Overview
You can apply as a representative of an overseas business if you’re an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation posted on a long-term assignment to the UK.
If you’re a representative of an overseas business planning to set up its first UK branch, apply for a UK Expansion Worker visa (Global Business Mobility) instead.
You must also meet the other eligibility requirements.
Please note that the Sole Representative of an Overseas Business visa route is now closed. However, if you already have such a visa, it is still open for to your dependant partners and children. Also, you can apply for an extension or indefinite leave to remain (ILR) – extend your stay.
How long it will take
If you apply from outside the UK, the earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.
Example
You can apply from 16 March if you plan to travel on 15 June.
You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.
Find out about paying for a faster decision.
If you apply from inside the UK
You will get a decision within 8 weeks.
UKVI will contact you if your application will take longer, for example:
- • if your supporting documents need to be verified
- • if you need to attend an interview
- • because of your personal circumstances (for example, if you have a criminal conviction)
Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expires.
Fees
If you apply from outside the UK, a Representative of an Overseas Business visa costs £625.
If you apply from inside the UK, the visa costs £719. You’ll also need to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken – there’s no fee for this.
Healthcare surcharge
You must pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you need to pay before you apply.
How long you can stay
The visa lets you stay in the UK for an initial period of 3 years.
You may be able to extend your visa for another 2 years.
After you’ve been in the UK for 5 years, you can apply for permission to settle permanently in the UK.
What you can and cannot do
You can:
- • work for your employer, full time
- • bring your family (‘dependants’) with you to the UK
- • apply to extend your visa
- • apply to settle in the UK after you’ve been here for 5 years
You cannot:
- • work for yourself or any other business
- • get public funds
Eligibility
To be eligible for this visa you must:
- • have enough money to support yourself without help from public funds
- • meet the English requirement
You can come to the UK if you’re an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation and you’re being posted here on a long-term assignment.
Knowledge of English
You may need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply.
You can prove your knowledge of English by either:
- • passing an approved English language test with at least CEFR level A1 in speaking and listening
- • having an academic qualification that was taught in English and is recognised by Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC) as being equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD
You may be able to meet the English language requirement in other ways. Check the full visa guidance for detailed information.
Exceptions
You will not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re a national of one of the following countries:
- • Antigua and Barbuda
- • Australia
- • the Bahamas
- • Barbados
- • Belize
- • Canada
- • Dominica
- • Grenada
- • Guyana
- • Jamaica
- • New Zealand
- • St Kitts and Nevis
- • St Lucia
- • St Vincent and the Grenadines
- • Trinidad and Tobago
- • USA
You also may not have to prove your knowledge of English in other circumstances – check the visa guidance.
Documents you must provide
When you apply you’ll need to provide:
- • a current passport or other valid travel identification
- • evidence that you can support yourself and any dependants during your trip, for example bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months
- • proof that you meet the English requirement
- • a full description of the parent company’s activities, including details of assets and accounts
- • confirmation that you will be representing them in the UK in a long term, full-time role
If you’re applying from overseas, you’ll also need to provide:
- • details of where you’ll be staying during your stay
- • your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test
If you’re applying from overseas, you’ll need to have a blank page in your passport on which to put the visa. All applicants need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh. Read the guide for a list of documents you can provide. You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.
Apply from outside the UK
Read the Representative of an Overseas Business guidance before you apply.
Apply for a Representative of an Overseas Business visa
You must apply online for a Representative of an Overseas Business visa.
You’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at a visa application centre as part of your application.
Find out how to get your visa decision faster – this depends on what country you’re in. Check if your visa application centre offers faster decisions and other services.
Providing biometric information and supporting documents
When you apply, you’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo).
You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents. You can:
- • upload them into the online service
- • have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment
You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.
Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.
Extend your visa
You can apply to extend your stay in the UK under a Representative of an Overseas Business visa. You must apply before your current visa expires.
Your partner or children can either apply to extend at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.
Eligibility
You must already have this visa as either:
- • a representative of an overseas business
- • an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation
You must also meet the following conditions:
- • you’re still working for the same employer as when you were issued your previous visa
- • your employer’s principal place of business is still outside the UK
If you’re a sole representative, you must also still be supervising the UK branch or subsidiary you established for the overseas business.
You must be in the UK to extend your visa.
Documents you’ll need to apply to extend your visa
There are different documents you’ll need to provide depending on your role.
Sole representatives
When applying to extend as a sole representative of an overseas business you’ll need to provide:
- • a full description of the UK business’s activities, including accounts, copies of invoices or letters from UK organisations you’ve worked with
- • a Companies House certificate of registration as a UK establishment (for a branch), or a certificate of incorporation (for a subsidiary)
- • evidence that the UK business is wholly owned by the overseas business
- • a letter from your employer confirming you’re continuing work in the same role
- • your salary details
Newspaper, news agency or broadcast employees
When applying to extend as an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation you’ll need to provide:
- • a letter from your employer confirming you’re continuing work in the same role
- • your salary details
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.
Your visa can be extended for 3 years if your previous Representative of an Overseas Business visa was issued before 1 October 2009.
You can apply to settle once you have been in the UK for 5 years and you have an ongoing job with the same company.
Fees
For each person applying, you’ll need to pay the visa extension fee:
- • £719 if you’re applying from inside the UK
- • £625 if you’re applying from outside the UK
You’ll also need to pay the healthcare surcharge – check how much you’ll have to pay.
You’ll need to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken – there’s no fee for this.
Apply to extend your Representative of an Overseas Business visa
You must apply online before your current visa expires.
Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.
Providing biometric information and supporting documents
When you apply, you’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo).
You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents. You can:
- • upload them into the online service
- • have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment
You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.
Get help to apply online
You can get help with completing the online form if you:
- • do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device
- • do not have internet access
You can only use this service if you’re applying to extend your visa in the UK.
You cannot get immigration advice through this service.
How long it takes
A decision will be made within 8 weeks.
You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example:
- • if your supporting documents need to be verified
- • if you need to attend an interview
- • because of your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction)
Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.
Family members
Your family members (‘dependants’) can come with you when you come to the UK on this visa.
A ‘dependant’ is any of the following:
- • your husband, wife or partner
- • your child under 18
If you’re a sole representative, your husband, wife or partner cannot be in the UK as your dependant if they own or control a majority of the overseas business you will be representing.
Dependants applying from outside the UK
Your family members must apply online.
They’ll need to have their fingerprints and photograph (known as ‘biometric information’) taken at a visa application centre as part of their application.
They may be able to get their visa faster or other services depending on what country they’re in – check with the visa application centre.
Dependants applying from inside the UK
Your partner or children can apply to extend or switch their visas to stay with you if they’re already in the UK. They must apply online.
They can either apply:
- • at the same time as you
- • at any time before their current visa expires
Members of your family cannot apply in the UK as your dependant if they hold a visitor visa.
The above information is from the government website here.
As aspects of these applications can be complex, we are here to assist should you require it.