The United Kingdom (UK) has revised its visa policies, focusing specifically on tourist visa holders and expanding their opportunities to engage in work-related activities.
To enhance business and tourism, the UK government has revised its immigration rules to permit more activities for individuals on Visitor Visas. Set to take effect from January 31, 2024, these changes allow tourist visa holders to engage in certain work-related activities and undertake remote work during their stay in the UK.
The updated regulations include several critical points:
- Visitor Visa holders can now engage in client work under specific conditions, which applies to individuals working in companies with operations in the UK and abroad, where the client’s work is a minor part of their job overseas and is vital for a project or service by their employer’s UK branch. The project, however, should not be delivered directly to a UK client by the visitor’s overseas employer.
- Visitors can engage in remote work from the UK; this should not constitute the primary purpose of their stay.
- Scientists, researchers, and academics have the green light to conduct research in the UK, with certain exceptions applying to academics on a 12-month visit visa or those extending permission within the UK.
- Lawyers visiting under a visitor visa can engage in a broader range of activities, including providing legal advice, acting as an expert witness, participating in legal proceedings, and teaching.
- Professional speakers can now receive payment for talks delivered in the UK while on a visitor visa.
- The Permitted Paid Engagement (PPE) Visitor route will be incorporated into the Standard Visitor route, simplifying the process for those doing paid engagements. These individuals will not require a separate visa, although their planned activities must be within 30 days of arrival in the UK.
