Sole Representative of an Overseas Business Visa

What is a Sole Representative of an Overseas Business Visa?

Businesses based overseas can take advantage of the Sole Representative Visa to establish a presence in Britain to test the market, without having to worry about the expenses normally associated with setting up an office.

Since overseas businesses are not allowed to sponsor workers in the UK, the Sole Representative Visa is used by foreign companies to send a single employee to the UK to set up a branch or subsidiary. With operations established, the UK-based entity can apply for a sponsorship licence to support their skills and recruitment needs

Eligibility requirements of a Sole Representative

A Sole representative applying to the UK must be an overseas national who is:

The Organisation:

• Is an active and trading overseas business
• Has and will continue to have its headquarters and centre of operations based outside the UK
• Intends to open and operate a branch office or wholly owned subsidiary in the UK
• Is setting up the organisation's initial presence in the UK

The Applicant:

• Has a great deal of experience, skills, and knowledge of the parent company and its industry
• Holds a senior position in the company and can make independent decisions on the parent company's behalf
• Is not a major shareholder or have any significant control or stake holding in the business via a partnership agreement or sole ownership
• Has the required knowledge of English
• Has sufficient funds to support themselves and any dependents during their leave to remain

How long can you remain in the UK on a Sole Representative Visa?

Sole representative visas are granted for a period of three years and can be extended by a further two years. Eventually the sole representative can qualify to settle in the UK permanently after five continuous years of residence in the UK.

The sole representative will need to show they:

• Are employed full time as a representative of the overseas entity and is still required for the employment in question
• Have established and are in charge of the overseas entity's UK branch or wholly owned subsidiary.
• Have generated business, principally with businesses in the UK
• Can maintain and accommodate and any dependants adequately without recourse to public funds.

What happens once the UK business has been established?

You have one month from the opening of your UK operation to register the business with Companies House.

Once the branch or subsidiary has been set up, or other representatives are required in the UK, employees must apply under the UK points-based system. This requires the UK business to apply for a sponsorship licence.

Can my dependants join me under the UK Sole Representative Visa?

The UK sole representative visa allows the holder to take their family members with them. However, the dependents must have a visa if they are from outside the UK. A dependant can be your husband, wife, or partner and your child under 18.

If your child is born in the UK, you will be eligible to apply to add them to your visa as your dependent.

What are the costs?

The fees for applying for a sole representative visa is £610 per applicant. You will also be required to make a payment of £624 towards the Immigration Health Surcharge. The fee is reduced to £470 for children under 18 years old

Why choose Westridge Legal?

Our team of experienced immigration lawyers work with businesses and organisations across the UK and have placed many Overseas Business Representative Visa applicants successfully. We can navigate the complex requirements of Overseas Business Representative Visas and support you in your matter every step of the way.

If you wish to speak about your options directly with our specialist staff, please contact us on 0121 724 0302 to book a consultation today.