The UK Expansion Worker visa is part of the Global Business Mobility routes. It lets an overseas business send a senior manager or specialist to the UK to set up a branch or subsidiary that is not yet trading here. The business must first obtain a provisional sponsor licence.

How it works

The overseas business applies for a UK Expansion Worker sponsor licence, showing it is active and trading overseas, has a credible plan to expand to the UK and has a UK footprint (premises or a registered company).
The licence is granted provisionally with permission to sponsor one worker, usually the person who will run the UK operation, rising to five once the UK business is trading.
The worker applies for the visa with a certificate of sponsorship.

The worker's requirements

Employed by the overseas business for at least 12 months, unless a high earner or a Japanese national under the trade agreement.
A job at the required skill level with a salary that meets the route's threshold and the going rate.
Maintenance funds.

Limits

The visa is granted for up to one year at a time and two years in total, and it does not lead to settlement. The usual plan is to switch to the Skilled Worker route once the UK entity holds a full sponsor licence and the role meets the Skilled Worker rules; we build that into the timetable from the start.

What we do

We prepare the licence application with the evidence of the overseas business and the expansion plan, then the worker's visa, and we plan the switch to a settlement route.

Fees

Home Office fees and the immigration health surcharge change each April; we confirm the current figures when we advise you. Our fee is fixed and quoted before you instruct us; see our fees.

For employers

We act for employers as well as workers: sponsor licence applications, certificates of sponsorship, right-to-work checks and compliance. See sponsor licences.