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New business and special visitor rules published today and going live on 27 November 2008
04 November 2008
On 28 October 2008, Phil Woolas, Minister of State for Borders and Immigration, announced the go live date for the new Business and Special Visitor route. Today we have published the Immigration Rules for Business and Special Visitors.
From 27 November if you wish to come to the United Kingdom for a short time to conduct business or to take part in sporting or creative events you will need to come as a business, sports or entertainer visitor.
If you are seeking entry as a child visitor, student visitor, parent of a child at school, marriage visitor, prospective student, visitor in transit or a visitor for private medical treatment, you will still need to apply in that category. This group of categories are collectively known as special visitors.
If you would like to have further information on what you have to do to qualify to come as a visitor in one of these ways please see the business and special visitors section. Further guidance will be available shortly.
We are reviewing the arrangements for general short term visits to the United Kingdom and expect to announce some changes in 2009. The current Rules will remain in place until then. So if you want to come here as a tourist or to visit family see the visitors section.