Sole Representative of Overseas Business Visa

What is the Sole Representative of Overseas Business Visa?

The Sole Representative of Overseas Business is for businesses that wish to send a senior employee to the UK in order to establish a commercial presence for the company in the UK. The Sole Representative of Overseas Business Visa allows you to live and work in the UK for three years, and to bring your dependents to the UK where they can work without restriction. Businesses based overseas can take advantage of the Sole Representative of Overseas Business Visa to establish a presence in Britain to test the market, without the overheads associated with setting up a branch office and hiring local staff.

Requirements for a Sole Representative of Overseas Business Visa application

In order to qualify for an extension on your Sole Representative of Overseas Business Visa, you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) that:

Your overseas company meets the following requirements:

• Is an active and trading overseas business;
• Has its headquarters and principal place of business outside the United Kingdom;
• Has no other active branch, subsidiary or representative in the UK;
• Intends to establish a registered branch or wholly-owned subsidiary in the UK that will actively trade in the same business activity as the overseas business;
• The overseas business will not be established or the sole representative appointed mainly for the purpose of facilitating the entry or stay of the sole representative; and
• Intends to maintain the centre of its operations overseas.

You meet the following requirements:

• You are a genuine Representative of an Overseas Business;
• You are an existing senior employee of the overseas business;
• You have been recruited and taken on as an employee of the overseas business outside of the UK;
• You have the skills, experience and knowledge of the business necessary to undertake the role of sole representative of the overseas business in the UK;
• You have full authority to negotiate and take operational decisions on behalf of the overseas business;
• You intend to work full-time as a representative of the overseas business;
• You do not intend to engage in business of your own or work for any other business;
• You do not have a majority stake in, or otherwise own or control, a majority of the overseas business, whether that ownership or control is by means of a shareholding, partnership agreement, sole proprietorship or any other arrangement;
• You do not haYou can show English language ability to at least CEFR Level A1 (speaking and listening); andve a majority stake in, or otherwise own or control, a majority of the overseas business, whether that ownership or control is by means of a shareholding, partnership agreement, sole proprietorship or any other arrangement;
• You can show you can adequately maintain and accommodate yourself and your dependants in the UK, without recourse to public funds.

The exact requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on your circumstances. You may want to speak to our expert immigration lawyers for legal advice.

Is there a path to British Citizenship under the Sole Representative of Overseas Business Visa route?

Yes, after 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’). This gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible. After a further 1 year of holding indefinite leave to remain in the UK, you will be eligible to apply for British Citizenship in the UK.

Making a Sole Representative of Overseas Business Visa application with OneLaw Chambers

At OneLaw Chambers, our immigration solicitors and barristers regularly assist with Sole Representative of Overseas Business Visa applications in order for applicants to remain and settle in the UK. We have assisted many foreign national applicants to prepare and submit successful Immigration and Visa applications and we have represented clients from all over the world.

Whether you require expert immigration advice on the requirements of the Immigration Rules, an independent immigration assessment of your prospects of qualifying for a Sole Representative of Overseas Business Visa or professional immigration representation with preparing your Sole Representative of Overseas Business Visa immigration application, our immigration solicitors and barristers can help you.

We are committed to ensuring that our immigration solicitors and barristers prepare every immigration visa application with utmost quality and skill so that successful outcome is achieved every time. Our immigration solicitors and barristers operate in a friendly and cooperative manner to provide our clients with the best client care and service during the entire immigration application process. 

To discuss your Sole Representative of Overseas Business Visa application with one our immigration solicitors and barristers, please contact our Immigration lawyers on 0207 489 2044 / 0208 616 1819 or complete our enquiry form with your details.