The UK has long been recognised as one of the world’s leading financial and business capitals. It serves both as a significant office location for multinational companies and as a market for growth, innovation and opportunity for overseas organisations. UK business travel is crucial for innumerable reasons.
However, there are restrictions on the business activities that can be undertaken in the UK when visiting, and recent changes to the UK immigration system mean that most people, even those who do not need to apply for a visa, have to obtain authorisation prior to travelling. Falling foul of these rules, even accidentally, can lead to serious consequences, including travel bans.
In this article we give some practical reminders to overseas organisations and business people on how to plan for your visit to the UK in compliance with UK immigration law.
A business visitor visa is permission granted for six months to visit the UK for business purposes. The business activities you can undertake while in the UK are restricted. Examples of activities that are permitted include:
Attending interviews, meetings, conferences and seminars
Negotiating and signing deals and contracts
Attending trade fairs to promote your business (you cannot sell directly to the public)
Giving a one-off or short series of talks as long as they’re not for profit or a commercial event
Carrying out site visits and inspections
Gathering information for your employment overseas
You can sometimes receive payment for work in the UK while on a business visitor visa, provided the work is a ‘permitted engagement or event’, as defined by the UK Home Office.
It's very important, before travelling to the UK, to identify whether the activity you intend to undertake during your visit is in fact allowed by UK immigration rules. If not, you may need to consider a different visa category.
This depends on your nationality. The Home Office categorises nationalities into ‘visa nationals’, people must apply for a visitor visa before arriving in the UK, and ‘non-visa nationals’, people who do not need to apply for a visitor visa before arriving the UK.
The full list of ‘visa nationals’ can be found on the UK government website. You should note that the visa nationals list may change from time to time. It's therefore prudent to check the list before arranging any travels to the UK.
A visitor visa may be valid for six months, or two, five or 10 years, but each visit made to the UK must always be limited to six months.
Previously, ‘non-visa nationals’, people who are not required to apply for a visitor visa before arriving in the UK, could travel without any other preparation. However, this changed significantly in February 2026, when the UK government enforced its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Scheme. Now, anybody whose nationality appears on the UK government’s ETA National list, which includes all EU citizens, USA, Australia and other nationals, must apply to the scheme before they travel.
The ETA scheme requires ‘non-visa nationals’ to apply for digital permission to travel to the UK, in other words, an ‘Electronic Travel Authorisation’, or an ‘ETA’. The scheme is meant to enable the UK government to screen visitors for suitability and criminality before they arrive.
The application involves an identity verification process using a passport, a short application form, and payment of the fee which is currently £20. A decision should be received within three working days. An ETA, if granted, is permission to travel to the UK. It does not guarantee entry.
An ETA will be valid for two years, or until the passport used to apply expires, whichever is sooner.
Travel providers should be asking to see a relevant visa or ETA before allowing travellers to board. The basic rule now is ‘no permission, no travel’. Missing these requirements could spell disaster for business travellers about to embark on their trip.
Global mobility is crucial to international organisations and entrepreneurs alike. It's therefore equally crucial that overseas organisations ensure their travelling workforce maintains compliance with UK immigration rules and processes.
Before you or your colleagues travel, you must ask:
Are my business plans in the UK actually permitted by UK immigration law?
What application, visa or ETA, must I make before I travel?
Similarly, any UK organisations receiving visitors from connected companies overseas must be satisfied that activities those employees intend to do in the UK is permitted by UK law: illegal working can have serious implications and penalties.
UK immigration law can be complex to navigate and also changes quickly and frequently. Corresponding awareness and proactivity from overseas organisations and businesspersons is essential.
Please note that this article is not intended to be used as legal advice. For support with UK visitor visas, the ETA scheme or other eligibility to travel to the UK, please contact our immigration team.
