Business Visitor Visa

Business visits are made under the Standard Visitor route. They allow employees and self-employed people based outside the UK to come for short-term business activities, such as meetings or negotiations, without taking up employment in the UK. Visa nationals need a Standard Visitor visa, while non-visa nationals travel with an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).

The key question is always whether your planned activities fall within the permitted activities listed in Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities. Border officers and visa caseworkers can refuse entry or a visa where the planned activities look like work, so it is worth being clear and consistent about the purpose of your trip in your application and at the border.

Permitted business activities

General business activities include:

• Attending meetings, conferences, seminars and interviews.
• Giving a one-off talk or speech, provided it is not organised as a commercial event.
• Negotiating and signing deals and contracts.
• Attending trade fairs, for promotion only and not selling directly.
• Carrying out site visits and inspections.
• Gathering information for employment overseas.
• Being briefed on the requirements of a UK customer.
• Working remotely for your overseas employer, provided that is not the main purpose of the visit.

Intra-corporate activities

Employees of an overseas 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, with limited client-facing activity.

Other activities

There are separate provisions for internal auditors, for activities connected to the manufacture and supply of goods to the UK, and for academics and certain other specified visitors. Permitted paid engagements are a separate, narrowly defined category.

What you cannot do

• Do paid or unpaid work for a UK company, or work as a self-employed person in the UK, unless it is a permitted paid engagement.
• Sell directly to the public at trade fairs or events.
• Live in the UK through frequent or successive visits.

If what you plan to do goes beyond these activities, you may need a work route, such as a Global Business Mobility visa or the Skilled Worker visa.

Key requirements

• You are a genuine visitor and will leave at the end of your visit.
• Your activities are permitted under the visitor rules.
• You remain employed or based overseas.
• You have enough money for the trip, or your employer is meeting the costs.

Documents and evidence commonly needed

• A letter from your overseas employer confirming your role, the purpose of the visit and who is paying.
• An invitation letter from the UK business or event organiser.
• Conference registrations, meeting agendas or an itinerary.
• Evidence of your employment and funds.

How long you can stay and fees

You can usually stay for up to 6 months per visit. Long-term visit visas of 2, 5 or 10 years are available for frequent business travellers. At the time of writing, the Home Office fee is currently £135 for a visa of up to 6 months, and £20 for an ETA.

Recent and upcoming changes

Since 25 February 2026, non-visa nationals need an ETA before travelling. From 8 October 2026: visitors will no longer need to show that work-related training they receive in the UK is unavailable in their home country, and certain other visitor activities are being added. Until that date, the current requirement still applies.

How Stonebridge can help

We review planned activities against the permitted activities rules, advise employers and travellers where a visit may cross into work, prepare visa applications and supporting letters, and advise on the right work route where a business visit is not suitable. For wider business needs, see our business immigration advice.

To discuss a planned business trip, book a consultation.