UK Overseas Business Routes

The routes at a glance

"Overseas business routes" is a practical grouping rather than a single visa. It covers the ways an overseas company can send a person to establish or expand operations in the UK.

The main current route is the UK Expansion Worker visa, part of the Global Business Mobility (GBM) umbrella. The Representative of an Overseas Business route still exists but is now narrow: its Sole Representative element is closed to new applicants, and only overseas media organisations can still use it for new applications.

• UK Expansion Worker visa (Global Business Mobility) - set up a UK branch or subsidiary of an overseas business not yet trading in the UK.
• Representative of an Overseas Business - now open to new applicants only if you are an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation.
• Sole Representative (part of the above route) - closed to new applicants since 11 April 2022; existing holders may still be able to extend and settle.

Global Business Mobility: the wider umbrella

Global Business Mobility is not one visa. It is an umbrella covering five separate sponsored work routes for overseas businesses moving staff to the UK. All are temporary and none lead to settlement. In most cases the maximum stay is a cumulative total of five years in any six-year period across the GBM routes.

• UK Expansion Worker - for a senior manager or specialist employee sent to establish a brand-new UK presence for an overseas business.
• Senior or Specialist Worker - for a senior manager or specialist employee on a temporary assignment to a UK business linked to their overseas employer.
• Graduate Trainee - for someone on a graduate training programme being placed in the UK arm of the business.
• Service Supplier - for a contractual service supplier or self-employed professional providing services covered by a UK trade agreement.
• Secondment Worker - for a worker seconded to the UK as part of a high-value contract or investment.

UK Expansion Worker: what it is and who it is for

The UK Expansion Worker visa is for someone establishing a UK branch or subsidiary of an overseas business that has not yet begun trading in the UK. Applicants must already work for the overseas business as a senior manager or specialist employee.

The overseas business must first be approved as a UK sponsor for this route before the worker can be issued a certificate of sponsorship and apply. Because the route is for pre-trading expansion, a limited number of workers can be sponsored under it at this early stage.

UK Expansion Worker: eligibility

Applicants must meet all of the following core requirements. Figures below are quoted from GOV.UK at the time of writing and should be reconfirmed before applying.

• Hold a valid certificate of sponsorship from the sponsoring business, dated within 3 months of the application.
• Do a job that is on the list of eligible occupations (identified by occupation code).
• Be paid at least £52,500 per year, or the going rate for the specific occupation - whichever is higher.
• Have worked for the overseas business outside the UK for at least 12 months. Exceptions apply for those earning over £73,900, and for certain Japanese and Australian nationals working for expanding Japanese or Australian companies.
• Have at least £1,270 in personal savings held for 28 consecutive days (unless the sponsor certifies maintenance).

UK Expansion Worker: costs

Applicants must pay the application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, and show they can support themselves. Fees change regularly - always check current amounts on GOV.UK.

• Application fee: £340 (as stated on GOV.UK at the time of writing).
• Immigration Health Surcharge: £1,035 per year of the visa, payable for the applicant and each dependant.
• Personal savings: at least £1,270 held for 28 consecutive days, with the 28-day period ending within 31 days of applying (unless the sponsor certifies maintenance).

UK Expansion Worker: how to apply and processing

Applications are made online. The sponsoring business must be approved and issue a certificate of sponsorship before the worker applies. You can apply up to 3 months before your job start date.

• Apply online and prove your identity (using the UK Immigration: ID Check app or at a visa application centre, depending on your documents).
• Standard processing: usually within 3 weeks if applying from outside the UK, or 8 weeks if applying from inside the UK.
• Faster decisions may be available for an additional fee where offered.

UK Expansion Worker: length of stay, dependants and settlement

The visa is granted for the shorter of 12 months from your job start date, or the length of your sponsorship plus 14 days. It can be extended once, for up to a further 12 months, giving a maximum of 2 years on this route.

Across all Global Business Mobility routes, the overall limit is a cumulative maximum of 5 years in any 6-year period.

Partners and eligible children can apply as dependants. This route does not lead to settlement - holders cannot apply for indefinite leave to remain on the basis of time spent as a UK Expansion Worker. Some people move on to a route that does lead to settlement, such as Skilled Worker, if they qualify and switching is permitted.

• Initial grant: up to 12 months.
• Extension: once, up to a further 12 months (2 years maximum on this route).
• Work restriction: you can only do the sponsored job for your sponsor; no second job in most cases.
• Dependants: partner and children under 18 can usually join or accompany you.
• Settlement: not available through this route.

Representative of an Overseas Business (media only)

This route is now open to new applicants only if you are an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation being posted to the UK on a long-term assignment. The former Sole Representative element (for a senior employee setting up a UK branch of a non-media overseas company) closed to new applicants on 11 April 2022; the UK Expansion Worker visa is its broad successor.

Unlike the Global Business Mobility routes, this media route can lead to settlement.

• Who it is for now: employees of overseas newspapers, news agencies or broadcasting organisations only.
• Initial grant: 3 years, extendable by up to a further 2 years.
• Settlement: possible after 5 years in the UK on this route.
• Dependants: partner and children can be brought to the UK.
• Fees (as stated on GOV.UK at time of writing): £819 applying from outside the UK, £943 from inside the UK, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Existing Sole Representative holders

If you already hold a Sole Representative visa, the route being closed to new applicants does not remove your existing rights. Existing holders may still be able to extend their visa and, in time, apply to settle, subject to meeting the relevant requirements. Check the current extension and settlement rules on GOV.UK, as the closure affects new applications rather than people already on the route.