Can I apply for a visa to set up a UK branch of an overseas company?

Those looking to establish a UK branch of their overseas business must now apply under the new Global Mobility (Expansion Worker) Route. 

The Global Mobility (Global Expansion) visa allows an individual to come to the UK for the purpose of establishing a UK branch of an overseas business. The business must not have already begun trading in the UK.

The individual in question must be either a senior manager or specialist employee of the overseas company, who has the experience and expertise in order to establish the UK branch.

The Expansion worker visa is initially granted for 1 year, with the possibility of extending it by 1 further year. It does not itself lead to settlement in the UK, the purpose being to enable a senior manager of an overseas business to come to the UK to establish that company’s presence.

In order for one to apply under this visa route, the overseas company looking to establish a UK branch, must apply to the Home Office for a sponsorship license, which will enable them to ‘sponsor’ their expansion worker to come to the UK to work, and establish the UK branch. Such licences only allow the overseas company to sponsor the number of workers genuinely required to come and establish the UK branch, which can be no more than 5 workers at any one time.

Gherson has extensive experience in relation to all aspects of UK-inbound corporate immigration, and would be happy to schedule an initial consultation should your company wish to explore the process of establishing a UK based branch.

How Gherson can assist

Gherson’s Immigration Team are highly experienced in advising on UK visa matters. If you have any questions arising from this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

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