The UK is updating its visitor visa rules, allowing more activities for visitors in 2024. Whether you’re traveling for business, tourism, or remote work, these changes give you more flexibility. In this guide, we’ll explain the key updates to the UK visitor visa regulations and what they mean for visitors.
What Are the New Changes for UK Visitor Visas?
In 2024, visitors to the UK can now do more things under the Standard Visitor Visa than before. This includes activities like attending meetings, signing contracts, and participating in paid engagements, provided they meet certain conditions.
These updates mainly apply to non-visa nationals or visa nationals entering the UK on or after January 31, 2024. Here’s a breakdown of what’s allowed under the new rules:
Key Activities Now Allowed on a Visitor Visa
- Intra-Corporate Activities
- Employees from overseas companies can now work with clients in the UK. Tasks like consulting, training, and troubleshooting are allowed, as long as they are linked to the UK branch’s projects and not the overseas company’s services.
- Legal Services
- Foreign lawyers now have more freedom to offer services in the UK. They can advise clients, act as expert witnesses, mediate, arbitrate, and participate in litigation in UK courts, as long as they are qualified to do so in their home country.
- Research and Academia
- Academics, scientists, and researchers can now engage in research that directly relates to their overseas employment. This includes joining collaborative research projects with UK universities or institutions.
- Manufacturing and Supplying Goods
- Overseas employees can now come to the UK to operate equipment or machinery they are supplying to a UK company, especially for safety purposes or after-sales service.
- Paid Engagements
- Visitors can now participate in paid engagements, such as delivering lectures or talks, provided they were invited by a UK organisation. The engagement must relate to their professional field, and they must complete the paid work within the first 30 days of their stay.
- Remote Working
- Visitors can now work remotely for their overseas employer while in the UK, as long as working remotely is not the primary reason for their visit. This means you can check emails or attend meetings remotely, but you cannot come to the UK solely to work from home for an overseas company.
Important Restrictions for Visitor Visa Holders
- Primary Reason for Visit: Remote work cannot be the main reason for visiting the UK. The main purpose must still be tourism, attending business meetings, or visiting family.
- Paid Engagements: Paid activities must be pre-arranged and listed in the visa application. The visitor must be 18 or older to participate in paid engagements.
- Duration of Stay: Visitors can stay for up to six months, but must complete any approved paid engagements within 30 days of arrival.
FAQs About the New Visitor Visa Rules
1. Can researchers do more on the visitor visa now?
- Yes! Scientists and academics can now participate in research that connects directly to their work abroad, not just independent research. This opens up more opportunities for collaboration with UK-based institutions.
2. Do flight crew members benefit from the new visa rules?
- Yes! The 2024 changes allow flight crew members to enter the UK under wet lease agreements approved by the Civil Aviation Authority, making it easier for them to work temporarily for UK airlines.
3. Can lawyers now offer more services in the UK?
- Yes! Foreign lawyers can now provide a wider range of legal services, including consultations, court appearances, arbitration, mediation, and participating in legal conferences or teaching.
4. What are the rules for working remotely in the UK on a visitor visa?
- Visitors can work remotely for their overseas employer, but it cannot be the main reason for their trip. They must still come for tourism, business meetings, or other approved activities. Remote work must be connected to their job abroad.
These updates to the UK Visitor Visa regulations give visitors more freedom to engage in work-related activities while in the UK. However, it’s important to follow the rules to ensure you stay compliant and avoid any issues with immigration authorities.
If you’re planning to visit the UK in 2024 and have questions about these changes, it’s wise to get professional advice. Law and Visas can help you navigate the new regulations and ensure your visit goes smoothly.
