program
United Kingdom - Expansion Worker VisaBusiness Migration
Program Overview
Minimum Investment
£30,000
Minimum Investment
N/A Real Estate
Time to Residency
6 Months
Visa-free Access
1 Country
United Kingdom - Expansion Worker Visa Requirements
The United Kingdom Expansion Worker Visa is designed for employees of overseas businesses who are seeking to establish a branch or subsidiary in the UK. This visa allows eligible employees to come to the UK and work for their employer’s UK entity. Unlike other visa categories, the Expansion Worker Visa does not lead directly to settlement but provides a pathway to other routes that do.
Main Applicant Requirements
- 18+ years of age
- Good health
- No criminal record
- Successfully pass due diligence checks
- Confirmed employment with an overseas business
- Assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) by a UK sponsor
Eligible Dependents
- Spouse of the main applicant
- Adult children (biological or adopted) under 18 years of age
United Kingdom Expansion Worker Visa Benefits
Business & Employment
You are authorised to work for your employer’s UK entity.
Health & Education
Access to world-class health services and high standard education opportunities for you and your family.
Straightforward Process
Designed to be a smooth and straightforward process, with a quick application turnaround time.
Dual Citizenship permitted
There is no need to renounce your current citizenship(s), and your home authorities are not notified of your new citizenship.
Pathway to Settlement
While the Expansion Worker Visa itself does not lead to settlement, it allows for a switch to other visa categories that do.
Tax Relief
You may be eligible for the non-domicile tax regime, limiting tax liability on foreign income to what you remit to the UK.
UNITED KINGDOM - EXPANSION WORKER VISA | Business Migration
Legal Basis
Based on the Immigration Rules under the UK’s Points-Based System, the Expansion Worker Visa falls under the Global Business Mobility category. Individuals fulfilling the requirements can apply for this visa to establish their employer's presence in the UK.
Costs of United Kingdom Expansion Worker Visa
Health surcharge - per person
GBP 259
Health surcharge - per person per year
GBP 624
Maintenance Fees - Main Applicant
GBP 1,270
Maintenance Fees - Spouse
GBP 285
Maintenance Fees - First Child
GBP 315
Maintenance Fees - Each additional dependant
GBP 200
Migrant fee - per application
GBP 364
Certificate of Sponsorship - per application
GBP 21
Sponsorship licence - per application
GBP 536
Application Process For United Kingdom Expansion Worker Visa
Application Process
6 months
- Step 1Savory & Partners will pre-screen your passport copy for government pre-approval. A down payment of the professional fees is required to open your application. The response is in 24-48 hours.
- Step 2During this stage, Savory & Partners will help you prepare a comprehensive business plan that outlines the operations, financial projections, and growth potential of your employer's UK entity.
- Step 3Savory & Partners' professional team will assist and advise you with the collection of the required documents according to the government checklist. This ensures that all necessary paperwork is correctly compiled and submitted.
- Step 4Your employer must obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed UK sponsor. Savory & Partners will guide you through this process to ensure compliance with UK immigration requirements.
- Step 5After receiving the CoS, Savory & Partners will assist you in submitting your Expansion Worker Visa application to the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). This includes compiling all necessary documentation and completing the application forms.
- Step 6Attend a biometrics appointment at a visa application centre. Savory & Partners will also provide interview preparation to ensure you are ready to present and discuss your employment and business plans.
- Step 7Once your visa is approved, you will receive your Expansion Worker Visa and can make arrangements to travel to the UK. Savory & Partners will assist with any final preparations needed for your relocation.
- Step 8Upon arrival in the UK, establish and operate your employer's UK entity according to the endorsed business plan. Savory & Partners will continue to provide support and advice to ensure your business complies with UK regulations.
- Step 9Maintain compliance with the Expansion Worker Visa requirements. You may need to switch to another visa category, such as the Skilled Worker Visa, to pursue settlement and eventual citizenship if eligible.
PORTUGAL | RESIDENCY BY INVESTMENT
READY TO APPLY?
Visa-free Countries for United Kingdom Residency
Visa-free and visa-on-arrival countries
1 Country & Territory
With the United Kingdom residency card you can travel to the following countries:
- The United Kingdom
Client Success Stories
Business Expansion in the UK
The Challenge
A Palestinian business owner based in Dubai approached us with a key challenge: He was thriving in the UAE but had big dreams of expanding his business into Europe, starting with the UK. The problem? As a majority shareholder in his company, he didn’t qualify for the sole representative visa—the usual pathway for this kind of situation.
To make matters worse, the sole representative visa program was discontinued just as he came to us in May 2022. Still, our client was determined to make it work, and we knew we had to find a solution.
Our Solution
After hearing his story and understanding his goals, we recommended the UK Expansion Worker Visa. This visa is perfect for senior managers or specialists who want to set up a branch of their company in the UK. It wasn’t going to be easy, but we saw his potential and got to work.
Here’s what we did: we helped him collect all the right evidence to prove that his business in the UAE was not only thriving but ready to take on the UK market. We showed the authorities past and upcoming projects with UK clients, making it clear that a UK branch wasn’t just a nice idea—it was a necessity.
The Result
Thanks to the solid case we built, our client got the visa. Now, he’s setting up his UK branch and taking his business to the next level. But that’s not all. This visa also opens the door for him to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after five years.
And because he’s eyeing even bigger opportunities across Europe, we’re also helping him acquire a Caribbean passport. With that, he’ll have visa-free access to over 150 countries—making his global expansion dreams a reality.
Why Choose the UK Expansion Worker Visa?
The UK Expansion Worker Visa lets you stay in the UK for one of two durations—whichever comes first:
- 12 months from the start date of the job listed on your certificate of sponsorship, or
- The duration specified on your certificate of sponsorship, plus an extra 14 days.
If you need more time, you can extend it for another 12 months, up to a total of two years under this visa.
Download brochure
Content
- United Kingdom Country profile
- Benefits of the program
- Investment requirements
- Investment process
Length
4 pages
Language
English & Arabic
size
1 mb
ABOUT UNITED KINGDOM
CAPITAL
London
TOTAL AREA
243,610 km²
POPULATION
66.97 million
LANGUAGE(S)
English
CURRENCY
Pound Sterling (£)
EXCHANGE RATE
£1 = USD 1.28
GDP – PER CAPITA (2022)
USD 46,125.26
GDP – TOTAL (2022)
USD 3.089 trillion
About the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is an island state consisting of four countries: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, and spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland, and many small islands. The total area of the UK is approximately 243,610 square kilometres (94,060 sq. miles). England is one of the most densely populated countries in the world with an estimated population density of 401 people resident per sqm. The capital is London, which is among the world’s leading commercial, financial, and cultural centres.
The United Kingdom has a temperate climate, with plentiful rainfall all year round. The temperature varies with the seasons but seldom drops below −10 °C (14.0 °F) or rises above 35 °C (95 °F). The United Kingdom is a leading global trading nation, being the second largest exporter and third largest importer of commercial services. The United Kingdom has a low unemployment rate and is one of the most competitive locations in Europe for business and personal taxation. The United Kingdom remains the most attractive destination for Foreign Direct Investment into Europe.
His Majesty King Charles III ascended to the throne in September 2022, on the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II. He is also head of state of several independent countries in the Commonwealth. The United Kingdom retains links with parts of its former empire through the Commonwealth. It also benefits from historical and cultural links with the United States and is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Where is the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) is an island country that sits north-west of mainland Europe. It is made up of mainland Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) and the northern part of the island of Ireland (Northern Ireland). It has numerous smaller islands.
UNITED KINGDOM - EXPANSION WORKER VISA | Business Migration
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