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Business visitors

Can you extend your stay as a business visitor?

This page explains whether and how you can extend your stay in the UK as a business visitor.

If you come to the UK as a business visitor, we will allow you to remain here for a maximum of 6 months (or 12 months if you are an academic visitor). When you enter the UK, we will stamp the duration of your permission to stay in your passport.

If we give you permission to enter for less than 6 (or 12) months, and you later want to extend your stay to the maximum of 6 (or 12) months in total, you must apply for an extension - see below. If you are a doctor undertaking a clinical attachment, or a dentist undertaking a clinical observer post, we will initially give you permission to stay for 6 weeks, but you can apply for further 6-week extensions up to a maximum of 6 months.

If we give you permission to enter the UK for less than 6 months as a child visitor to carry out business activities here, and your 18th birthday is during this period, you can apply to extend your stay as a business visitor. The maximum total time that you can stay in the UK will be 6 months.

If we allow you to extend your stay, you must continue to meet the requirements for business visitors.

When your permission to stay expires, we expect you to return home. You cannot 'switch' into a different immigration category.

How to apply for an extension

You must apply using application form FLR(O). You can complete and submit this application form online, or you can print out the form, complete it by hand and submit it by post, by courier or in person. You should read the FLR(O) guidance notes before you complete the application form.

You can follow the links on the right side of this page to:

  • make your FLR(O) application online, and download the FLR(O) application form (if you are not applying online) and guidance notes.

The application form gives details of the documents that you must send with your application. You should send the original documents, not copies. In exceptional circumstances, we may accept a photocopy that is certified as an accurate copy by the body or authority that issued the original, or by a notary. You must include a letter explaining why you are providing a certified copy rather than the original document.

You must be in the UK to apply, and you must apply at least 4 weeks before your permission to stay in the UK ends.

You will need to pay a fee when you apply. We will not refund your fee if we refuse your application or if you withdraw it.

If you apply by post or by courier, you must send your application to the address given on the cover of the 'paper version' of the form. If your application is straightforward, you can apply in person using our same-day service at one of our public enquiry offices for a premium fee - for more information, see the Applying in person section.

More information

  • Application fees for extending your stay using form FLR(O)

     

    Fee if you are applying by post Fee if you are applying in person
    Main applicant £578 £953
    Partner or child aged under 18 (if they are applying at the same time as the main applicant in a category that allows dependants to be included) £433 for each family member included on the main applicant's application form £808 for each family member included on the main applicant's application form
     Partner or child aged under 18 (if they apply later) in a category that allows dependants to be included)  £578  £953


Application forms

Application for an extension of stay in the UK (other categories)

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