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UK Expansion Worker Visa

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Establish a Branch or Subsidiary of Your Overseas Business in the UK

The UK Expansion Worker Visa allows an established overseas business that has not yet started trading in the UK to transfer senior managers or specialist employees to establish its first UK branch or subsidiary.

This Global Business Mobility route may suit:

  1. Overseas business owners
  2. Directors and senior executives
  3. Expansion managers
  4. Specialist employees
  5. International companies entering the UK market

The route requires sponsorship by the new UK entity and is not available where the UK business has already started active trading.

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Check My UK Expansion Eligibility

Main Business Requirements

The overseas business must generally:

  1. Be active and genuinely trading overseas
  2. Normally have traded for at least three years
  3. Have a UK footprint through registered premises or a Companies House-registered branch or subsidiary
  4. Not yet be actively trading in the UK
  5. Show credible plans and sufficient finances to begin UK trading within two years
  6. Expand the same type of business already operated overseas
  7. Maintain common ownership or control between the overseas and UK entities
  8. Obtain a UK Expansion Worker sponsor licence

The sponsor may transfer only the workers genuinely required to establish the UK operation, up to ten workers at one time under the current rules.

Applicant Eligibility Criteria

The proposed worker must normally:

  1. Be currently employed by the overseas business
  2. Hold a senior management or specialist position
  3. Have worked for the sponsor group outside the UK for at least 12 months
  4. Hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship
  5. Perform an eligible occupation
  6. Receive the required salary
  7. Have sufficient maintenance funds
  8. Meet UK immigration, security and tuberculosis-testing requirements where applicable

The 12-month overseas employment requirement does not apply to a high earner receiving at least £73,900, or to certain qualifying Japanese and Australian applicants.

Salary Requirement

The worker must be paid whichever is higher:

  1. £52,500 per year, or
  2. The official going rate for the occupation.

Only an eligible and genuine role can be sponsored. The occupation-specific rate may be higher than the general threshold.

There is currently no separate English-language test requirement under the Global Business Mobility routes.

Sponsor Licence and Application Process

1

Establish the UK Footprint

Register the UK branch or subsidiary or obtain suitable UK business premises. The company must not yet have started active UK trading.

2

Apply for a Sponsor Licence

The proposed UK entity applies for a UK Expansion Worker sponsor licence with evidence of:

  1. Overseas trading history
  2. Corporate ownership
  3. UK expansion plans
  4. Financial capacity
  5. UK footprint
  6. Genuine need for transferred workers
3

Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship

After the sponsor licence is approved, the UK entity assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship to the eligible senior manager or specialist employee.

4

Submit the Visa Application

The worker applies online with their identity, employment, sponsorship, financial and supporting documents.

Applications made outside the UK are usually decided within three weeks after identity and document requirements are completed, although individual cases may take longer.

Visa Duration and Fees

Requirement Current Position
Initial visa Up to 12 months
Possible extension Further 12 months
Maximum on this route 2 years
Visa application fee £340 per applicant
Adult healthcare surcharge Usually £1,035 per year
Child healthcare surcharge £776 per year
Principal maintenance funds £1,270

The applicant normally must hold the £1,270 maintenance amount for at least 28 consecutive days unless an exemption or sponsor certification applies.

Separate sponsor-licence, Certificate of Sponsorship and professional charges may apply.

Can Your Family Accompany You?

An eligible spouse or partner and dependent children may apply with the principal worker.

Additional maintenance funds are generally:

  1. £285 for the partner
  2. £315 for the first child
  3. £200 for each additional child

Eligible dependants may study and work in the UK, including self-employment, except as professional sportspersons or sports coaches. They cannot normally access public funds.

Does the Visa Lead to Settlement?

The UK Expansion Worker route does not directly lead to indefinite leave to remain.

Once the UK company begins genuine trading, it may apply to add another sponsorship route, such as Skilled Worker or Senior or Specialist Worker. The transferred employee may then apply to switch if all requirements of the new route are satisfied.

Common Reasons for Refusal

  1. Overseas business lacks genuine trading history
  2. UK company has already begun active trading
  3. Weak or unrealistic UK expansion plan
  4. Insufficient business funds
  5. Unclear ownership between the companies
  6. Applicant lacks the required overseas employment
  7. Position is not genuinely senior or specialist
  8. Salary is below the required threshold
  9. UK entity cannot meet sponsor-compliance duties

Why Choose Superior Consulting

Superior Consulting has provided immigration and business-mobility support since 2004.

  • Preliminary business eligibility assessment
  • UK expansion-route strategy
  • Corporate relationship review
  • Expansion business-plan support
  • Sponsor-licence document coordination
  • Investment and job-creation strategy
  • Senior or specialist role assessment
  • Certificate of Sponsorship guidance
  • Visa-document preparation
  • Family application planning
  • Coordination with qualified UK professionals where required

No ethical consultancy can guarantee a sponsor licence, visa approval, business success or future settlement.

Contact us today to begin your

UK Expansion VIsa
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Start Your UK Expansion Assessment

Send:

  1. Updated CV
  2. Overseas company registration
  3. Shareholding structure
  4. Three years of company accounts
  5. Corporate bank statements
  6. Number of employees
  7. Applicant’s employment history and duties
  8. Proposed UK business activity
  9. Available expansion funds
  10. UK company or premises details, if established

Contact Superior Consulting

Superior Head Office Karachi Details:

Pakistan UAN: (021) 111-002-345
Karachi Lines: +92-21-35658107 to 09
Additional Lines: +92-21-35657361 and 35657362
Mobile: +92 334 3522967
WhatsApp: +92 334 3522967
Email: info@superior.com.pk

 
Dubai Office Details:

Call or WhatsApp: +971 56 171 2877
Alternative UAE contact: +971 50 947 6307

Send Us Email: info@superiorglobal.ae

Superior Global Website

 
Book a Professional Consultation

A 30-minute professional consultation is available for PKR 5,000. The consultation fee is adjustable against our professional service fee when you retain Superior Consulting within 30 days, subject to the applicable terms.

Contact Us
Check My UK Expansion Eligibility
FAQS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Potentially, where the owner is genuinely employed by the overseas business and will perform an eligible senior or specialist role in the UK.

There is no single fixed investment amount, but the company must show sufficient funds to establish and operate the planned UK expansion.

No. This route is intended for a UK branch or subsidiary that has not yet started active trading.

The company must normally have traded overseas for at least three years, although limited exceptions apply.

Eligible partners and dependent children may accompany the worker. A partner can generally work, subject to the conditions of their immigration permission.

No. A later switch to another qualifying route may be possible after the UK business begins trading.

UK Immigration Services Disclosure

Superior Consulting provides offshore assessment, documentation and application-process support from Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

Where regulated UK immigration advice or formal representation is required, the matter should be handled by an appropriately authorised UK immigration adviser or legal professional.

Important Disclaimer

UK immigration rules, salary thresholds, fees, eligible occupations and sponsor requirements may change.