information please see our entry clearance section. If you are not a visa national, you will find it helpful to carry documents showing the immigration officer why you are visiting.

What we can do for you

As British lawyers, we will do our best and even go that extra mile for you. We can help you with the necessary paperwork that will be needed to ensure that your application meets the Immigration requirements. 

Please expect us to do the following for you, when you instruct us to represent you or a member of your family:

• Full and professional assessment of your case
• Advice on whether you should consider a different immigration programme or category
• Strong and weak points of your application
• Advice on correct list of documents
• Advice on evidence required
• Instructing your sponsor, relative, employer or college (if required)
• Final check of your documents before submission to the Home Office/British Diplomatic Post
• Creating a professionally looking paginated immigration bundle
• Drafting representations and cover letters to the Home Office/British Diplomatic Post
• Working with interpreters (if required)
• Submission your application to the Home Office/British Diplomatic Post
• Correspondence with the Home Office/British Diplomatic Post
• Keeping you updated by post, E-mail or phone on the progress of your application
• If something goes wrong : requesting a review or reconsideration
• Any further in-country/out-of-country immigration assistance 

The above list is not exhaustive as we treat every client's case individually. Please do not hesitate to contact us for a professional immigration advice.