UK Business Visitor Visa Solicitors in London
SRA-regulated London solicitors helping executives, consultants and overseas employees secure UK business visitor visas — and helping UK companies invite them lawfully.
What Is a UK Business Visitor Visa?
A UK business visitor visa (the Standard Visitor visa used for business) lets you come to the UK for up to 6 months to attend meetings, conferences and interviews, negotiate and sign contracts, carry out site visits, and do certain intra-company work — but not to take a job or be paid by a UK organisation. The visa costs £135, and most decisions are made within 3 weeks. Nationals of visa-free countries usually need a £20 Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) instead.
At Adam Bernard Solicitors, our SRA-regulated immigration team helps executives, consultants, engineers, lawyers and overseas employees prove their trip is a genuine business visit — and helps UK companies invite them without breaching the Immigration Rules. Call 0207 100 2525 (24/7) or book a free consultation.
UK business visitor visa at a glance
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Maximum stay | Up to 6 months per visit |
| Visa fee | £135 (6 months); long-term visas £506 (2 yrs), £903 (5 yrs), £1,128 (10 yrs) |
| ETA (visa-free nationals) | £20, valid for multiple visits over 2 years |
| Standard decision time | Usually within 3 weeks (outside the UK) |
| Faster decision | Priority £500 (~5 working days) · Super Priority £1,000 (~next working day) |
| Earliest you can apply | 3 months before travel |
| Can you work? | No — only permitted business activities |
Fees correct as of the Home Office fees table effective 8 April 2026.
Do I need a business visitor visa or an ETA?
Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality, not on the purpose of your trip. Business visitors from “visa national” countries (for example India, China, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey) must apply for a Standard Visitor visa before travelling. Nationals of visa-free countries — including the US, Canada, Australia and EU countries — need an Electronic Travel Authorisation instead. Irish citizens need neither.
Either way, the same business-visitor rules apply at the border: a Border Force officer can question you about your meetings and refuse entry if your activities look like work. You can check whether you need a visa on GOV.UK.
For other reasons to visit — tourism, family, medical treatment — see our main UK visit visa service.
What business activities are permitted?
Business visitors can only carry out the activities listed in Appendix Visitor: Permitted Activities of the Immigration Rules. The main ones are:
| Category (Immigration Rules ref.) | What you can do |
|---|---|
| General business (PA 4) | Attend meetings, conferences, seminars and interviews; negotiate and sign deals and contracts; attend trade fairs (promoting only, not selling); carry out site visits and inspections; gather information for overseas employment |
| Intra-corporate (PA 5) | Advise, consult, troubleshoot and deliver training to UK colleagues in the same corporate group on internal projects |
| Internal audit (PA 6) | Carry out regulatory or financial audits at a UK branch of the same group |
| Manufacture & supply (PA 7) | Install, dismantle, repair, service or advise on machinery, equipment, software or hardware under a contract of purchase or supply |
| Clients of UK exporters (PA 8) | Oversee delivery of goods or services a UK company is providing to your overseas employer |
| Specialist roles (PA 9) | Work-related activity for translators, interpreters, journalists, market researchers, archaeologists, drivers, tour couriers and other named roles employed overseas |
| Legal (PA 12) | Overseas lawyers advising clients, and taking part in arbitration, mediation or litigation |
Remote working: since the 2024 visitor reforms, you may keep working remotely for your overseas employer while in the UK, provided this is not the primary purpose of your visit (PA 4(h)).
Academics, researchers and examiners should see our dedicated academic visitor page.
What can't you do as a business visitor?
A business visitor cannot work for a UK organisation, fill a UK role, or be paid from a UK source unless a specific exception applies. In particular, you cannot:
- do paid or unpaid work for a UK company, or work as self-employed in the UK
- sell goods or services directly to the public
- take a UK internship or placement
- live in the UK through frequent or successive visits
- study for more than 30 days (and study must not be the main purpose)
- marry or give notice of marriage — you need a Marriage Visitor visa
- claim public funds
Breaching these conditions can lead to refusal at the border, cancellation of your visa and future refusals.
Being paid by a UK organisation? Permitted Paid Engagements
If a UK organisation is paying you for a one-off engagement — such as a lecture, a performance, examining students, or representing a client as a lawyer — you may qualify for a Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE) instead of a standard business visit. PPE activities must be arranged before you travel, be linked to your expertise, and take place within 30 days of arrival.
Full eligibility, documents and fees are covered on our Permitted Paid Engagement visa page.
Eligibility: the genuine visitor test
To be granted a UK business visitor visa, you must satisfy the caseworker that you are a genuine visitor. That means showing you:
- will leave the UK at the end of your visit
- will not live in the UK through frequent or successive visits, or make it your main home
- are visiting only for permitted activities
- can fund your trip, including accommodation and your return journey (or a sponsor/employer will)
- are aged 18 or over (or have suitable care arrangements if under 18)
The Home Office looks closely at your employment overseas, your travel history and whether the trip makes commercial sense. Most refusals we see come from weak evidence of the business purpose, not from ineligibility.
Documents business visitors should prepare
A strong business visitor application usually includes:
- a valid passport and travel history
- a letter from your overseas employer confirming your role, salary, leave approval and the purpose of the trip
- an invitation letter from the UK company setting out dates, meetings and who is paying costs
- evidence of the business relationship (contract, purchase order, conference registration)
- recent bank statements or employer funding confirmation
- a return or onward travel itinerary
Our full UK visitor visa documents checklist explains each document in detail. Documents not in English or Welsh must include a certified translation.
Fees and processing times
A 6-month UK business visitor visa costs £135 and a decision is normally made within 3 weeks of your biometrics appointment. Frequent business travellers can apply for a long-term visit visa, allowing stays of up to 6 months at a time throughout its validity.
| Visa | Fee (from 8 April 2026) |
|---|---|
| Standard Visitor — up to 6 months | £135 |
| Long-term visit visa — 2 years | £506 |
| Long-term visit visa — 5 years | £903 |
| Long-term visit visa — 10 years | £1,128 |
| Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) | £20 |
| Priority Visa Service (optional) | +£500 |
| Super Priority Visa Service (optional) | +£1,000 |
Source: GOV.UK — Home Office immigration and nationality fees. For current waiting times by country, see our guide to UK visit visa processing times in 2026.
Business visitor visa or work visa?
If the UK role involves doing productive work, being paid by a UK entity, or staying longer than 6 months, you need a work visa rather than a business visitor visa. The right route depends on the arrangement:
| Your situation | Likely route |
|---|---|
| Meetings, deals, conferences, internal training (paid overseas) | Business visitor visa (this page) |
| One-off paid lecture, performance or legal engagement | Permitted Paid Engagement |
| Transferred to a UK branch of your employer | Global Business Mobility (Senior or Specialist Worker) |
| Setting up a company’s first UK presence | UK Expansion Worker |
| Seconded to a UK client on a high-value contract | Secondment Worker |
| Offered a job by a UK employer | Skilled Worker visa |
| Short-term creative or entertainment work | Creative Worker visa |
UK employers who regularly bring overseas staff over for productive work should consider a sponsor licence rather than relying on repeated business visits.
Why business visitor applications are refused
The most common reasons are an unclear business purpose, activities that look like work, weak ties to the home country, and inconsistent invitation or employer letters. Frequent or long visits that suggest you are effectively based in the UK are another red flag.
There is no right of appeal or administrative review for a visit visa refused outside the UK. Your options are to make a fresh, stronger application or, where the decision is legally flawed, to challenge it by judicial review. Read more in our guide to avoiding UK business visa refusals.
How our business immigration solicitors help
Adam Bernard Solicitors has advised on UK immigration for over 15 years and has helped more than 15,000 clients. Our solicitors are regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and work from offices in High Holborn (Central London) and Upton Park (East London), with consultations by Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp or Skype for clients overseas.
For business visitors and UK host companies, we:
- confirm whether your planned activities are permitted — before you book travel
- draft or review invitation and employer letters so they match the Immigration Rules
- prepare the full application and evidence bundle
- advise on long-term visit visas for frequent travellers
- identify when a work route (Global Business Mobility, Skilled Worker) is the safer option
- handle refusals, re-applications and judicial review
Call 0207 100 2525 (24/7) or book a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a UK business visitor visa?
How much does a UK business visitor visa cost?
Can I work in the UK on a business visitor visa?
Can a UK company pay my expenses as a business visitor?
Do US or EU citizens need a business visa for the UK?
How long can I stay in the UK on a business visit?
Can I attend training in the UK as a business visitor?
What happens if my business visitor visa is refused?
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