Sole Representative Program
Sole Representative Visa UK
United Kingdom Citizenship – Sole Representative Program
In simple terms, the
sole representative visa UK
program enables overseas businesses to send one of the key management staff or minority shareholder to the UK on a full-time basis to open a branch of their company. This category is mainly used by foreign firms who are looking for expansion and looking for making inroads into European market for their business. By establishing a branch or a subsidiary of existing company, an applicant and his family members below the age of 18 can gain UK residency.
If you are coming to the UK as a Sole Representative you must
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Be recruited and employed outside the UK by an active and trading business whose headquarters and principal place of business are outside the UK and the European Economic Area (EEA) & Switzerland.
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Have extensive related industry experience and knowledge.
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Hold a senior position within the company (but not be a major shareholder) and have full authority to make decisions on its behalf.
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Intend to establish the company’s first commercial presence in the UK, e.g: a registered branch or a wholly owned subsidiary.
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You may also be eligible if the company has a legal entity in the UK that doesn’t employ staff or transact business. If your company has been working to establish a UK branch or subsidiary, but it is not yet set up, you can replace a previous sole representative.
What you can and can’t do on a Sole Representative visa
- Work for your employer, full time.
- Bring your family (dependents) with you to the UK.
- Extend your visa multiple times.
- Apply to settle in the UK after you've been here for 5 years.
- Work for yourself or any other business.
- Stay in the UK if the sole representative arrangement is ended by your employer.
- Switch to this visa from any other visa category.
- Get public funds.
Eligibility Requirements
Requirements for initial application
(3 years visa)
Evidence of employment / shareholding in the parent company outside the UK
Official company / tax documents and pay slips / personal bank statements showing salary deposits confirming your employment as a senior employee of the parent company and that you are not a majority shareholder.
Sole Representative Role in the UK
Notarized statement signed by an authorized person at the parent company.
Criminal Record Check
You need to provide a criminal record check for you (and your family members over 18) from your home country and from any other country you have been for more than 12 months (in total or continuously) in the last 10 years.
English Language Requirement
You need to either pass from one of the acceptable English language tests (l ELTS score 4 from each category), (list of acceptable test centres) or provide your degree certificate and we can ask UK NARIC if your degree meets the English language requirements.
Business Plan
The UK Immigration Authorities will take into account the viability and credibility of your business plan and market research into your chosen business sector, your previous educational and business experience, your immigration history and previous activity in the UK.
