Visit the UK on a business trip

Check what to do if you’re visiting the UK for an unpaid business activity, for example attending an interview, meeting or conference.

The rules are different if you’re an expert in your profession and you’re being paid by a UK company to attend an event or engagement in the UK.

1. Step 1: Check if you’re eligible

   Find out what activities you can do and how to prove your eligibility if you’re:

   • being paid by a UK company to visit as an expert in your profession
   • visiting for business and not being paid by a UK company

   You must meet the eligibility requirements even if you do not need a visa.

2. Step 2: Check if you need a visa

   Depending on the country you're from, you might be able to visit the UK without a visa or by applying for an electronic travel authorisation.

   1. Check if you need a visa

3. Step 3: Apply for a visa

   The visa you apply for depends on if you're:

   • being paid by a UK company to visit as an expert in your profession £95 for up to 1 month
   • coming for unpaid business activities as a Standard Visitor £95 for up to 6 months

4. or Apply for a family permit

   You may be able to visit on a family permit if you have a family member who is:

   • a citizen of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland
   • a Person of Northern Ireland
   • a British citizen

   1. Check if you can apply for a family permit

5. or Apply for an electronic travel authorisation

   Apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) if you're a national of:

   • Bahrain
   • Kuwait
   • Oman
   • Qatar
   • Saudi Arabia
   • United Arab Emirates

   1. Apply for an ETA £10

6. Step 4: Check what you can bring with you

   1. Check what you can bring with you
   2. Check what food, animals or plants you can bring into the UK

7. Step 5: Check what you need to show at the UK border

   1. Check what you need to show at the UK border