UK Sole Representative Visa - An Overview

There are lots of opportunities for businesses in the Uk. This is why many overseas companies want to establish their businesses in the UK. The UK also welcomes them. So, if a company wants to send its representative to the UK to establish a branch of their business in the UK, they can apply for Sole Representative Visa. A sole representative visa allows a senior employee of an overseas company to come to the UK to set up and run a business unit in the UK. This business unit can be a UK branch or wholly-owned subsidiary of the overseas parent company.

 UK Sole representative visa requirements

You need to meet the following visa requirements for a successful application.

• You must apply from outside the UK and EEA.
• Your company must be a genuine business.
• You must be recruited and employed by a company whose headquarter and other offices are outside the UK.
• You must be recruited and employed outside the UK.
• You must be a senior employee in the company.
• You must not intend to take an additional job anywhere else.
• You must have deep knowledge and experience in the industry.
• You must hold a senior position in the company but at the same time, you cannot be a major shareholder. You must also have full decision making authority on behalf of the company.
• There must not be a branch, subsidiary or another representative already present in the UK. This has to be the first commercial presence of the company in the UK. It can be a registered branch or a wholly-owned subsidiary. However, you may still be eligible to apply if there is a legal entity of the business in the UK that does not employ staff or transact business.
• You must have enough money to meet your financial requirements without seeking any public funds.
• You must meet the English Language requirement.

Documents to be submitted

In order to apply for a sole representative visa, you need to submit various documents along with the application. These documents are the following:

• Your current passport or any other valid travel identification that allows you to travel to the UK.
• You need to provide evidential documents to prove that you can support yourself and dependents (if any) during the time you are in the UK. These supporting documents can be bank statements or salary slip for the last 6 months.
• You need to submit a decent business plan showing the objective of your company and validating the need for a representative office in the UK.
• You need to submit details of your accommodation in the UK during your stay there.
• Documents such as account statements of your company to prove that your company is a genuine one.
• A contract between you and your company.
• An appointment letter from your company that tells why you are being sent to the UK.
• Your TB test results if you are coming from a country where you have to take the TB test.

 How to apply

If you are applying for the first time you can only apply from outside the UK. You need to apply online. If you are already in the UK, you can only apply to extend your existing visa.

 When to apply

You can apply no more than 3 months before you travel to the UK.

 Cost of application

The fee for a sole representative visa is £610 as of now.

 How long can you stay in the UK?

After a successful visa application initially you are granted a 3 years stay in the UK. After completing 3 years, you can apply for an extension of your visa for another 2 years. You can visit www.gov.uk website for more information.

 Bringing your family to the UK

If you are in the UK on a sole representative visa, you can bring your family members such as your spouse, civil partner and children below the age of 18. However, they must have a valid visa to come to the UK if they are from outside EEA or Switzerland. You cannot bring your parents, siblings or any extended family members. If you require our professional advice or assistance in applying for your Sole Representative Visa, you can speak with our lawyers on +44 (0) 2034111261 or book an appointment on our website www.visaandmigration.com