The United Kingdom is one of the most favourable locations worldwide for starting new businesses that will achieve long-term success.
Establishing commercial operations or setting up business activities in the UK through the correct visa becomes complicated because immigration rules contain complex criteria.
This guide will explore all available business visas in the UK that enable business for international investors and entrepreneurs along with Business Visa UK Requirements. So let’s begin!
What Are The Different Types of UK Business Visas?
1. Standard Visitor Visa
Tourism activities for business reasons allow visitors to stay in the UK for six consecutive months without needing a visa.
Standard Visitors can conduct business activities during their visits, yet their actions are restricted to these specific activities.
Standard Visitor status forbids you from working, either paid or unpaid, for UK companies, including your own business or working as a self-employed professional.
Eligibility Requirements
- Your plan is to depart from the UK when your vacation concludes.
- The funds available to you either need to cover your personal expenses alongside those of dependents, or you can receive financial assistance from someone else.
- You either possess sufficient funds to cover your return journey or you receive financial support from another person for your journey expenses.
2. Innovator Founder Visa
The Innovator Founder Visa serves as the new version of both the former Innovator visa and the Start-Up visa. This visa targets business founders who wish to establish unique companies that bring new ideas to the market.
You can stay in the UK for 3 years under this visa, yet you have the right to submit an extension request before your current visa expires.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must establish a completely new business because you cannot participate in established trading operations.
- The business concept must demonstrate both novelty and uniqueness.
- The business has both market viability and expansion possibilities.
- Must have plans for job creation and market penetration abroad and worldwide.
3. Global Talent VISA
The Global Talent visa is available to leaders and potential leaders from specific fields, including academia or research, arts and culture, and digital technology.
You can stay and work in the UK for extended periods of five years through this visa by being either an employee or self-employed person or director of a company.
Eligibility requirements
- An eligible job offer as either an academic or a researcher
- An individual fellowship
- The research grant holds approval from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
4. UK Expansion Worker Visa (Global Business Mobility)
The UK Expansion Worker now serves as the replacement for the Representative of an Overseas Business visa. This Global Business Mobility route enables overseas workers to establish overseas business branches in the UK that have no current trading operations.
The application process for a UK Expansion Worker visa starts with active employment at the overseas firm, either as a senior manager or specialist employee.
Eligibility Requirements
- A ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from the business, which is valid, serves as an eligibility requirement.
- The business must prove that you have worked outside UK territory during the previous 12 months.
- The job you wish to perform must be included within the list of qualified occupations.
- The minimum salary requirement for this visa is either an annual amount of £45,800 or the established market rate for your position, which is higher.
5. High Potential Individual Visa
The High Potential Individual visa becomes available to those who graduated from overseas eligible institutions within the last five years.
You can stay in the UK under an HPI visa for two years, but PhD or doctorate holders get an additional year of stay permission. The visa enables you either to become an employee or establish your own business.
Eligibility Requirements
- The eligibility requirement includes having qualifications from an eligible university, which equals a UK bachelor’s degree postgraduate degree PhD or doctorate.
- Your qualification comes from an eligible university, and you received it within the past five years.
- Prove your knowledge of English.
- You need either one year of valid visa residence in the UK or personal savings sufficient to self-support during your stay in the UK.
- The eligibility criteria exclude students who received a Graduate visa or Doctorate Extension Scheme admission to enter the UK.
What are the Steps To Apply for a Business Visa to enter the UK?
The process of business visa application for the UK requires the following steps:
1. Select the correct visa type according to your business operations through either the Innovator Founder Visa, Self-Sponsorship, or Global Talent Visa.
2. You must finish your online application through the UK government visa and immigration website.
3. Make the payments for visa fees along with the healthcare surcharge.
4. All required documents need submission, which includes business plans with financial statements accompanied by industry experience documentation.
5. The visa application process requires a visit to a visa application centre to give biometric data through fingerprints and photograph submission.
What is the Time Duration for an Authorised Stay With a UK Business Visa?
A business visa grants authorised stay based on the visa type:
Standard Visitor Visa: Allows stays of up to 6 months per visit.
Global Talent Visa: Granted for up to 5 years, with the possibility of extension and permanent settlement.
Innovator Founder Visa: People can stay for three years but have options to extend their stay and seek a settlement.
UK Expansion Worker Visa (Global Business Mobility): This enables you to operate your business within UK territory for a maximum of 2 years.
The High Potential Individual Visa: Enables foreign nationals to stay in the UK for 2 years, but doctoral degree holders can get 3 years.
What is the Cost of Obtaining a UK Business Visa?
Business Visa UK cost depends on their specific category:
Standard Visitor Visa: £115 for 6 months. Users have multiple business visa options, which extend from two years at £432 to five years at £771 to ten years at £963.
Global Talent Visa: £716 for the main applicant and each dependent, plus a healthcare surcharge of £1035 per year.
The Innovator Founder Visa: £1,191 for external applicants, while switching to this visa from inside the UK requires £1,486 along with a healthcare surcharge.
UK Expansion Worker Visa (Global Business Mobility): Includes a £298 application fee, plus the annual Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) which is usually around £1,035 per year.
High Potential Individual Visa: £822 for the main applicant and each dependent, plus a healthcare surcharge of £1035 per year.
Conclusion
To sum up, there are multiple paths for individuals who want to visit the UK through business activities or relocate to establish or expand businesses or operate UK companies outside of the country.
The business immigration program requires extensive eligibility criteria, which also include various requirements, and the application process remains complex.
If you need help with UK immigration matters, we strongly advise you to consult with a professional specialist who operates in the UK.
