United Kingdom - Work Skills & Ancestry - Sole Representative Visa (Business Transfer)

The Sole Representative Visa is available to those senior employees of a non-UK business looking to establish a branch in the United Kingdom.

To qualify for a Sole Representative visa, applicants must meet the following requirements:
 

• Must have been recruited and taken on as an employee outside the UK as a representative of a company that has its main office outside of the UK without a branch, subsidiary or other representative in the UK;
• Must be a senior employee with authority for decision making on behalf of the overseas company with respect to setting up the branch in the UK;
• Must be employed full time as a representative of the overseas firm;
• Must not be a majority shareholder in the overseas firm;
• Must not take up any employment other than that relating to their work for the overseas firm;
• Must be able to financially maintain and accommodate themselves and any dependents without recourse to public funds; and
• Must obtain entry clearance as a Sole Representative before entering the UK.

Applicants applying for a Sole Representative visa can only work in the business for which the permission to enter the UK was originally sought. The visa is granted for two (2) years which can be extended for a further three (3) years. This category may lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (IRL). ILR entitles individuals to permanent residency as well as visa-free travel to and from the UK. ILR holders may also be able to sponsor their non-British relatives into the UK and may also ultimately be eligible to apply for British citizenship.

Eligible dependents may also qualify to be included and upon obtaining the visa, they may also work without any restrictions.