Business and special visitor route

On the 27 November 2008 the UK Border Agency is introducing a new immigration route for business and special visitors. This category will sit alongside the new points-based system and allow individuals to come to the UK for a short period of time to be involved in certain activities.

Who will use this route?

Individuals who come to the UK to undertake the following activities will be classed as a business visitor:

• doctors taking the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test
• persons undertaking a clinical attachment or dental observer post (may be granted entry for six weeks at a time, up to a maximum period of six months)
• academic visitors (may be granted up to a maximum of 12 months subject to entry clearance).

Individuals from outside the European Economic Area will need entry clearance (a visa) to come to the UK for a business visit of up to six months.

Do NHS trusts need to sponsor individuals in this category?

No. The visitor route is not part of the points-based system and individuals who may be present at a trust are not employed.

Trusts should be aware that the NHS Employers Employment Check Standards will need to be applied to doctors undertaking a clinical attachment or dental observership.

Who would fall into the academic visitor route?

The following people would be the type of visitors that trusts may encounter:

• academics (including doctors) taking part in formal exchange arrangements with UK counterparts.
• senior doctors and dentists coming to take part in research, teaching or clinical practice

Those admitted in this category may not take part in work other than the academic activity for which they are being admitted and the post must be supernumerary.