Discover Types of Business Visas for the Uk Suited to Your Business Needs
The United Kingdom (UK) is a highly desired business destination. Its stable and open economy attracts investors from across the globe. Well, say you’re interested in starting a business here as well; first, you will need a British business visa to enter the UK. The following article will provide an extensive guide to business visas for the UK.
Types of Business Visa
If you think a business visa for the UK is a one-size-fits-all, think again. There are several British business visas that a business owner can apply for. It depends on the size of your enterprise and the type of business.
There are business visas for non-trading business activities like a business visit, visas for innovative business owners, and visas for skilled workers. Below, we explain each available business visa for the UK; you can apply online.
Business Visit Visa
A business visitor visa is a subcategory of the Standard Visitor Visa. If you plan to visit the UK for business, apply for this visa. A visitor visa for the UK is valid for six months.
Apply for a Business Visit Visa when you need to:
- Attend interviews, meetings, conferences, seminars and trade fairs to promote your business
- Negotiating and signing deals and contracts
- Get employment-related training if there is none in your home country
- Giving talks, as long as they’re not for profit or a commercial event
- conduct site inspections
- be present for the delivery of goods and services from the UK to your overseas company or organisation
- Delivering training with UK employees of the company you work for overseas
- Provide on-site equipment, computer software or hardware services for a UK company
Critical Requirements for a Business Visit Visa
- A valid travel document or passport throughout your entire stay in the UK
- Provide proof you are travelling for business. For example, an invitation from a company, organisation, or other institution in the UK to attend a business meeting, conference or other non-trading business-related activity.
- Provide proof of leaving the UK at the end of your visit, such as a return ticket.
- Proof of funding to support your stay
Innovator Founder Visa
When you are required to set up a UK business, you can apply for an Innovator Founder Visa. The visa allows you a longer stay than six months, but your business needs to meet the specific criteria:
- It is new and innovative – different from anything in the market
- Received endorsement by an endorsing body in the UK
- Viable, with potential for growth
- Scalable: provide proof of planning that you will be creating jobs and expanding into national and global markets
- Have at least £1,270 for self-support in your bank account for 28 days
- The owner should be able to speak, read, write and understand English
Innovator Founder Visa – Validity Period
The visa allows you to stay for up to three years. You’ll need to meet with your endorsing body after 12 and 24 months to show you’re progressing with your business. Your endorsing body has the full authority to cut short your visa by withdrawing their endorsement.
If you want to stay longer, you must re-apply with a new endorsement before your visa expires. For every application, the validity period is three years.
However, there is no limit to this visa’s number of years or reapplication. You may apply to settle in the UK (indefinite leave to remain) after the end of the three-year validity period.
Applying for the Innovator Founder Visa
If you are the business owner and the general manager of the business, this visa is for you. When applying for this visa, prepare to prove your identity and submit the supporting documents.
The fee for this visa application is £1,191 per person, and you must pay a healthcare surcharge as part of it. The healthcare surcharge is £1,035 per year or £3,105 for a 3-year visa. Your visa application may be rejected if you do not pay the healthcare surcharge.
Usually, you will receive the result of your application after three weeks. However, if you have to provide further information, expect a later date to receive your visa application result.
The Do’s and Don’ts of an Innovator Founder Visa
As a holder of the visa, you can:
- Set up a business or several businesses.
- Work for your business.
- Do work outside your business, as long as it’s ‘skilled work.’
- Bring your ‘dependents’ if they’re eligible.
- Travel abroad and return to the UK.
You must not:
- Work as a professional sportsperson
- Apply for public funds or the State Pension
UK Expansion Worker Visa
The UK expansion worker visa falls under the Global Business Mobility category. For you to apply for this type of visa, comply with the following requirements:
- The company you work for does not have a UK branch or subsidiary
- You are already working for the company; it could even be your own company
- You have a valid certificate of sponsorship from your company
- You have worked for your employer outside the UK
- You work on a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
- You earn the minimum eligible salary required for your job
Applying for the UK Expansion Worker Visa
You are likely applying for the visa for the first time, as this move will mark your overseas business to have its first UK branch or subsidiary. The visa application process is available online, and you will need to provide the following:
- A certificate of sponsorship reference number – your employer/company will give you this
- The certificate of sponsorship
- A valid passport showing your identity and nationality
- Your job title and annual salary
- Your job’s occupation code
- Bank statements as proof of self-support
- Evidence of your relationship with your partner or children if they’re applying with you
- A tuberculosis test results if you’re from a listed country
Payments for Visa Application
The initial visa validity period is one year. You can extend your stay up to a maximum of two years. The fee for this visa application is £298 per person, and you must pay a healthcare surcharge, too. The healthcare surcharge is £1,035 per year. The approving officer can reject your visa application if you avoid paying the healthcare surcharge.
You will also need proof of self-support amounting to £1,270 in your bank account. The money should have been there for 28 consecutive days before applying for the visa to support yourself in the UK.
You can apply for this visa three months before your start date to work in the UK. You will receive the result of your application after three weeks. However, expect a longer processing time when the governing body requires further information.
The Do’s and Don’ts of a UK Expansion Worker Visa
You are allowed to:
- Work for your sponsor as described in the certificate
- Study
- Bring your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible
- Do voluntary work
- Travel abroad and return to the UK
You are not allowed to:
- Apply for public funds or the State Pension
- Change jobs
- Have a second job
- Apply to settle permanently in the UK
Conclusion
Getting a visa to the UK doesn’t need to be complicated. Transparency and easy-to-read and user-friendly online portals make visa applications more tolerable. However, many specific circumstances may convince people otherwise to follow through with their business visa for the UK. If you desire to do business in the UK, contact your local visa expert, 3E Accounting, for clarity of the available options for a business visa for UK.
