Expansion Worker Visa brings more possibilities for SA businesses looking to expand in the UK
SA Migration – 2 Dec 2022
The Expansion Worker Visa, is the best bet for any business owner outside the UK who wishes to establish a branch or subsidiary in the UK.
Expansion Worker Visa brings more possibilities for SA businesses looking to expand in the
If you are a business owner outside the UK and wish to send a manager/senior employee (up to a maximum of 5 managers/senior employees) to the UK to establish a branch or subsidiary of the overseas business in the UK, the UK’s Expansion Worker Visa might be the visa for you. It is important that the manager/senior employee is 18 years or older and already working for the overseas business. It’s also important that the UK branch or subsidiary is not already trading in the UK.
This immigration route replaced the ‘Sole Representative Visa’ and is very similar to the UK’s Skilled Worker Visa. One also has to apply for a sponsorship licence and a certificate of sponsorship. The UK Expansion Worker Visa can be issued for a maximum of 2 years. At the end of the two years, the business needs to provide evidence that it’s established, therefore negating the need for other employees to apply under this route. After two years, the branch/subsidiary can sponsor employees under the normal Skilled Worker Visa route. Unlike the previous ‘Sole Representative Visa’ route, unfortunately, this route does not lead to settlement in the UK. However, dependents are allowed to apply with the main applicant.
The UK will charge a visa fee of GBP 625.00 per applicant, and NHS is also payable for the full period that the visa will be valid. Applications can take 2 to 4 weeks to be processed, although the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine may cause delays in the processing times.
How Sa Migration can help you
If you are a business owner looking to expand your business to the UK or a manager/senior employee of a business outside the UK who wish to help establish a branch of this business in the UK, please contact us for more information.
www.samigration.com