Visitor permitted activities: ‘Manufacture and supply of goods to the UK’
Visitor permitted activities: ‘Manufacture and supply of goods to the UK’ is one of the few exceptions in the UK immigration rules when work permit is not required for the UK. Instead, those who perform the activities may be able to come to the UK as visitors. There are, however, specific requirements that need to be met to qualify under the Manufacture and supply of goods to the UK exception.
Manufacture and supply of goods to the UK as visitor permitted activity
Under immigration rules PA 7. An employee of an overseas company may install, dismantle, repair, service or advise on machinery, equipment, computer software or hardware (or train UK based workers to provide these services) where there is a contract of purchase, supply or lease with a UK company or organisation and either:
(a) the overseas company is the manufacturer or supplier; or
(b) the overseas company is part of a contractual arrangement for after sales services agreed at the time of the sale or lease, including in a warranty or other service contract incidental to the sale or lease.
Why is Manufacture and supply of goods to the UK put in place as permitted activity
Manufacture and supply of goods to the UK activity is in place to provide for the commitments the UK has taken in trade agreements. This activity could arise in the following circumstances:
• if the overseas company is the manufacturer, or manufactured a component of the machinery, equipment, computer software or hardware
• if the overseas company supplied the machinery, equipment, computer software or hardware
• if the machinery, equipment, computer software or hardware has been supplied or manufactured by a larger corporate group and the service, installation or repair function is undertaken by employees of a different
• if the manufacturer or supplier subcontracts the installation or maintenance of the machinery, equipment, computer software or hardware to another separate overseas company and this arrangement was clear at the time when the contract of purchase, supply or lease was concluded.
What Evidence of Manufacture and supply of goods to the UK to provide
To rely on the Manufacture and supply of goods to the UK permitted visitor activity, relevant contract between the overseas and UK business should be in place and it needs to specify the arrangements in place for the after sales service. In addition, the usual business visitor visa evidence is applicable for those who come to the UK to perform the permitted activity.
How long you can stay in the UK as a visitor
Visitors are likely to stay for less than one month to carry out this activity because they will be in employment overseas. If they request longer, Home Office is likely to look carefully at what they will be doing in the UK to be sure they are not filling a role in the UK company. Activities lasting more than 90 days are not an automatic ground for refusal but may lead to questions about their intention to be in the UK for a short visit and how they will be able to continue their overseas role.
