2024 Immigration Policy Changes: UK Visitors

Several immigration changes were announced by the UK government in December 2023, with the increased salary thresholds for Skilled Workers and those on spouse visas making the headlines.

However, the latest Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC246), published on 7 December 2023, also introduces some welcome changes to the UK Visitor visa category.

These changes, which go into effect on 31 January 2024, generally expand the types of activities visitors to the UK are permitted to do.

This blog explores these recent changes and what they mean for travellers to the UK.

Remote Working

The updated immigration rules now confirm that visitors are permitted to work remotely while in the UK undertaking activities related to their overseas employment, with the condition that it is not the primary purpose of their visit.

In practice, this means that someone in the UK on a business trip or holiday would be permitted to undertake tasks they would normally do overseas, albeit, remotely.

The new rules do not set out restrictions on the range or type of activities that can be undertaken remotely, other than confirming that remote working must not be the main purpose of the trip. This change reflects and recognises the global trend towards flexible working arrangements.

However, this welcome clarification in the rules should not be conflated with a Digital Nomad visa – which does not currently exist in the UK – as the rules state that the main purpose of being in the UK should still be as a visitor under this category.

Intra-Corporate Activities

Visitors employed abroad who visit a linked group business in the UK will be able to carry out work directly with clients, provided the client-facing activity is incidental to the visitor’s overseas employment.

They will be able to advise and consult, provide training and share skills and knowledge with clients as well as colleagues – but with the caveat is that those activities are required for the delivery of a project or service by the UK entity, rather than one is being delivered by the overseas business.

This change removes the current restriction of not working directly with clients while carrying out any intra-corporate activities as a visitor.

Permitted Paid Engagements 

The provisions of the Permitted Paid Engagement Visitor (PPE) category are being absorbed into the Standard Visitor route.

This means that all visitors will be able to undertake permitted paid engagements without having to apply for the PPE visa either before travelling or upon arrival at the UK border, and can stay in the UK for up to six months as a visitor.

However, it is important to note that individuals intending to participate in a PPE must have arranged their activities before travelling to the UK and complete them within 30 days of arrival.

This amendment will mean individuals such as musicians, performers, professional sportspeople and academics being invited to the UK by a UK-based organisation will be able to travel more freely to the UK.

Conference speakers are also being added to the list of PPEs, which means they will now be able to be remunerated for their participation.

Legal Profession

Under the new rules, there will be an expansion of the activities permitted for those in legal professions.

Lawyers visiting the UK will be able to provide a wider range of legal services, including but not limited to providing legal advice, drafting legal documents, appearing in arbitrations, acting as an expert witness, conferences, teaching and litigation.

The current requirement, which only permits lawyers to advise a UK-based client, will be dropped as this more flexible approach is being adopted.

Researchers

Academics, scientists and researchers will be permitted to conduct research in the UK while visiting if the research relates to a specific project directly regarding their employment abroad. Under the current immigration rules, this is restricted to independent research.

Looking Ahead

While much of the media focus has been on the government’s plans to restrict migration, it is clear that the authorities have listened to feedback from industry professionals to make it easier for individuals from certain industries to travel to the UK to undertake specific business-related activities without the need to apply for a work visa, thereby expanding the permitted activities of UK visitors.

Individual travellers to the UK, or businesses sending their employees to the UK for business trips, should still review the purpose of the trip closely to ensure the activities fall within those that are permitted by the Visitor category.

Need to know more?

For further information on these changes and UK immigration regulations, please contact Manager Alex Hood at [email protected] or Senior Associate Mariam Khaliq at [email protected].

This blog was published on 31 January 2024, and due to the circumstances, there are frequent changes. To keep up to date with all the latest updates on global immigration, please subscribe to our alerts and follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram.