The British Business Visa for your Business Trip
If you are thinking of travelling to United Kingdom for business purposes, then applying for an British business visa can become a necessary task.
Generally, you should be able to apply for the required British business visa online/ at the nearest British embassy in the country where you live, for a stay in United Kingdom of up to three months.
General Visa Requirements and Validity Period of British Business Visa
Before applying for a business visa for United Kingdom, it is recommended you check whether you can apply for the British business visa.
A brief summary of the most important requirements and conditions when getting the business visa for United Kingdom:
- You do not intend to conduct volunteer work that may otherwise be performed by a paid staff in United Kingdom.
- You do not intend to participate in an employment relationship in United Kingdom.
- You do not plan to supply services to British organisations (this is permitted with a British work visa or business visa).
- You do not mean to supply or sell services or products to consumers in United Kingdom.
- You and your relative are not in debt to the United Kingdom Government.
- You do not present a threat to the health or safety of residents of United Kingdom.
- You have the ability to show that you have adequate financial resources to pay for your visit and return from United Kingdom.
Do I need an British business visa?
It relies on your nationality and also the kind of travel document you are using to take a trip to United Kingdom.Please visit here to check if you require an British visa.
Who can make an application for an British business visa?
Any individual hoping to go on holiday to United Kingdom can apply for an British business visa.
There are several types of visa for United Kingdom which you can use as a visitor to United Kingdom. If you are not sure which sort of British business visa you require to apply, please contact the nearby British visa office to get further information as purpose of this page is to offer you general overview when requesting British business visa.
What kind of British visa do I need?
This relies on 3 things:
- The nationality according to your passport – If the nationality according to the passport is from a nation that is on visa free travel to United Kingdom or eligible to make an application for a visa on arrival in United Kingdom, then you may not need to make an application for an British business visa prior to leaving from your home country. Please go here to check if you need an British visa.
- The duration of your stay in United Kingdom – If you want to remain in United Kingdom for a shorter duration less than ninety days, then you can get the British business visa. If you wish to stay longer, then speak to the nearest British visa office to secure the suitable visa for your travel.
- The activities you hope to perform in United Kingdom – If your main reason of taking a trip is for holiday, then you can make an application for all types of British business visas talked about on this web page.
General Visa Application Requirements to Request British Business Visa
- Business visa application form for United Kingdom – Completed British visa application form.
- Original and signed passport – The passport should be valid for at the very least 6 months before going into United Kingdom and three months after leaving United Kingdom. It must have a minimum of 2 extra visa pages and can not be older than 10 years.
- Passport type photo – Photo needs to be no older than six months and ought to be 35 x 40mm in size.
- Previous passport – Give a previous passport if you had any.
- Previous visas – Copies of previous British visas information if you had any.
- Flight tickets to United Kingdom – Reservation of return or round trip flight tickets. In some scenarios the British visa office may request for pre-paid flight tickets to United Kingdom.
- Travel insurance – Evidence of travel insurance coverage with a minimum cover set by the British embassy provided with the Certification of Insurance and the table of benefits. The travel insurance need to cover the expense of repatriation for medical reasons and the Certificate of Currency must be issued by an insurer. If you are thinking of using your credit card travel insurance for your travel to United Kingdom, please call British consular office for additional information and travel insurance requirements for the British visa.
- Original bank declarations – Original financial institution statements for the last 3 months revealing adequate funds to cover your visit in United Kingdom. If statements are printed online after that it needs to be Validated (stamped) by the bank officials.
- Hotel Reservations in United Kingdom – Copy of confirmed hotel bookings including name of the applicant, name and address of the hotel, length of stay. In the majority of scenarios, only bookings which are partly or completely pre-paid can be accepted.
- Work letter – This letter must be: original and signed letter from employer written on company letter head paper, verifying your ongoing employment, the status of employment, regular monthly income and yearly leave. Likewise, please provide your three latest pay slips. If you are self-employed: provide certified copies of company registration, income tax return.
- For students. Please provide the following:
- Evidence of current student status: Certificate of Enrollment.
- Original and signed letter from university written on university letter head paper, confirming ongoing enrolment, confirming the payment of tuition fees or any kind of scholarships, and confirming term break.
- Insurance from Organisation/University – Give a letter from the University stating the purpose, duration of travel and confirmation that you are going to be covered by the insurance policy for the entire trip in addition to the Certificate of Currency and summary of benefits.
As a whole, visa applications for British visa should be sent for a maximum of 6 months, and no later than 15 days, before the trip.