UK Expansion Worker Visa
 

Expand Your Overseas Business into the United Kingdom
 

The UK Expansion Worker Visa is part of the Global Business Mobility route. It allows an overseas company to send a senior manager or specialist employee to the United Kingdom to establish a new branch or subsidiary of the overseas business.
 

This route is suitable for genuine overseas businesses that are already trading outside the UK and now wish to expand their operations into the UK market.
 

Who Is This Visa For?
 

The UK Expansion Worker Visa is designed for:

Overseas companies planning to establish a UK branch or subsidiary

Senior managers required to set up UK operations

Specialist employees with essential knowledge of the overseas business

Business owners or senior executives who need to travel to the UK for expansion purposes

This route can only be used where the overseas business has not yet started trading in the UK. If the UK business is already trading, other work routes may be more suitable.
 

Key Benefits
 

Establish a UK branch or subsidiary of an overseas company

Send senior or specialist staff to the UK

Bring eligible dependants, including spouse and children

Study in the UK, subject to conditions

Travel in and out of the UK during visa validity

Extend the visa up to the maximum allowed period

Use the UK presence as a foundation for future business growth
 

Eligibility Requirements
 

To qualify for the UK Expansion Worker Visa, the applicant must:

Have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from the UK sponsor

Already work for the overseas business

Be a senior manager or specialist employee

Do an eligible occupation

Receive the required salary for the role

Have sufficient personal savings, unless certified by the sponsor

Meet all UK immigration requirements
 

Sponsor Licence Requirement
 

Before assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship, the overseas business must usually obtain a UK Expansion Worker sponsor licence.
 

The business must demonstrate that:
 

It is genuinely trading overseas

It has a credible plan to expand into the UK

It has not already started trading in the UK

There is a genuine need to send senior or specialist staff to the UK

It can comply with UK sponsor duties
 

The UK Expansion Worker route usually allows sponsorship of up to 10 workers at one time for the purpose of establishing the UK business.
 

Salary Requirement
 

UK Expansion Workers must normally be paid at least:

£52,500 per year, or

The going rate for the relevant occupation code,

whichever is higher.
 

Salary requirements depend on the applicant’s occupation code and job role.
 

Visa Duration
 

The UK Expansion Worker Visa is usually granted for the shorter of:

12 months after the start date on the Certificate of Sponsorship, or

The period stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days.

The visa may be extended for a further 12 months.

Maximum stay under this route: 2 years.
 

This route does not directly lead to settlement, but applicants may later switch into another eligible UK route, subject to meeting the rules.
 

Official UK Government Fees
 

The current official fees are:
 

Fee TypeAmount

UK Expansion Worker Visa application fee£340 per applicant

Certificate of Sponsorship fee£55

Sponsor Licence fee – small or charitable sponsor£611

Sponsor Licence fee – medium or large sponsor£1,682

Optional sponsor licence priority service£750

Immigration Health Surcharge – adult£1,035 per year

Immigration Health Surcharge – child under 18£776 per year
 

Estimated IHS Cost
 

Since the UK Expansion Worker Visa is usually granted for 12 months initially:

Adult applicant estimated IHS: £1,035

Child dependant estimated IHS: £776
 

If extended for another 12 months, the IHS is payable again for the extension period.
 

Our Services Include
 

Initial eligibility assessment

Business expansion strategy guidance

Sponsor licence documentation support

UK entity and expansion structure guidance

Certificate of Sponsorship guidance

Occupation code and salary assessment

Document checklist preparation

Review of overseas business documents

Review of applicant employment documents

Visa application guidance

Pre-submission file review

Professional support throughout the process
 

Common Documents Required
 

Overseas company registration documents

Evidence of active overseas trading

Company bank statements

Tax records and financial documents

Business expansion plan for the UK

Evidence of UK premises or business setup planning

Organisational chart

Applicant’s employment letter

Applicant’s CV

Salary evidence

Passport

Certificate of Sponsorship

Maintenance funds evidence, if required

TB test certificate, if applicable

Marriage and birth certificates for dependants
 

Processing Time
 

UKVI usually gives a decision within:
 

3 weeks for applications made outside the UK

8 weeks for applications made inside the UK

Sponsor licence processing time may vary. Priority service may be available, subject to availability.
 

Important Note
 

The UK Expansion Worker route is not suitable for a business that has already started trading in the UK. The business must be able to demonstrate genuine overseas trading, credible UK expansion plans, and compliance with sponsor duties. Final decisions rest with the UK Home Office.
 

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