Business Visit
A Business Visitor Visa allows you to attend meetings, conferences, site visits and negotiations in the UK for up to six months. Employment or providing services in the UK is not allowed.
Validity
- Stay up to 6 months on each visit
- Single or multi-entry visas available
- Not extendable – apply again if further visits are needed
At a glance
- Attend meetings, conferences and trade events
- Conduct site visits, inspections and training
- Negotiate and sign contracts
- No UK employment or direct client work
About the visa
The Business Visitor route (within the UK Standard Visitor rules) lets overseas professionals come to the UK for short, specific business activities. Typical reasons include:
- Meetings, conferences, trade fairs and seminars
- Site/facility visits and inspections
- Negotiations and signing contracts
- Internal audits, training, or being briefed on UK customer requirements
Employment by a UK company or providing services directly to the UK public is not permitted under this route.
Eligibility & permitted activities
You should be able to show that you:
- Are a genuine visitor who will leave the UK at the end of your trip
- Have sufficient funds and accommodation for the visit
- Will only carry out permitted business activities (see examples below)
- Have a credible business reason supported by letters from your employer and/or UK host
Examples of permitted activities
- Attending meetings, conferences, seminars or trade fairs
- Visiting sites, suppliers or partners; inspecting facilities or equipment
- Negotiating terms and signing contracts
- Receiving training from a UK parent/affiliate; internal audits
- Being briefed on customer requirements (without delivering services in the UK)
What you can / cannot do
You can
- Attend business meetings, events and trade fairs
- Carry out site visits, inspections and internal audits
- Negotiate and sign deals or partnership agreements
- Receive internal training from a UK group company
You cannot
- Do paid work for a UK business or be placed on a UK payroll
- Provide goods or services directly to UK clients/the public
- Undertake a work placement, secondment or long-term assignment
- Switch into another visa category from within the UK
Process
A typical application involves:
- Apply online via GOV.UK before travelling
- Biometrics: book and attend a visa application centre
- Submit supporting documents (upload or provide at appointment)
- Decision: usually returned within a few weeks (priority options may be available)
Suggested supporting documents
- Passport/travel document and travel plan
- Letter from your overseas employer confirming your role, salary, and the business purpose of travel
- Invitation letter from the UK business (purpose, dates, activities, locations)
- Evidence of funds (personal or employer-sponsored) and accommodation details
- Company records relevant to the visit (e.g. contracts, meeting agendas, training outline)
Common refusal reasons
- Vague or inconsistent employer/host letters that don’t clearly explain the business purpose
- Insufficient evidence of ongoing overseas employment or ties to home country
- Activities suggest work that requires a different visa (e.g. delivering services to a UK client)
- Funds or itinerary not credible for the stated visit
