Business Visitor Visa

A business visitor visa lets you travel abroad for short business trips (meetings, conferences, trade fairs, contract talks, client and site visits) while you stay employed by, and paid by, your company in India. It does not let you work for a company in that country, or be paid by one.

That line between visiting on business and working is the whole category. Officers check it on every file: who is paying you, who invited you, what exactly you will do, and whether you will come back to the job or business you have in India.

This guide covers what a business visit allows, how it differs from a work permit, the official fee and stay limit for the business visitor routes Indians use most, and the documents that make a business file credible.

What a business visitor visa allows

The exact list differs by country, but the official rules overlap heavily. Across the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, a business visitor can typically:

• attend meetings, interviews, conferences and seminars
• negotiate and sign deals and contracts
• attend trade fairs to promote your business (the UK adds: you cannot sell there)
• visit sites, inspect facilities and check on goods or services your company buys
• buy goods or services for your overseas business
• receive training linked to your job abroad, where the country allows it

What every country rules out is work: taking a job, or being paid by a local organisation or client. If the host pays your salary or fee, it is not a business visit.

Verified from GOV.UK, Visit on business · checked 2026-10-24

Verified from IRCC, Business visitors · checked 2026-10-24

Business visitor visa vs work permit

If you are an employer in India sending staff abroad for meetings, audits or trade fairs, a standing visa account for employers covers business-visitor and conference visas for your staff, with one named officer.

Compare business visitor visas from India

Government fees only. They are paid to the government or its visa centre at cost, change without notice, and the linked official page is the authority. Our filing fee is shown separately on each country page.

Each Schengen state has its own consulate and page. The visa is the same, so apply to the country you will spend the most time in. Pick it from the list of countries above.

Verified from US fee regulation, 22 CFR 22.1 · checked 2026-10-24

Verified from GOV.UK, Standard Visitor visa · checked 2026-10-24

Verified from IRCC, Fee list · checked 2026-10-24

Verified from European Commission, Applying for a Schengen visa · checked 2026-10-24

Verified from VFS Global, Japan visa fees (India) · checked 2026-10-24

Verified from GDRFA Dubai, Visit visa to explore business opportunities · checked 2026-10-24

Verified from Home Affairs, Visitor 600 Business Visitor stream · checked 2026-10-24

Verified from Immigration New Zealand, Business Visitor Visa · checked 2026-10-24

The documents that make a business file credible

The forms are the easy part. What decides a business visitor file is whether the trip is plainly business and plainly temporary:

• An invitation from the host company: on letterhead, naming you, the dates, the purpose and who pays for what
• A letter from your employer in India: your role, salary, approved leave, why the trip matters, and that you return to the job
• For business owners: company registration, GST returns and income tax returns that show a running business
• Proof of funds: personal or company bank statements that cover the trip
• Your travel history: previous visas and trips, honestly declared, including any refusal

A conference registration or trade-fair pass helps, but it does not replace the host letter. A generic letter that could fit anyone is a weak point in any business file.

Frequently asked questions

Can I work on a business visitor visa? No. You can attend meetings, negotiate, attend conferences and make site visits, but you cannot take a job or be paid by an organisation in that country. Paid work needs a work permit, which Lifeset Overseas does not process.

Is a business visa the same as a tourist visa? In several countries it is the same visa with a different purpose. The US issues a combined B-1/B-2, the UK uses one Standard Visitor visa, and Schengen uses one short-stay visa. Your documents must match the business purpose you declare.

Do I need an invitation letter for a business visa? In practice, yes. Every country here expects evidence of the business purpose, and a letter from the host company naming you, the dates and the purpose is the strongest single document.

Can I attend a trade fair on a business visitor visa? Yes, to promote your business, meet buyers and suppliers, or visit as a buyer. The UK specifically says you cannot sell goods directly at the fair.

How long can I stay on a business visitor visa? It depends on the country: up to 90 days in any 180 for Schengen, usually up to 6 months for the UK and Canada, and up to 3 months for Australia's Business Visitor stream and New Zealand's Business Visitor Visa.