Generally speaking overseas visitors cannot work in the UK whilst visiting.
Visitors cannot:
There are some exceptions. These are called ‘Permitted Activities’. Visitors can:
The increase in people working remotely has given rise to new UK visitor visa guidance from the Home Office.
The guidance states that visitors can undertake activities relating to their employment overseas remotely whilst they are in the UK, such as responding to emails and answering phone calls.
However, if a visitor is working in the UK, the main purpose of the trip must be for a ‘permitted activity’ – in other words for one of the reasons listed above. A visitor cannot come to the UK with the main intention to work remotely. So a visitor spending six months in the UK as a visitor but working remotely throughout that time, will be in breach of the visit rules.
The Home Office guidance states:
‘Where the applicant indicates that they intend to spend a large proportion of their time in the UK and will be doing some remote working, you should ensure that they are genuinely employed overseas and are not seeking to work in the UK’.
So expect to be asked about your employment if you indicate you will be working remotely while in the UK.
If you need any further guidance on this matter, please get in contact with our team.
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