UK Expansion Worker Visa 👇

🏢 1. What It Is The UK Expansion Worker Visa is a route within the Global Business Mobility category. It is specifically designed for overseas businesses that do not yet have a trading presence in the UK but wish to establish one.

This visa allows an established overseas company to send a senior manager or a specialist employee to the UK to set up a branch or a wholly-owned subsidiary of the parent company. It is a temporary route, initially granted for up to one year, with a maximum possible stay of two years. This visa does not lead to settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain).

📜 2. Who Can Apply This visa is for a key employee of an overseas business who is being assigned the task of establishing the company's first UK presence. The applicant must be:

• An existing senior manager or specialist employee of the overseas business.
• Have worked for that business outside the UK for a cumulative period of at least 12 months (this requirement may be waived for very high earners).
• Be assigned to the UK to establish and run the new branch or subsidiary.

The overseas company must not have already started trading in the UK.

🔑 3. Key Requirements The application process is complex and has strict requirements for both the business and the employee:

• Sponsorship: The overseas business must first apply for and obtain a UK Expansion Worker sponsor licence from the Home Office. The employee must then be assigned a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
• Job at Appropriate Skill Level: The role in the UK must be genuine and meet the high skill level of at least RQF Level 6 (equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree).
• Salary Requirement: The applicant's salary for the UK role must meet a high minimum threshold, which is currently £48,500 per year or the 'going rate' for that specific job, whichever is higher.
• Financial Requirement: The applicant must prove they have sufficient funds to support themselves upon arrival in the UK, unless their sponsor certifies their maintenance on the CoS.