In April 2015, the visitor visa categories were consolidated into four categories to increase the visitor route's flexibility. Foreign nationals coming to the UK under the business visitor route should normally be granted permission to stay for a maximum period of 180 days. As previously mentioned, nationals from certain designated visa national countries must apply for a visa before traveling to the UK as visitors.

Persons entering under this category must be based abroad and must not be receiving a salary from a UK source. Foreign nationals will only be allowed to undertake certain permissible activities under this category, for example, transacting business (e.g., attending meetings and briefings, fact-finding, negotiating or making contracts with UK businesses to buy or sell goods or services). Business visitors must not intend to provide goods or services within the UK, including selling goods or services directly to members of the public.

In 2012, the UKBA introduced a list of permitted paid engagements that could be undertaken by visitors, including examiners, lecturers, lawyers, arts entertainers and sporting professionals. This was further expanded under the rules in place in April 2015 and again in 2023.