The British government has announced a change in the UK visitor visa policy, which would allow standard visitors to work in the country.
In a statement on Thursday, the British Home Office said approval must be taken along with the visit visa to be eligible to work in the UK.
Speaking on the development, Shubhagat Dey, managing partner of Lexpert Solicitors LLP in London, said the Home Office has removed the previous obstacles to work on a visit visa.
Work in the UK on Visit Visa
- Every year the UK welcomes almost 40 million visitors – it is ranked as the top 10 tourist destinations globally
- To enter the UK as a visitor, whether for tourism, business meetings or to meet family, you need to apply for a UK Standard Visitor Visa
- A Standard Visitor Visa allows a person to travel and stay in the UK for up to 6 months
A Standard Visitor Visa costs £100 for up to 6 months - You can also apply for a Standard Visitor Visa for 2 years, 5 years, or 10 years (the visa fees are different for each duration)
- The earliest you can apply is 3 months before your intended date of travel
- Standard Visitor Visa is granted for various purposes such as – sightseeing in the UK, visiting family and friends, business trips, and even medical visits
Eligibility Criteria
What are the eligibility criteria for applying for a Standard Visitor Visa?
Listed below are the eligibility criteria that you must meet:
- You must have a passport or a travel document that is valid for the entire duration of your stay
You should be able to evidence your purpose for visiting the UK - You must have enough personal savings to support yourself and your dependents (if any) during your UK trip. OR,
- You can get funding from your family/friends to support your trip expenses
- You must evidence that you will leave the UK at the end of your visit
- You will have to demonstrate that you have strong family, friends, and societal ties, work, or business for which you will return to your home country
- You must not live in the UK for extended periods of time through frequent or successive visits, nor you can make the UK your primary residence
You may need to meet extra eligibility requirements if you’re visiting the UK:
- To study, do a placement, or take an exam
- As an academic, senior doctor, or dentist
- For medical reasons
Permitted Activities
What are the ‘permitted activities’ on a UK Standard Visitor Visa?
Here is a list of activities that are permissible on a UK Visit Visa:
- Holiday or a vacation
- Meet with family or friends
- Volunteer for up to 30 days with a registered charity
- Pass through the UK to another country (‘in transit’)
- Do certain business/work activities
- Take part in a school exchange program
- Do a recreational course of up to 30 days
- Study, do a placement, or take an exam
- Visit for academic/medical purposes
- Take medical treatment or other medical reasons
Work-related activities
What work-related activities are allowed in the UK on a Standard Visitor Visa?
You can visit the UK for up to 6 months to do the following business OR work-related activities:
- Attend interviews, meetings, conferences, and seminars
- Negotiate and sign deals and contracts
Attend trade fairs to promote your business (you cannot sell things) - Get work-related training if you’re employed overseas and the training is not available in your home country
- Give a one-off or short series of talks as long as they’re not for profit or a commercial event (you must not be paid)
- Carry out site visits and inspections
- Oversee the delivery of goods and services provided by a UK company to your overseas company or organisation
- Deliver training or share knowledge on internal projects with UK employees of the company you work for overseas
- Install, dismantle, repair, service, or advise on equipment, computer software, and hardware, if your overseas company has a contract with a UK company or organisation
What is the UK Permitted Paid Engagement Visa?
There is a big demand for different kinds of artists from all over the world. With visitors, artists, and performers arriving from abroad, the UK government put into action a special visa under the UK Visitor visa category – the UK Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor Visa.
On a UK Standard Visitor visa, you will generally not be allowed to accept payment equivalent to a salary (i.e. beyond reasonable expenses incurred for travel and living costs) for any activities undertaken in the UK whilst here as a visitor.
The only exceptions to this are listed here. The exceptions allow for payments to be accepted when the visitor:
- Is an artist, entertainer, or musician attending a Permit Free Festival in the UK; or
- Has permission as a Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor.
The UK Permitted Paid Engagement Visa is put into action for professionals who are invited to the UK as experts in their particular fields. It is mandatory for the applicant to receive an invitation from a UK-based organisation or a UK client. Under this visa, you can come to the UK to do specific paid work without having to be sponsored under the UK’s Points-based System.
Who can apply for the UK Permitted Paid Engagement Visa?
- Professors/lecturers who want to deliver a lecture at a university
- Pilots who want to examine the UK’s airline industry as per the universally set standards
- Lawyers who would like to appear in front of the court
- Artists
- Sportspersons
- Entertainment industry professionals
- Fashion models
