The intention behind the business visitor rules is to facilitate genuine 'business to business' relationships. A business professional working for an international company is not necessarily a business visitor and may need to qualify under the employment rules or the student rules where training is needed.

Business visitors must meet the Immigration Rules for business visitors: Paragraphs 46G-L in addition to the Rules for general visitors: Paragraph 41.

A business visitor is defined as a person who is employed abroad but who intends to visit the UK for short periods in order to undertake certain business related activities as outlined in Paragraph 46G and in this guidance.  As well as meeting the normal requirements for leave to enter as a visitor those coming for this purpose must:

• be based  abroad and not intend to transfer their base to the UK, even temporarily;
  
• receive their salary from abroad, although it is acceptable for them to receive reasonable travel and subsistence expenses whilst in the UK;
  
• not be involved in selling goods or services direct to members of the public;
• not be replacing someone in the UK, including for temporary leave periods;
• not be coming to the UK to do work placements or internships.