• Home
  • Our Expansion Worker Services

Our Expansion Worker Services

This status is designed to allow for senior employees and others to come to and live in the United Kingdom in order to establish a UK branch of a company. The worker must have been employed for 12 months by the overseas company. There is an exception to this, if they are a High Earner, they do not need to have spent a minimum period working for the company.

Clients benefit from a top-class service at a fixed fee, meaning that all of our prices are transparent and upfront, helping your company budget accordingly for the legal fees.

  • After 5 years, applicants can apply for settlement.
  • Allows you to bring dependents under the age of 18, and spouse or partner to the UK.
  • Dependents under the age of 18 entitled to free UK education.

Established in April 2022, the expansion worker visa is a direct replacement for the Overseas Representative Visa (which was also known as the Sole Representative of an overseas company visa). This status is designed to allow for senior employees and others to come to and live in the United Kingdom in order to establish a UK branch of a company.

The worker must have been employed for 12 months by the overseas company. There is an exception to this, if they are a High Earner, they do not need to have spent a minimum period working for the company.

How Do I Apply For An Expansion Worker Visa?

Requirements include proof of a UK footprint for the proposed branch in the UK, evidence of the overseas company’s trading presence in its home country, evidence of the planned expansion in the UK.

What Does A UK ‘Footprint’ Mean As A Requirement Of The Expansion Worker?

A UK footprint is defined as having a registered company in the UK or a business premises in the UK. It does not mean a UK trading history. It is important that the UK company must not have undertaken any active trading before the visa is granted. Western Partners advisors can guide on this issue and assist in company formation and registration as part of our overall visa preparation fee.

How Do I Show Evidence Of A Planned Expansion In The UK For The Expansion Worker?

Usually this done by the preparation a business plan with supporting evidence which will also help to show the genuineness of the expansion and application. Western Partners support you with the preparation of the business plan as part of our project management of the application, but within appropriate ethical guidelines.

How Much Does A High Earner Need To Be Paid Under The Expansion Worker Rules?

A high earner is defined as someone earning £73,900 per year in the UK. This does not need to be a pre-existing salary. The income needs to be earned going forward once the Expansion Worker Visa status is granted. As an alternative, those who are being promised a salary of under 73,900 per year will need to have worked for the overseas company for 12 months.

How Much Does An Expansion Worker Need To Be Paid As A Minimum?

If the applicant is not a High Earner, then they will need to be paid a minimum of £42,400 per year or the ‘going rate’ for their job title. This is not an amount that needs to have been earned previously, rather it is the amount of income that is due to be paid once the visa is granted and the applicant starts work in the UK.

Western Partners provides comprehensive project management for all steps, assisting in obtaining the necessary documents, allowing you to build your life in the United Kingdom with your family and establish your UK business.

To book an appointment today for a UK Expansion Worker Visa to set up an overseas branch in the UK, please contact our London immigration consultants at +44 (0)746 850 0063 or via email at sophie@westernpartners.co.uk. We look forward to working with you.