The Visitor visa route allows you to visit and take steps in relation to your future business. As a business or investor in Scotland, you can obtain a short-term visitor visa for business purposes. This can include:
- Arranging and negotiating business deals
- Meeting suppliers and contacts
- Viewing potential sites or premises
- Negotiating contracts
As a holder of a Visitor visa, you can usually stay a maximum of six months in any 12-month period, though they are not designed for holders to stay more than a few weeks at a time. However, the visa does not allow you to work (either paid or unpaid) in Scotland or the rest of the UK while you're visiting.
Those coming to the UK as a visitor may need a visit visa in advance, depending on where they're travelling from. Nationals of the countries on the list available here opens in a new window must apply for a visit visa in advance. Those who do not require a full visit visa in advance are still required to comply with the permitted activities for visitors.
The UK is implementing an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme for nationalities not on the list above who currently do not require to apply for a visitor visa in advance of travelling to the UK. This is being rolled out across 2023 and 2024.
Qatari nationals will be the first to be able to apply for an ETA in October 2023 and they will need an ETA for travel to the UK from 15 November 2023. The ETA scheme will then be rolled out to further nationalities.
- Check if you need a visitor visa in advance on GOV.UK opens in a new window
- The Home Office has also published a short video on the upcoming introduction of ETAs opens in a new window
- Further details can also be found in the Home Office's published stakeholder partner pack opens in a new window published on 9 March 2023
It's usually recommended that those travelling to the UK as a visitor obtain a letter in support of their visit to the UK, outlining the specific tasks that they'll carry out in Scotland. This can be submitted as part of the visa application (where necessary) or showed on entry at the UK border.
TalentScotland may be able to provide support about what to include in this letter (which would normally be issued by the business hosting you in Scotland). Get in touch for more information.
Find full details about the Visitor visa on GOV.UKopens in a new window