UK Business Visa: Types And Requirements

Overview of Business Visa in UK

Business Visas permit eligible applicants to conduct business-related activity in the UK. Most visitors do not require a visa to come to the UK; however, those visitors that do, have a variety of options to choose from depending on their needs and eligibility.

If you are a business person looking to visit the UK short-term to undertake business activity, you may be eligible to apply for a Business Visitor Visa (Standard Visitor Visa). For longer stays, you can apply for a long-term Business Visa.

The type of Business Visa you will apply for will depend on your eligibility, the business activities you plan to carry out and the length of your stay. Before you determine the Business Visa you need, you should check if you are required to have a visa to enter the UK to carry out business-related activities.

Nationals of Countries and Territories Who Need a Business Visa to Enter UK for Business Purposes

You will need a Business Visa to come to the UK to conduct business activities if you’re a national of one of the following countries:

If you are unsure if you need a UK Business Visa or need to know which visa is needed then call IAS at +44 (0)333 414 9244 for immediate advice.

UK Business Visa Types

As there are different Business Visas it is important to decide whether you will come to the UK for a short or an extended visit. The purpose of your visit and whether you meet the eligibility requirements will determine which visa to apply for.

Business Visitor Visa (Standard Visitor Visa)

Standard Visitor Visa allows for business-related stays in the UK, hence why it is often referred to as a Short-Term UK Business Visa. A Business Visitor Visa costs £135 for a stay of up to 6 months. Holders can carry out the following business activities:

• Attend meetings, interviews and conferences
• Promote business in the UK at trade fairs
• Meet clients
• Negotiate contracts
• Conduct site visits and inspections
• Give talks
• Receive or provide business training or share knowledge on specific internal projects with UK employees of your company
• Enrol for a recreational course for up to 30 days
• Oversee delivery of goods and services
• Install, repair, dismantle, service or advise on business equipment, computer software or hardware if your company in your home country has a contract with a UK-based company or organisation

What You Cannot Do With the Short-Term Business Visa?

With the Business Visitor Visa, you cannot be paid by a UK employer for any activities conducted during your visit.  If you are offered to be paid, you may be eligible to apply for a different UK Business Visa or you will need a Work Visa.

Requirements for the Standard Visitor Visa

You must meet the following eligibility requirements to be able to apply for the UK Standard Visitor Visa

• Demonstrate that you intend to leave the UK at the end of your visit
• Prove that you have enough money for yourself (and your dependants, if applicable) and you won’t use public funds to support yourself during your visit
• Show that you have enough money to pay for your return or onward journey or that your travel is being paid for by someone else

Permitted Paid Engagement Visa

The Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE) Visa is for business visits lasting up to 1 month. With this visa, you can undertake paid work without the need for sponsorship.

To apply for the PPE Visa, you must have an invitation from a UK-based organisation or client as an expert in your profession. The application cost is £135 for up to 1 month. You can apply if you are:

• A professional artist, entertainer, musician, or a sportsperson
• A lawyer representing a client
• A lecturer giving a lecture or series of lectures
• An academic working as a student examiner or assessor
• An air pilot examiner

Permitted Paid Engagement Visa: Eligibility Requirements

To apply for the PPE Visa, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Have a formal invitation from a UK-based organisation or client to come to the UK and attend a pre-arranged event or paid work related to your qualification, expertise, or overseas profession.
• Be at least 18 years old
• Your visit must last a maximum 1 month
• Demonstrate you have enough money to support yourself during your stay, or someone else will support you
• Have enough money to pay for your return or onward journey, or you can prove that someone else can pay for you
• Do not intend to live on this visa for extended periods or visit frequently

Innovator Founder Visa (Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa)

The Innovator Founder Visa is a long-term Business Visa, valid for up to 3 years. It has replaced the Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa. This visa is for applicants who want to start an innovative business in the UK.

The business or business idea must be endorsed by an approved body, either a UK higher education institution or a business organisation with a history of supporting UK entrepreneurs.

You will need to prove to your endorsement body that you have investment funds and where they’re from unless your business has already been endorsed. The Innovator Visa costs £1,357 to apply from outside the UK.

What You Can and Can’t Do With the Innovator Founder Visa?

With the Innovator Visa (Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa), you can:

• Set up a business
• Work for your business as a director or self-employed member of a business partnership
• Do skilled work outside your business, as long as it is on the list of eligible occupations or at level 3 qualifications
• Bring your dependants to join you in the UK, if they are eligible
• Travel abroad and re-enter the UK
• Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain if you have lived in the UK for 3 years and you are eligible

Successful Innovator Visa applicants cannot work as professional sportspeople or apply for benefits or a state pension.

Requirements for the Innovator Founder Visa

The Innovator Visa is for foreign nationals who meet the following eligibility criteria and have the correct documentation.

• You must show that you have an innovative, viable and scalable business idea – an endorsing body must assess your UK business plan and confirm that it meets the requirements. You must provide an endorsement letter as a supporting document for your application
• Have knowledge of English – English at B1 level or above on the Common European Framework of References for Languages (CEFR) scale, or hold a degree that was taught or researched in English.
• Be at least 18 years old
• Have enough money to support yourself during your stay in the UK – a minimum of £1,270 in your bank account for 28 days before your application

UK Expansion Worker Visa (Global Business Mobility Visa)

Another long-term UK Business Visa is the Expansion Worker Visa, which is part of the Global Business Mobility Scheme introduced in 2022.

This visa replaced the Start-Up Visa and enables you to set up your company’s first branch or subsidiary in the UK. However, you must already work for an overseas business that has not started trading in the UK yet.

The UK Expansion Worker Visa application costs £340 and you do not need to have investment funds to apply. This visa allows applicants to stay in the UK for up to 1 year and can be extended for another year.

What Can You Do With the UK Expansion Worker Visa?

If you hold the UK Expansion Worker Visa, you can:

• Do the job described in your Certificate of Sponsorship
• Study
• Bring your dependants to join you in the UK if they’re eligible
• Volunteer
• Travel abroad and re-enter the UK

Requirements for the UK Expansion Worker Visa

To be eligible for the UK Expansion Worker Visa, you must demonstrate the following:

• You must hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from your employer
• Show that you have worked for your employer outside the UK
• Demonstrate the proof of funds – at least £1,270 in your personal savings to support yourself when you arrive in the UK (can be proved with bank statements).
• The job that you are going to do in the UK must be on the list of eligible occupations
• You must be paid the minimum eligible salary required for the type of job you are doing

The Senior Specialist Worker Visa (Intra-Company Transfer)

The Senior Specialist Worker Visa (Global Mobility Visa) replaced the Intra-Company Transfer Visa after recent changes to the business immigration rules and is for applicants who are senior managers and employees who wish to come to the UK to do an eligible job at their employer’s UK branch.

If you obtain the Senior Specialist Worker Visa, you can stay in the UK for up to 5 years. The application fee is either £819 for up to 3 years or £1,618 for more than 3 years.

Eligibility Requirements for the Senior Specialist Worker Visa

To be eligible for the Senior Specialist Worker Visa, you must prove the following:

• A valid Certificate of Sponsorship from your employer
• Have a job on the list of eligible occupations
• Show that you have worked for your employer in your home country
• Be paid the minimum eligible salary for your occupation – at least £52,500 per year

Graduate Trainee Visa (Intra-Company Transfer Graduate)

The Graduate Trainee Visa (Global Mobility Visa) replaced the Intra-Company Transfer Graduate Visa. It is for applicants who want to come to the UK to work for a branch or subsidiary of their overseas employer. You can stay up to 12 months on a Graduate Trainee Visa, and the application fee is £340.

The Graduate Trainee Visa Requirements

To apply for the Graduate Trainee Visa, you must:

• Already work for an organisation that the Home Office also approves as a sponsor
• Provide a Certificate of Sponsorship, which states details about the work you will do in the UK
• Do a job that is on the eligible occupations list
• Be paid for the job no less than £25,410 annually

UK Secondment Worker Visa

The UK Secondment Worker Visa is another long-term visa introduced as part of the Global Business Mobility Scheme. This visa is for foreign nationals transferred by their overseas employer to the UK to be employed on a high-value contract with a UK organisation. The application fee for this visa is £340 for a visa validity of up to 12 months.

Requirements for the UK Secondment Worker Visa

To show your eligibility for this visa, you must demonstrate that:

• You have worked for an overseas employer on a high-value contract with the UK licenced sponsor for at least 1 year
• Your job is on the list of eligible occupations
• You have a Certificate of Sponsorship

The Service Supplier Visa

The Service Supplier Visa (Global Mobility Visa) is for applicants with a contract to provide services to a UK company. With this visa, you can stay in the UK for up to 12 months; your stay will depend on the type of international trade agreement under which you will provide the services. The application fee is £340.

Requirements for the Service Supplier Visa

To be eligible, you must:

• Be an employee for an overseas business or an overseas self-employed business provider for at least 12 months
• Provide services to a UK company under a contract that is covered by a trade agreement – the UK company must be a sponsor
• Do an eligible job or have relevant qualifications and professional experience

Documents Required for the UK Business Visa Application

In addition to supporting documents required for your specific Business Visa type, you must provide the following documents:

• Passport or a valid travel document
• Recent passport photograph
• Travel documents – hotel bookings, accommodation agreements or travel itinerary
• Completed visa application form
• Invitation letter from the company in the UK
• Bank statements
• Proof of Income Tax returns
• If you own a business, you must prove it with a document such as a business/company registration certificate

How to Apply for a UK Business Visa?

To apply for a UK Business Visa, you must contact your nearest UK Embassy or Consulate. After you gather the required documents to demonstrate your eligibility for the type of visa you wish to apply for, you must complete the visa application form and submit it with the supporting documents online.

You will pay your visa fee online. In addition to the visa fee, you will be required to pay for immigration healthcare surcharge. This costs £1035 per year and allows you to access healthcare while in the UK.

Once your visa application form is submitted, you can schedule and attend a visa appointment at the UK Embassy or a Visa Application Centre. During the appointment, you will provide your biometric information and confirm the information you provided in your application.

How IAS Can Help?

The UK Business Visa application process can be complicated and a hassle for anyone wishing to come to the UK to carry out business activities.

Our team can assess whether you meet the UK Business Visa requirements, help gather the necessary documentation and support you throughout the visa application process to improve your chances of visa approval.

Contact IAS to discuss your case and find out how our immigration advisers can help you. Call +44 (0)333 414 9244, or contact one of our advisers online.