What business activities are allowed?

Attending meetings, interviews, conferences and seminars; negotiating and signing deals; attending trade fairs to promote your business (without selling); site visits and inspections; and delivering training or sharing knowledge with UK colleagues.

Can I be paid for work in the UK?

No. You cannot do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as self-employed. The only exception is a specific permitted paid engagement, which has its own rules.

Up to 6 months per visit on the Standard Visitor visa. Frequent business travellers can apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa.

United Kingdom · Visa guide

United Kingdom UK Business Visitor Visa

The Standard Visitor visa used for business — meetings, conferences, negotiations and trade fairs in the UK.

ProcessingStandard service is usually around 3 weeks
Visa categoryUK Business Visitor Visa
Your guideOne consultant

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United Kingdom UK Business Visitor Visa — overview

The UK Business Visitor route is the Standard Visitor visa used for business activity. It lets you visit the UK for up to 6 months to attend meetings, interviews, conferences and seminars, negotiate and sign deals, attend trade fairs, carry out site visits, or deliver training and share knowledge with UK colleagues.

It is a visitor visa, not a work visa: you cannot do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or work as self-employed, and you cannot sell goods or services. The visa costs GBP 135 for up to 6 months and is applied for online on GOV.UK, with biometrics in India.

Lifeset Overseas helps you and the inviting UK organisation present a clear business purpose so the trip is straightforward to assess.

7 items

Documents you need

Valid passport
A passport valid for the whole of your stay in the UK.
Employer letter
A letter from your Indian employer on company letterhead naming your role, the purpose of travel and who funds the trip.
UK invitation
An invitation from the UK company or organisation hosting the meetings, conference or event.
Conference / event registration
Registration confirmation if you are attending a conference, trade fair or seminar.
Funds to support yourself
Bank statements showing you can support yourself and pay the return journey.
Proof you will leave the UK
Evidence of your ties to India and your intention to return after the visit.
Travel plan
A travel itinerary and accommodation details.

5 steps

How the process works

Typical processing: Standard service is usually around 3 weeks — business cases with clear invitations are typically straightforward.

Step 1
Free eligibility review
We confirm the business-visitor route fits your trip and build a checklist for you and the UK host.
Step 2
Coordinate the invitation & build the file
The UK invitation, employer letter and financial documents are prepared and cross-checked.
Step 3
Apply online on GOV.UK
The application is completed and paid on the official UK government website.
Step 4
Biometrics at the UK visa centre
You attend a UK visa application centre in India for fingerprints and a photograph.
Step 5
Decision & passport return
UK Visas and Immigration decides the application and your passport is returned.

Transparent

Costs & fees

Item

Amount

Standard Visitor visa (up to 6 months)

Payable online when you apply.

GBP 135

UK visa centre & optional services

Plus priority service if you choose it.

Confirmed at booking

Government and third-party fees change often — we confirm the exact current amounts for your case before you pay anything.

3 answers

Frequently asked questions

Q.What business activities are allowed?: Attending meetings, interviews, conferences and seminars; negotiating and signing deals; attending trade fairs to promote your business (without selling); site visits and inspections; and delivering training or sharing knowledge with UK colleagues.
Q.Can I be paid for work in the UK?: No. You cannot do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as self-employed. The only exception is a specific permitted paid engagement, which has its own rules.
Q.How long can I stay?: Up to 6 months per visit on the Standard Visitor visa. Frequent business travellers can apply for a long-term Standard Visitor visa.

Why it matters

Going it alone vs filing with us

On your own

Guessing the document list — one missing or wrongly formatted paper triggers a refusal.
Generic cover letters copied from the internet that officers recognise and flag.
No read on peak rejection windows or what this visa post is strict about.
Government and VFS fees are non-refundable — money lost if you are refused.
A refusal stamp follows you and weakens every future visa application.

With Lifeset Overseas

An honest case assessment before you spend a rupee on government fees.
A file built to the embassy's exact checklist and in the exact order.
Weak finances, ties or purpose identified and fixed before submission.
Previously refused? We can rescue and rebuild the file.
1,200+ approvals, handled by one licensed consultant end to end.

Refused before?

A refusal isn't the end

Refused applicants often win the second time — once the real reason is fixed. If a United Kingdom visa has been refused, we:

Read the actual refusal letter and pinpoint the real gaps.
Advise whether to pull the officer's notes (CAIPS / GCMS) for the true reason.
Identify which part was weak — funds, employment, purpose or ties.
Tell you honestly whether to reapply now or strengthen the file first.
Rebuild a stronger application — same fixed fee, refusal or first try.

Get refusal support

Your next step

Ready to start your UK Business Visitor Visa?

A visa file is won or lost on the small things — a mismatched date, a thin financial trail, a document formatted wrong. We go deep into your profile, build every document properly, and give you an honest verdict before you commit. If your case isn't ready, we'll tell you — and tell you exactly how to fix it.

Free, honest assessment
We read your full profile and tell you straight whether your case is ready — before you pay anything.
Your file, built right
Every document prepared, apostilled, translated and stress-tested the way the embassy expects.
One consultant, end to end
The same person handles your case from the first call to the visa decision — no hand-offs.
We handle the process
VFS appointment, biometrics, submission and follow-up — we manage the moving parts for you.

licensed (No. 849/DC/PTA/PLA/LC-3/2024)Fixed fees agreed upfrontWe won’t take a case we believe will fail

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