UK Expansion Worker Visa

Overview

A UK Expansion Worker visa allows you to come to the UK to set up a branch of an overseas business that has not started trading in the UK yet.

You must already work for the overseas business as either a senior manager or specialist employee.

If your business is already trading in the UK, you should apply for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa instead.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a UK Expansion Worker visa you need to:

• have a valid certificate of sponsorship from your employer
• have worked for your employer outside the UK
• do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
• be paid the minimum eligible salary required for your job
• The specific eligibility depends on your job.

How long you can stay in the UK

You can stay in the UK with a UK Expansion Worker visa for whichever is shorter of:

• 12 months after the start date of the job on your certificate of sponsorship
• the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days
• If you want to stay longer in the UK, you can extend your visa by 12 months. The maximum time you can stay in the UK on a UK Expansion Worker visa is 2 years.

If you’ve spent time in the UK on this or another visa, you might not be able to stay on a UK Expansion Worker visa for as long. You can only stay in the UK for a maximum of 5 years in any 6-year period if you’ve spent time on any of these visas:

• Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa
• Intra-company Transfer visa
• Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility)
• Secondment Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
• Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
• Service Supplier visa (Global Business Mobility)
• UK Expansion Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)

How to apply

You must apply online.

How you apply depends on whether you’re:

• outside the UK and are coming to the UK
• inside the UK and extending your current visa
• inside the UK and switching from a different visa
• Your partner and children can apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible.

How much it costs

You, your partner or children will each need to:

• pay the application fee
• pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay
• prove you have enough personal savings
• Check how much it costs.

How long it takes

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide your documents.

You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.

Getting a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within:

• 3 weeks, if you’re outside the UK
• 8 weeks, if you’re inside the UK

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

What you can and cannot do

With a UK Expansion Worker visa you can:

• work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship study
• bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible
• do voluntary work
• travel abroad and return to the UK

You cannot:

• apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension
• change jobs unless you are eligible and you update your visa
• have a second job
• apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’)

If your application is successful, you’ll get a full list of what you can and cannot do with this visa.

 Eligibility

To be eligible for a UK Expansion Worker visa you need to:

• have a valid certificate of sponsorship from your employer
• have worked for your employer outside the UK
• do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
• be paid the minimum eligible salary required for your job

Your employer must make sure your job pays at least the minimum wage and follows the UK rules for how many hours a week you work. If your employer does not do this, your application will be refused.

Getting a certificate of sponsorship

Your employer – also known as your sponsor – will give you a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ with information about the role you will do in the UK. It’s an electronic record, not a paper document.

You’ll need the reference number from the certificate of sponsorship for your visa application. You must apply for your visa within 3 months of getting your certificate of sponsorship.

If your employer is not currently approved to sponsor people to work in the UK, they can apply for a sponsor licence if they’re eligible.

How long you need to have worked for your employer outside the UK

You must have worked for your employer outside of the UK for at least 12 months unless you meet one of the following criteria:

• you’re earning over £73,900
• you’re a Japanese national doing work for a Japanese company that is expanding to the UK
• you’re a national or permanent resident of Australia doing work for an Australian company that is expanding to the UK

Check if your job is eligible

Before you can find out if your job is eligible, you need to know its 4-digit occupation code. You can get this from your employer or your certificate of sponsorship.

Salary requirements

You must be paid at least £45,800 per year or the ‘going rate’ for your job – whichever is higher.

Each occupation code has its own annual going rate. Check the going rate for your job in the going rates table.

 How much it costs

When you apply for a UK Expansion Worker visa, you’ll need to have enough money to:

• pay the £298 application fee
• pay the healthcare surcharge – this is usually £1,035 per year
• support yourself when you arrive in the UK – you’ll usually need to have at least £1,270 available (unless you’re exempt)

You’ll be told how much you need to pay when you apply.

Healthcare surcharge

 You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay – this is usually £1,035 per year. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.

Money to support yourself

You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK.

You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 consecutive days. The end date of the 28 day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply.

You’ll usually need to show proof of this when you apply, unless you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for 12 months or more.

Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they’re in the UK. Check how much they’ll need.

Financial evidence

Read the guidance on financial evidence for more information about the money you need and how to prove it.

Documents you’ll need to apply

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

• your certificate of sponsorship reference number – your employer will give you this
• a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality
• your job title and annual salary
• your job’s occupation code
• the name of your employer and their sponsor licence number – this will be on your certificate of sponsorship
• evidence that you have enough personal savings to support yourself in the UK, for example bank statements
• proof of your relationship with your partner or children if they’re applying with you
• your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a listed country

Ask your employer for a copy of your certificate of sponsorship if you do not have one. If you’re the authorising officer for your organisation, your certificate will be in the sponsor management system.

Other documents you might need

Depending on your circumstances, you might be asked to provide:

• evidence you’ve worked for your employer outside the UK
• a valid ATAS certificate if your employer tells you that you need one because your job involves researching a sensitive subject at PhD level or higher

You’ll need a blank page in your passport for your visa if you need to give your biometric information (fingerprints and a photograph) at a visa application centre. You’ll be told if you need to do this when you apply.

If your documents are not in English or Welsh you’ll also need to provide a certified translation.

Evidence you’ve worked for your employer outside the UK

After you apply you might be asked to show you’ve worked for your employer for 12 months.

You will not have to show this if you meet any of the following criteria:

• you’re earning over £73,900
• you’re a Japanese national doing work for a Japanese company that is expanding to the UK
• you’re a national or permanent resident of Australia doing work for an Australian company that is expanding to the UK

If you’re asked, you’ll need to show you’ve been paid by your employer over this time period. You can provide

• printed payslips
• online payslips supported by a letter from your sponsor signed by a senior staff member
• bank or building society statements
• a building society pass book

 Apply from outside the UK

You must apply online for a UK Expansion Worker visa.

Check which documents you’ll need to apply.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and what type of passport you have.

You’ll either:

• have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre – this is to get a biometric residence permit
• use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document (you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account)

You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply

If you do need an appointment:

the isa application centre may need to keep your passport and documents while they process your application

you may have to travel to get to your nearest centre (this could be in another country)