Sole representative program

United Kingdom Sole Representative Program

United Kingdom Citizenship – Sole representative program

In simple terms, the UK sole representative program enables overseas businesses to send one of the key management staff or minority shareholder to the UK on a full-time basis to open a branch of their company.

This category is mainly used by foreign firms who are looking for expansion and looking for making inroads into European market for their business. By establishing a branch or a subsidiary of existing company, an applicant and his family members below the age of 18 can gain UK residency.

If you are coming to the UK as a sole representative you must

  • be recruited and employed outside the UK by an active and trading business whose headquarters and principal place of business are outside the UK and the European Economic Area (EEA) & Switzerland
  • have extensive related industry experience and knowledge
  • hold a senior position within the company (but not be a major shareholder) and have full authority to make decisions on its behalf
  • intend to establish the company’s first commercial presence in the UK, e.g., a registered branch or a wholly owned subsidiary.

You may also be eligible if the company has a legal entity in the UK that doesn’t employ staff or transact business. If your company has been working to establish a UK branch or subsidiary, but it is not yet set up, you can replace a previous sole representative.

Where is United Kingdom Sole Representative Program?

What you can and can’t do on a Sole Representative visa

You can

You can’t

Visa Application Fees

A representative of an overseas business visa fees has 2 components: Home office application fees and the healthcare surcharge fee. Applicants also have the option of applying under priority service, which entails an additional home office fees but faster processing of the application saving close to few weeks of waiting time.

Eligibility Requirements

Requirements for initial application (3 years visa)

  • Evidence of employment / shareholding in the parent company outside the UK

    Official company/ tax documents and payslips/ personal bank statements showing salary deposits confirming your employment as a senior employee of the parent company and that you are not a majority shareholder

  • Sole Representative Role in the UK

    Notarised statement signed by an authorised person at the parent company

  • Criminal Record Check

    You need to provide a criminal record check for you (and your family members over 18) from your home country and from any other country you have been for more than 12 months (in total or continuously) in the last 10 years.

  • English Language Requirement

    You need to either pass from one of the acceptable English language tests (IELTS score 4 from each category) (list of acceptable test centres) or provide your degree certificate and we can ask UK NARIC if your degree meets the English language requirements.

  • Business Plan

    The UK Immigration Authorities will take into account the viability and credibility of your business plan and market research into your chosen business sector, your previous educational and business experience, your immigration history and previous activity in the UK.

Requirements for extension application (2 years visa)

You can apply to extend your stay in the UK under a Representative of an Overseas Business visa.  You should include any dependants who are on your current visa on your application to extend – including children who have turned 18 during your stay. You should apply before your current visa expires.

Eligibility

You must meet the following conditions:

  • you’re still working for the same employer as when you were issued your previous visa
  • you’re still working to establish the company’s first presence in the UK
  • your employer’s principal place of business is still outside the UK
  • You must be in the UK to extend your visa.

How long you can stay

A Representative of an Overseas Business visa can be extended for up to 2 years after the original visa duration of 3 years. You can apply to settlement visa once you have been in the UK for 5 years and you have an ongoing job with the same company.

Indefinite Leave to Remain / Settlement – British Citizenship

You can normally apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 5 years in this category. You will also need to meet the “continuous residence” requirement. The time you’re in the UK is called continuous residence.  You and your family members can only be outside the UK for up to 180 days in any 12 months during the 5 years in this category.

British Citizenship

Twelve months after being granted indefinite leave to remain, you are able to apply to become a British Citizen.

To be eligible, you will need to show that you have not been outside the UK for more than 450 days in the last 5 years and not more than 90 days in the last 12 months

If you’re 18 to 64 when you apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain and/or British Citizenship, you must also pass:

  • No criminal record
  • Life in the UK Test
  • English language test
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