Looking to obtain UK residency without the need to invest from South Africa, Nigeria, India or further afield? The UK Sole Representative Visa, formally known as the Representative of an Overseas Business Visa, offers eligible non-EEA business executives the ability to obtain a UK residency visa on the basis of establishing a UK branch or subsidiary for their existing business and overseeing its operations.

Find out more about how to apply for the UK Sole Rep Visa below, or contact us now for more information.

The program enables senior executives or minority shareholders (1% – 49% shareholding) of existing foreign businesses with an annual turnover of £60,000+ (£5,000+ per month) to gain UK residency by establishing a UK branch or wholly owned subsidiary for their overseas business and managing its operations.

They then act as the sole representative for the new company branch in the UK. The spouse and dependents of the Sole Representative Visa holder are allowed to reside, work and study in the UK – full time – making it an excellent choice for families whose children want to study in the UK.

The UK sole representative and their dependent family members enjoy free NHS medical treatment access and free tuition for children under 18 years. Critically, your spouse will also be able to work full time, and our UK consultants facilitate the work permit application process as part of our inclusive services.

The business serving as the overseas parent company must have existed for a minimum period of 1 year prior to the application, and the business must not already have a UK branch.

The program currently does not require the business to do any minimum turnover, nor to employ any UK nationals, however the program requirements are set to become more stringent in late 2020. There are no additional investment or company capitalisation costs outside of the application fees, making this a low-risk, incredibly cost efficient UK visa solution for SMEs and companies seeking to test the waters in the UK.

The program also enables you to obtain UK business visas for additional senior employees and your family members.  A major advantage of the Sole Representative Program is the fact that the holder is not required to remain in the UK full time, and their spouse and dependent can reside in the UK even if they are travelling in and out of the UK for business.

The Sole Rep Visa is initially issued and valid for a period of 3 years, after which it can be extended for an additional 2-year period. Once the visa holder has been in the UK for a total period of 5 years, they become eligible to apply for the right to permanently remain in the UK (permanent settlement status).

The visa is highly popular among the CEOs, CIOs, CFOs, MDs, and shareholders of foreign companies, and has seen a recent spike in applications from India, Hong Kong, South Africa and Nigeria, among other non-EEA countries as an alternative to the Tier 1 Investor Visa.

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As of 4 June 2020, visa applicants must meet the following minimum criteria:

• The applicant must be a non-EEA national

• They must be a senior employee, or a minority shareholder, in the non-EEA based business they’ll be representing in the United Kingdom.

• The company employing them, or of which they’re a shareholder, must generate an annual turnover of £60,000 or more per year (£5,000+ per month). The company cannot have another branch in the UK already.

• The applicant must have sufficient funds to maintain themselves without any need for financial support from the state.

• They must be demonstrably fluent in English – depending on your country of origin and level of tertiary qualification, a language test may be required.

• The applicant must have been recruited to the overseas business outside of the UK

• The overseas business must continue trading, and the company headquarters are not to be moved to the UK.

Also see more detailed information on the recent changes to the UK Sole Rep Visa ruleshere.

As of 4 June 2020, visa applicants must meet the following minimum criteria:

• The applicant must be a non-EEA national

• They must be a senior employee, or a minority shareholder, in the non-EEA based business they’ll be representing in the United Kingdom.

• The company employing them, or of which they’re a shareholder, must generate an annual turnover of £60,000 or more per year (£5,000+ per month). The company cannot have another branch in the UK already.

• The applicant must have sufficient funds to maintain themselves without any need for financial support from the state.

• They must be demonstrably fluent in English – depending on your country of origin and level of tertiary qualification, a language test may be required.

• The applicant must have been recruited to the overseas business outside of the UK

• The overseas business must continue trading, and the company headquarters are not to be moved to the UK.

Also see more detailed information on the recent changes to the UK Sole Rep Visa rules here.

This turnkey visa solution is priced at only £22,500 and includes business plan writing, renewal fees, spousal work permit application as well as your Indefinite Leave To Remain application.
Contact us now to get started.

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