UK Immigration update: Statement of change - 07 December 2023

What are the changes to the UK visitor route?

The changes include:

• Permitting remote working in the UK provided that these activities relate to the visitors employment overseas and are not the primary reason for them being in the UK.
• Allowing individuals coming to the UK under the Intra-Corporate activities to be client-facing, however only if the employee is here under an intra-corporate setting and any client facing activity is both incidental to their overseas employment and the project is being delivered by the UK entity not the overseas employer.
• Allowing academics, researchers, and scientists to undertake research that is applicable to their employment overseas.  Previously they could only do this if they were on sabbatical leave.
• Expanding the legal activities permitted as a visitor.
• Allowing conference speakers to be paid.  This will be added to the “Permitted Paid Engagements (PPE)” list.
• PPEs will be moved into the standard visitor category, negating the need for a specific PPE visitor visa.  However, the PPE is still required to be arranged prior to an individual travelling and must be undertaken within 30 days of arriving in the UK.

What are the changes to the Temporary Worker – Youth Mobility Scheme?

Among other changes announced was the expansion of the Temporary Worker – Youth Mobility (YM) scheme.  This includes:

• Adding Uruguay to the list of countries permitted under the YM route.
• Increasing the number of places available for Japanese and Korean nationals
• Increasing the maximum age limit for Korean applicants for 30 to 35 years old
• Removing the requirement for Japanese and Korean nationals to have to obtain an initial invitation to apply for the YM route.

What do these changes mean for business travel and employers?

These are some welcome updates to the visitor rules to make business travel into the UK both clearer and easier, although it will be interesting to see how individuals interpret the remote working condition.  UK employers should still ensure that they are assessing the activities of any overseas employees or other individuals travelling to the UK on business to confirm that they are not exceeding the remit of the permitted activities.  Mazars can assist with business visitor assessments if required or provide guidance and support around updating existing business traveller policies.

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