*** THE OVERSEAS BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE VISA HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE
UK EXPANSION WORKER VISA – CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE SCHEME ***
This page is now only relevant to individuals who hold the Overseas Business Representative visa who will be applying for indefinite leave to remain.
If you are an overseas business and wish to establish operations in the UK and have no presence here, you can do so by sending a senior employee to open an office.
Once the operation is established it should be possible for your business to bring in overseas personnel through the Skilled Worker Sponsorship Scheme under the Points Based System.
Your business can then expand its operations into the UK by transferring or recruiting personnel directly. Getting through the legal process seamlessly will be imperative to avoid delay and to meet your business’ objective promptly.
Duration
sole representative will normally be granted entry to the UK for up to 36 months.
It is possible to extend this leave providing that a UK branch or subsidiary has been established and the overseas company has not transferred its principal place of business to the UK.
Indefinite leave to remain
After five years of continuous employment in the UK, sole representatives may apply for indefinite leave to remain.
Once granted, this allows individuals to remain in the UK indefinitely and to switch jobs freely, without the need to obtain further approval from the Home Office.
Dependent family members
The spouse and any unmarried children under 18 of a sole representative may accompany him to the UK.
However, they must obtain entry clearance from the relevant British diplomatic post before they travel. They will be allowed to remain in the UK for the same period as the sole representative and will also be granted any extensions or indefinite leave to remain in line. They may work in the UK if no special restrictions have been placed on their stay.
Each dependant of an Overseas Business Representative visa were required to pay an ‘NHS surcharge’ fee in advance for each whole or part year of the visa.
