UK Expansion Worker visa consultant in India talks about the newly introduced ‘Global Business Mobility routes’

The Home Office UK had done some significant changes to the UK immigration rules for entrepreneurs and professionals, seeking opportunities to start their business/career in the UK.

One very popular business immigration route in the UK was the ‘Representative of an Overseas Business visa’ (also called as UK Sole Representative visa) which was unfortunately closed down from 11 April, 2022, for new applicants.

Instead, the Home Office launched a few new visas, amended some existing ones, and introduced a special category ‘Global Business Mobility’ which has 5 visas under it, that cater to business owners in the UK, overseas firms, and skilled professionals. These visas came into effect from 11 April, 2022.

Get in touch with The SmartMove2UK to know about these visas in detail. As a UK Expansion Worker visa consultant in India, we accurately guide clients to set up their presence in the UK.

What is the UK Expansion Worker visa?

  • Under the Global Business Mobility routes, the Home Office has introduced a UK Expansion Worker visa.
  • This visa is for overseas workers who are undertaking temporary work assignments in the UK.
  • The worker must be either a senior manager or a specialist employee in that overseas company.
  • The applicant must be assigned to the UK to undertake work that is related to expanding the overseas business in the UK.
  • This route can only be used when the business has not yet begun trading in the UK. If the business is already trading in the UK, workers should apply for a ‘Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker visa’ instead.
  • The main applicant can be accompanied by a partner/children (under 18 years) to the UK on this visa.
  • The UK Expansion Worker visa does not permit settlement in the UK.

What are the eligibility criteria to apply for a UK Expansion Worker visa?

UK Expansion Worker visa consultant in India explains the eligibility criteria for this visa.
The applicant needs to:

  • Have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from the UK employer,
  • Have worked for their employer outside the UK,
  • Do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations,
  • Be paid the minimum eligible salary required for the job role.

What are the salary requirements for a UK Expansion Worker visa?

Under the UK Expansion Worker visa requirements, these are the UK Expansion Worker Salary requirements:

  • The applicant must be paid at least £42,400 per year or the ‘going rate’ for that particular job role – whichever is higher.
  • Each occupation code has its own annual going rate.

What is the English language requirement for a UK Expansion Worker visa?

A UK Expansion Worker visa applicant does not need to satisfy the English language requirement.

How can I get a Certificate of Sponsorship?

  • The UK-based employer – also known as a ‘Sponsor’ – must provide the applicant with a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ stating all the information regarding the job role for which the applicant is employed in the UK.
  • It’s an e-Certificate. That means, it is an electronic record and not a paper document.
  • The applicant will need the reference number from the Certificate of Sponsorship to apply for the visa.
  • The applicant is required to apply for the visa within 3 months of getting the Certificate of Sponsorship.

What documents will I need to apply for a UK Expansion Worker visa?

UK Expansion Worker visa consultant in India explains the documents required to apply for this visa.
The documents which the applicant will require are:

  • A Certificate of Sponsorship reference number – given by the UK-based employer.
  • A valid passport to prove identity. The passport must have a blank page.
  • Job title and annual salary.
  • Job’s occupation code.
  • Name of the employer and their Sponsor Licence number – this is mentioned on the Certificate of Sponsorship.
  • Evidence that the applicant has enough personal savings to support their stay in the UK. For example, bank statements.
  • Proof of relationship – partner or children (if they are applying along with the applicant).
  • Tuberculosis test results (if required).
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How to apply for a UK Expansion Worker visa?

The applicant must apply for a UK Expansion Worker visa online.
Depending on the following circumstances the applicant can apply from;

  • Outside the UK to come to the UK.
  • Inside the UK and extend the current visa.
  • Inside the UK and switch from a different visa.

The applicant can include a partner and children (under 18 years) in the application to stay in the UK if they are eligible.

Important Read : 10 Most Common UK Visa Rejection Reasons

How long can I stay in the UK on the UK Expansion Worker visa?

An applicant can stay in the UK with a UK Expansion Worker visa for whichever is a shorter span:

  • 12 months after the start date of the job mentioned on the Certificate of Sponsorship.
  • The time mentioned on the Certificate of Sponsorship, plus 14 days.

How long do I need to have worked for an employer outside the UK?

The applicant must have worked with the employer outside of the UK for at least 12 months unless the applicant is:

  • Earning over £73,900.
  • A Japanese national doing work for a Japanese company that is expanding to the UK.

How can I extend my UK Expansion Worker visa?

The applicant can apply to extend the UK Expansion Worker visa if all the following are true:

  • The applicant has the same job which he/she was given during previous permission to enter or stay in the UK.
  • The job is in the same occupation code as when the previous permission to enter or stay in the UK was granted.
  • The applicant is still working for the employer who gave them their current Certificate of Sponsorship.
  • The applicant has not reached the maximum total stay.

If the applicant changes the job/employer, it is then mandatory to apply to update the visa instead.

How can I switch to a UK Expansion Worker visa from my current visa?

The applicant might be able to apply to change (switch) to a UK Expansion Worker visa if they are already in the UK on a different type of visa. However, the eligibility requirements must be met.

Who cannot apply to switch?

Individuals who are currently in the UK:

  • On a Visit visa,
  • On a Short-Term Student visa,
  • On a Parent of a Child Student visa,
  • On a Seasonal Worker visa,
  • On a Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa,
  • On immigration bail,
  • Permitted to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds.

The applicant is required to leave the UK and apply for a UK Expansion Worker visa from abroad if they come under any one of these categories.

How much does a UK Expansion Worker visa cost?

The applicant needs to:

  • Pay the £259 as the Application fee.
  • Pay the Healthcare Surcharge – £624 for each year.

How long does it take to get a decision on the UK Expansion Worker visa application?

Once applied online, submitted identity proofs, and provided all relevant documents, the decision usually takes,

  • 3 weeks, if applied from outside the UK.
  • 8 weeks, if applied from inside the UK.

What is permitted/not permitted in the UK on a UK Expansion Worker visa?

With a UK Expansion Worker visa, the applicant can:

  • Work for their sponsor in the job described in the Certificate of Sponsorship.
  • Study.
  • Bring partner and children as ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible.
  • Do voluntary work.
  • Travel abroad and return to the UK.

The applicant cannot:

  • Apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension
  • Change jobs unless eligible and have updated the visa.
  • Have a second job.
  • Apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘Indefinite Leave to Remain’).

If the application is successful, the applicant gets a full list of what activities are permitted and not permitted on this visa.

Update :

The UK Global Talent visa replaced the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa category in the month of February 2020.

How can The SmartMove2UK be of help for your UK visa application?

The SmartMove2UK is a UK immigration law firm, established in 2009.
As a UK Expansion Worker visa consultant in India, our firm has a team of UK immigration solicitors and experts.

  • Our law firm was announced as the winner of IAE Corporate Immigration Law (India) award, in 2016.
  • We are recognized by Who’s Who Legal (WWL) as a Corporate Immigration Firm in 2016.
  • We take pride in being the members of prominent institutions like, The Law Society and Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa.

Our offices are located in India – Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru.

We have been assisting clients from all over the world and our clientele is spread across 26+ countries, with 1,000 of success stories.

Our UK-qualified solicitors have the expertise of over 2 decades in providing Legal Advice for all UK immigration-related assistance.

We also offer Full Representation service and Filing Appeals for Refused applications.

You can get in touch with our UK immigration lawyer to book a consultation!

A professional advice will go a long way to make your UK Expansion Worker visa a successful one!

Fill this form and one of our UK Expansion Worker visa Expert based in India will contact you asap.

FAQ’s on UK Expansion Worker visa

This visa is for overseas workers who are undertaking temporary work assignments in the UK. The worker must be either a senior manager or a specialist employee in that overseas company. The applicant must be assigned to the UK to undertake work that is related to expanding the overseas business in the UK. This route can only be used when the business has not yet begun trading in the UK.
The main difference between the 2 is, that the UK Sole Representative visa was an unsponsored visa and led to a settlement in the UK after 5 years. However, the UK Expansion Worker visa does not lead to settlement in the UK and also requires sponsorship from the UK-based employer.
Global Business Mobility came into effect on 11th April 2022. The Global Business Mobility pathway simplifies the offering for businesses by reforming or expanding the existing routes.
The Home Office has introduced 5 new visas under the Global Business Mobility category, they are:

  • Senior or Specialist Worker visa to meet specific business needs (this visa replaced the UK Intra-Company Transfer visa).
  • Graduate Trainee visa as part of a training programme (this visa has replaced the UK Intra-Company Graduate Trainee visa).
  • Secondment Worker visa for UK firms in high-value contracts or investments.
  • Service Supplier visa with regards to UK trade agreements (this visa has replaced the UK T5 International Agreement routes).
  • UK Expansion Worker visa to establish a UK presence (this visa has replaced the UK Representative of an Overseas Business visa).
UK-based employers, overseas firms looking to set up a subsidiary/branch of the overseas firm in the UK, and overseas skilled professionals.
Overseas companies with no established UK presence.
The cost of a UK Expansion Worker visa is:

  • £259 as the Application fee, plus,
  • £624 for each year permitted on the visa as the immigration Healthcare surcharge.
The Documents required for a UK Expansion Worker visa are:

  • A Certificate of Sponsorship reference number – given by the UK-based employer.
  • A valid passport to prove identity. The passport must have a blank page.
  • Job title and annual salary.
  • Job’s occupation code.
  • Name of the employer and their Sponsor Licence number – this is mentioned on the Certificate of Sponsorship.
  • The UK Expansion Worker visa has Financial requirements too. The applicant has to submit the evidence that he/she has enough personal savings to support their stay in the UK. For example, bank statements.
  • Proof of relationship – partner or children (if they are applying along with the applicant).
  • Tuberculosis test results (if required).
The applicant must apply for a UK Expansion Worker visa online.
Depending on the following circumstances, the applicant can apply from;

  • Outside the UK to come to the UK.
  • Inside the UK and extend the current visa.
  • Inside the UK and switch from a different visa.

The applicant can include a partner and children (under 18 years) in the application to stay in the UK if they are eligible.

Yes. The applicant does need sponsorship from a UK-based employer.
An applicant can stay in the UK with a UK Expansion Worker visa for whichever is a shorter span:

  • 12 months after the start date of the job mentioned on the Certificate of Sponsorship.
  • The time mentioned on the Certificate of Sponsorship, plus 14 days.
With a UK Expansion Worker visa, the applicant can:

  • Work for their sponsor in the job described in the Certificate of Sponsorship.
  • Study.
  • Bring partner and children as ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible.
  • Do voluntary work.
  • Travel abroad and return to the UK.
The main applicant can be accompanied by a partner/children (under 18 years) to the UK on the UK Expansion Worker visa.
The UK Expansion Worker visa does not permit settlement in the UK.

Watch our video on ‘UK Expansion Worker Visa 2024 – An ideal way to set up a business branch in UK’

In this video, Mrs Falguni Y Parekh – Managing Partner in The SmartMove2UK, introduces the viewers to UK Expansion Worker Visa and explains the difference between UK Expansion Worker Visa & UK Sole Representative visa and also guide the prospective applicants on how they can apply, etc.,

Watch it now!!

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