UK Business Visa
In addition, foreign companies with no presence in the United Kingdom may send a sole representative to the country in order to establish a British branch or subsidiary. The pages in this section of the site will discuss in detail the various UK business visa services available.
You can begin your application and find out whether you qualify by visiting the Global Visas online assessment area today.
Work Permits
One of the most frequented business based routes to the United Kingdom is the UK work permit, an employer driven option which allows foreign workers to live and work in the UK in a specific position for a particular British based employer. Another similar initiative is the ICT or Intra Company Transfer under which companies with a presence in Britain and another country may transfer key members of staff in order to fulfil a particular function. Both UK work permits and Intra Company Transfers are popular methods of gaining leave to enter the UK for a limited period, however, neither is directly intended as a route to settled status in Britain. Applying for a British work permit may in some circumstances lead to the opportunity to apply for permanent residency or Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK (ILR) and beyond this the possibility of applying for UK citizenship. However, working permits are not specifically designed for a transition to permanent resident status.
Whilst the United Kingdom provides a range of other immigration visas which offer a work or business focus, many are only intended for a short-term duration. The working holidaymaker programme, or working holiday visa, for example, allows applicants to visit Britain combining a holiday with the opportunity to undertake employment, however, the percentage of time spent working on the overall grant of leave is strictly limited. In addition, the Training and Work Experience Scheme or (TWES) allows candidates to undergo training or work experience in Britain but requires that they return to their home country upon expiry of the document. Finally the business visitor visa, which is often referred to as a UK visit visa, travel visa, or tourist visa allows an applicant to attend conferences or visit Britain on business related fact finding missions but does not allow them to undertake employment of any kind.
Business Visas
The group of services usually referred to as UK business visas are intended as routes to permanent residence in the UK; like the points based Highly Skilled Migrant Programme or HSMP, they offer successful candidates permanent residency in the UK and the right to live and work in the UK on a permanent basis. Beyond the Highly Skilled Migrant Program which assesses candidates on criteria such as age, experience, qualifications and skills, several business immigration categories exist and whilst points thresholds are employed in some cases, they tend be less demanding. In general, business visas place more emphasis upon proven business experience and in many cases, investment.
Entrepreneur Visa
The UK entrepreneur visa is aimed at applicants who wish to migrate to Britain in order to start a new business. Applying for a UK visa in this class requires a candidate to make an investment of at least £200,000. In this category, applicants must perform a key managerial function in the business venture. In addition, they must be able to provide a detailed business plan which demonstrates that the venture will create employment opportunities for at least two EEA nationals.
European Community Association Agreement visa
For citizens of countries with the relevant European Community Association Agreement in place, at present Romania and Bulgaria, a European Community Association Agreement visa, or European Economic Area Visa as it is sometimes referred to is an option which allows candidates to migrate to Britain in order to start a business enterprise. Unusually this route does not require candidates to either make an investment or to guarantee the creation of jobs in the United Kingdom. However, candidates immigrating to Britain in this manner must not undertake any employment outside the business venture and must be employed on a full time basis in its maintenance.
UK Innovator Visa
Alternatively, the UK Innovator visa, which employs a points based assessment focuses upon foreign nationals in possession of some capital, who wish to immigrate to the United Kingdom in order to pursue an innovative idea or technology which will be of benefit to the British economy and create job opportunities for the domestic workforce. This category provides a route for those who may not fulfil the financial requirements of either entrepreneur visas or investor visas and places emphasis upon the innovative nature of the idea, and the business skills to develop and implement it in Great Britain.
UK Investor Visa
For those wishing to immigrate to Britain as a portfolio investor, the UK investor visa option is also available. In this category, candidates must be in a position to invest a minimum of £1 million in the British economy and must agree to take no other employment beyond managing their investments.
Sole Representative Visa
Finally, the sole representative visa is an employer orientated British business visa service which allows a foreign-based company to expand to the United Kingdom by sending a single representative to establish a British subsidiary. This category focuses upon companies who wish to expand their operation to Great Britain, however it is not intended as a means for companies to relocate to Britain, and in applications of this kind a company's centre of operations must remain overseas.
How Global Visas can help
As a specialist UK immigration consultancy, Global Visas can help you to assess which British immigration service is the most appropriate for your relocation to the UK. We can help you to navigate the wide range of UK visas and working permits available in order to determine which is the most appropriate for your needs. Whether you require a temporary visitor visa to visit Britain on a short-term basis, or a longer-term immigration solution, our immigration consultants can provide immigration lawyer advice through your UK visa application. A Global Visas immigration consultant can manage your case from your initial inquiry through to providing you with a comprehensive range of on arrival services to help you adjust to living and working in Britain.
Our online assessment area makes it easy to get started on your business visa application. Simply answer a few straightforward questions and a Global Visas migration consultant will contact you.
