Business Person Visa UK
2006-11-05
You may come to the UK as a business person if you are not a European Economic Area national and you will be running a business full time in the UK.This page is not a complete statement of the law. For more information see our Policy and Law pages.
How can I come to the UK to establish myself in business?
You may come to the UK as a business person if you are not a European Economic Area national and you will be running a business full time in the UK.
Nationals of countries joining the European Union on May 1st 2004 will no longer be able to come to the United Kingdom under the business person rules from that date; but they will have the same freedom to do business as other EU nationals.
The countries joining the EU on May 1st 2004 are: Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.
What evidence do I need to show to enter the UK as a business person?
You need to provide a detailed business plan. This should include:
- the object of the business
- evidence that you have at your disposal in the UK at least £200,000 of your own money for investment in the business
- evidence that you will create at least 2 full time jobs for people already settled in the UK and details of their employment conditions
- the projected opening balance sheet following the start of the business.
You also need to show that you can live in the UK without help from public funds.
How long can I stay in the UK?
At first, we will give you permission to stay for 12 months. You can apply for an extension of stay for up to another 3 years.
What can I do if I am in the UK as a business person?
In the UK, you can do business as:
- a sole trader
- a partnership
- a company registered in the UK.
As a sole trader or partner you must trade or provide services full time. As a company director, you must promote your company and manage it full time. Self-employed doctors and dentists must practise full time. The full time condition does not apply to a self-employed writer, artist or composer.
We grant you permission to stay as a business person for a specific business. You must ask Home Office permission if you wish to change to a different business once you are here.
Can I come to the United Kingdom as a business person if I am a national of an EC Association Agreement country?
If you are a national of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia or Romania you can come to the UK to set up a company, partnership or act as a sole trader under this agreement. If you are a national of Slovenia you can set up a company in the UK under this agreement.
You are not required to invest £200,000 or to create any UK jobs but you must present a full business plan. You must be able to live without help from public funds. You must intend to be only self-employed and not to do any work outside of the business.
For detailed Guidance on ECAA Applications please click here.
If you have any questions about the ECAA scheme, you should write to:
ECAA Team
Home Office
PO Box 3500
Sheffield
S3 8WB
United Kingdom
Do I need entry clearance to come to the United Kingdom as a business person?
You need to apply for entry clearance before travelling to the United Kingdom as a business person. For more information visit UKvisas.
How can I get more advice about becoming a business person?
From 2 February 2004 all applications submitted under the categories previously considered by Business Case Unit in Croydon will be handled by a team in Work Permits (UK) Sheffield. The premium service will also be withdrawn from this date.
You can download application forms via the all forms link on the right column of this website. You can also request the BUS form from the Applications Forms Unit, Tel: 0870 241 0645.
Please send applications to the secure payment handling unit at:
Immigration and Nationality Directorate
PO Box 495
Durham
DH99 1WR
You can contact the Business Case Unit at:
Telephone: 0114 207 6169
Fax: 0114 207 6170
Address:
Business Case Unit
Work Permits (UK)
PO BOX 3468
Sheffield
bcu@ind.homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
For information about applications submitted before 2 February 2004, please Tel: 0870 606 7766.
You may also want to contact your financial or legal adviser.
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