United Kingdom•Europe15-21 days
1,840 GBP
1 year
Yes
Required
Not Specified
No
Not Required
For senior managers or specialist employees setting up a UK branch of an overseas business.
The UK Expansion Worker visa is part of the Global Business Mobility route for senior managers and specialist employees setting up a UK branch of an overseas business. Applicants must earn at least £52,500/year, hold a Certificate of Sponsorship, and have 12 months of prior employment with the overseas group.
The visa is granted for 12 months, extendable once for a hard 2-year maximum. Time does not count toward ILR — there is no settlement pathway. Dependants may accompany and work. No English language test is required. Each sponsor is limited to 10 workers on this route.
This visa is ideal for senior or specialist staff at overseas companies who need to establish a UK presence before the entity begins trading, and who do not need a permanent residency pathway.
Application fee | 340 GBP |
Immigration Health Surcharge (per year) recurring | 1,035 GBP |
Immigration Health Surcharge — children under 18 (per year) recurring | 776 GBP |
Priority service (5 working days) | 500 GBP |
Super priority service (next working day) | 1,000 GBP |
| Standard (outside UK) | 2 weeks – 3 weeks |
| Standard (inside UK) | 1 month – 2 months |
| Priority | 5 days |
| Super Priority | 1 day |
| Initial grant | 1 year |
No national cap; each sponsor limited to 10 Certificates of Sponsorship
Visas you can typically switch to from this status.
United KingdomUnited KingdomAged 18 or over
Valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a licensed UK sponsor
Currently employed by the overseas sponsoring organisation
12 months cumulative overseas employment with sponsor group (unless earning over £73,900 or qualifying under UK-Japan/UK-Australia trade agreements)
Job must be in an eligible SOC 2020 occupation code (GBM Table 2 or 3)
Salary of at least £52,500/year or the going rate for the occupation code, whichever is higher
£1,270 in maintenance funds held for 28 consecutive days (unless applicant has been on valid UK visa for 12+ months)
Overseas business must have 3+ years trading history with credible UK expansion plans
Employer limited to sponsoring maximum 10 workers under this route
Job Offer
Required
Experience
1+ years
Min. Income
52,500 EUR/yr
Min. Savings
1,270 EUR
Valid passport or travel document.
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number.
Job title and annual salary.
Job's occupation code.
Name of employer and their sponsor licence number.
Evidence of personal savings (if required).
Evidence of 12 months' employment with the overseas business (if applicable).
Tuberculosis test results (if from a listed country).
Proof of relationship for any dependants.
| Annual Allocation | No national cap; each sponsor limited to 10 Certificates of Sponsorship | gov.uk |
| Application Steps | Employer obtains UK sponsor licence (A-rated) if not already licensed; Employer assigns a Certificat… | gov.uk |
| Fee Breakdown | Application fee: 340 GBP; Immigration Health Surcharge (per year): 1035 GBP; Immigration Health Surc… | gov.uk |
| Fee Breakdown · Application fee · amount | 319 | gov.uk |
| Fees | £319 application fee + £1,035/year Immigration Health Surcharge | gov.uk |
| Forms | — | gov.uk |
| Included Nationalities | — | gov.uk |
| Job Offer Required | true | gov.uk |
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