Overseas Business visa

This visa can be applied for if you are a sole representative of an overseas Business in the UK as an employee of that Business.

This visa is valid for three years. However, if necessary, it can be extended by a further two years. At the end of the five years you may wish to apply for ILR status.

Applicants for this immigration route fall under two categories:

• The Sole Representative of an Overseas Business

The Sole Representative of an Overseas Business Visa is for senior employees of overseas Businesses. The intention in using this visa would be to fix a commercial presence in the UK in addition to running a UK branch or wholly owned subsidiary of the Business.

• Representative of an overseas media organisation

This is granted to an employee aiming to fulfil a long-term assignment in the UK. The assignment can be for overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation.

Eligibility Criteria:

The Sole Representative of an Overseas Business:

You must be financially stable enough to support yourself and your dependents without any aid from public funds. Additionally, you must meet the English Language requirement.

• You should be recruited as an employee outside the UK by an active and trading Business. The headquarters of this overseas Business should be and remain outside of the UK.
• You need to have relevant skills, experience and knowledge to meet a qualified status for this role.
• You must be a senior employee of the overseas Business without having any control or ownership of most of the Business.
• Full authority to undertake all operational decisions on the behalf of your Business must be carried by yourself.
• Present an intent to establish your overseas Business’s first commercial presence in the UK (either as a registered branch or a wholly owned subsidiary).

If establishing a UK presence is something your Business has been working on but is not currently operational, you may replace a previous sole representative.

Restrictions:

1. Business headquarters and principal place of Business must be and remain outside of the UK.
2. There cannot be active branch, subsidiary or other representative of the Business inside the UK.
3. There needs to be an Intent to establish and operate a registered branch or wholly owned subsidiary of that overseas Business.
4. There must be an intent for the registered branch or wholly owned subsidiary to operate in similar Business activity as the overseas Business.
5. There should be no transacted Business in the UK if the overseas Business has set up a legal entity or has premises in the UK when application is made.

Representative of an Overseas Media Organisation:

You can apply if you are posted with a long-term assignment in the UK as an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation.

English Language Requirement:

It may be necessary to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply. You can evidence the English language requirement of Level A1 in one of three methods:

1. You are a national of a majority English speaking country; or
2. You hold a qualifying degree taught in English; or
3. You have passed an approved English language test.

Restrictions:

• You are limited to only working for your employer; you cannot undertake any other employment including self-employment.
• Once sole representative of overseas Business in the UK arrangement comes to an end, the visa holder can no longer remain in the UK.
• You cannot own or control majority your employer’s Business
• Switching to any other visa categories is not an option.