Embark on your journey to establish a business presence in the UK with the Sole Representative Visa. Designed for individuals representing overseas companies, this visa allows you to pave the way for your organization in the UK. At UK Immigration Solicitors, our team is here to provide expert guidance throughout your Sole Representative Visa application process.
For professional advice contact us at 0203 384 4389.
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Are you a business owner seeking to expand your overseas business into the thriving market of the United Kingdom? The Sole Representative of an Overseas Business Visa could be the pathway you’ve been searching for. This visa category offers a unique opportunity for businesses looking to establish a presence in the UK.
Connect with our expert team to explore UK living, working, or studying options. Call now at 02033844389.
The Sole Representative Visa is designed to enable overseas businesses to create a commercial foothold in the UK without the need for a full-scale branch or subsidiary. It offers a practical and cost-effective way to explore new markets, forge partnerships, and capitalize on the vibrant business landscape of the UK.
Connect with us now at 0203 384 4389 to delve into opportunities for living, working, or studying in the UK.”
Before applying for the Sole Representative Visa, it’s crucial to understand the specific eligibility requirements and criteria that your business must meet. These requirements are designed to ensure that the visa is granted to genuine applicants who intend to establish a bona fide commercial presence in the UK. Here, we outline the key eligibility criteria:
Active Overseas Business
Your overseas company must be an active and trading business. This means it should be engaged in ongoing commercial activities and not dormant or non-operational.
Headquarters and Primary Place of Business
The headquarters and principal place of business of your overseas company must be located outside the United Kingdom. This requirement ensures that the business has a genuine international presence.
No Existing UK Presence
Your company should not have any other active branch, subsidiary, or representative in the UK at the time of the application. The Sole Representative Visa is intended for businesses looking to establish their first presence in the UK.
Business Intent
The primary purpose of setting up a UK branch or subsidiary should be to actively trade in the same business activity as the overseas parent company. It should not be established solely for the purpose of facilitating the entry or stay of the designated representative.
Call 0203 384 4389 and connect with our team to navigate living, working, or studying options in the UK
There are several specific and complex requirements that need to be met in order to meet the eligibility criteria. These will vary between applicant’s dependent on their individual circumstances. Our expert team would be pleased to discuss your exact requirements with you during a one to one consultation but below we have explored some of the basic requirements:
You will have to show that the overseas company:
This process ensures your overseas business can establish a presence in the UK through the Sole Representative Visa route. Contact us for expert guidance.
A Sole Representative of an Overseas Business may bring the following family members to the UK:
Please note that extended family members such as parents or siblings cannot be included in this category.
To apply for a UK Sole Representative visa, it’s advisable to do so no more than 3 months before your intended travel date. This ensures you apply within the appropriate timeframe.
The Home Office application fee for a Representative of an Overseas Business visa is currently £610. Most Sole Representative visa applications are decided within 3 weeks, providing a reasonably quick processing time. Additionally, there is a priority service available, allowing applicants to receive a decision within 5 working days for expedited processing.
These details clarify the process of bringing family members, the ideal application timing, and associated fees and processing times for the Sole Representative Visa.
If you have further questions or need assistance, feel free to contact us on 0203 384 4389.
Most of the time, a child needs a visa in order to live in the UK. For instance, if their parent is a foreign national working or studying in the country, the child may need a Child Dependant Visa.
Eligibility criteria include being an existing senior employee of the overseas business, having the necessary skills and experience, and the intention to establish and manage a UK branch or subsidiary of the overseas company.
Applicants can be shareholders, but they must not own more than 50% of the available shares in the business at the point of application. Majority shareholders may qualify if they reduce their shareholding before applying.
Sole Representatives can only be employed by the company that sent them to the UK and cannot engage in other business interests or part-time work in the UK.
The parent company must intend to keep its main centre of business operations outside the UK. Moving the main centre of business to the UK could result in a visa refusal.
After five years in the UK as a Sole Representative of an Overseas Business, you may be eligible to apply for settlement, provided you meet specific requirements.
UK Immigration Solicitors is an authorised trading style of SABZ Solicitors LLP which is a UK headquartered nationwide regulated law firm specialising in personal and business immigration.
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