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The UK is a global business hub. If you're a business owner looking to expand your operations to the UK, you'll need to obtain a UK business visa.

There are two main types of UK business visas:

• Short-term UK business visas
• Long-term UK business Visas

Short-Term Business Visas

A short-term business visa allows you to visit the UK for up to 6 months for business purposes. This visa is ideal if you are attending meetings, conferences, or training sessions. You cannot work for a UK company or receive payment from a UK source on a short-term business visa.

The Standard Visitor Visa is the most common type of short-term business visa.

To qualify for a Standard Visitor Visa, you must demonstrate that you are a genuine visitor and that you will leave the UK at the end of your visit. You must also provide evidence that you can support yourself financially during your stay.

The UK Business Visitor Visa is a subcategory of the Standard Visitor Visa.

Permitted business activities under a Standard Visitor Visa include:

• Attending interviews, meetings, conferences, and seminars
• Negotiating and signing deals and contracts
• Attending trade fairs to promote your business (selling is prohibited)
• Carrying out site visits and inspections
• Receiving work-related training unavailable in your home country
• Delivering training or sharing knowledge on internal projects with UK employees of your overseas company
• Installing, dismantling, repairing, servicing or advising on equipment, computer software and hardware, if your overseas company has a contract with a UK company or organisation

Long-Term Business Visas

If you are looking to stay in the UK for longer than 6 months to establish or run your business, you will need to apply for a long-term business visa.