UK Expansion Worker Visa – Full Guide for 2025

If your company is planning to launch a UK presence, one of the most useful options is the UK Expansion Worker Visa. Designed for key employees sent to the UK to set up a new branch or subsidiary, this route is part of the Global Business Mobility programme. It offers full work rights, the ability to bring family, and time to establish your UK operation without leading directly to settlement.

This guide explains what this visa allows, who can apply, what your company must do, and what life looks like in the UK under this route.

What Is the UK Expansion Worker Visa?

The UK Expansion Worker Visa is a specific subcategory of the Global Business Mobility route. It replaces the old “Representative of an Overseas Business” visa for team-based expansion, and allows up to five employees to relocate to the UK.

This is not a route to settle permanently. Instead, it gives senior or specialist workers temporary leave to help launch a UK establishment. Applicants must have a Certificate of Sponsorship, and the UK operation cannot be fully up and running before the visa is granted.

Who Can Apply for the Expansion Worker Route?

This visa is designed for senior executives or specialist hires from overseas that are essential to launching the UK branch.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, you must:

• Be currently employed by the overseas parent company
• Have at least 12 months’ continuous employment, unless you’re a high earner
• Have a role that appears on the UK’s eligible occupations list
• Receive a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
• Meet the salary threshold, usually £48,500 or more per year

Typically, you must be filling a senior or specialist role that cannot easily be performed by someone already in the UK.

Requirements for the UK Company Sponsor

Your UK entity plays a key role in making the visa possible.

Sponsor Essentials

The UK branch must:

• Be a registered company with a sponsor licence under the Expansion Worker route
• Be part of the same business group as the overseas parent
• Demonstrate a credible business plan, showing how the UK branch will operate
• Not already be fully operational in the UK before applying
• Limit sponsorship to a maximum of five employees at any time under this route

These conditions ensure the visa is used solely to support new branches, not for anyone already based here.

How to Apply for the UK Expansion Worker Visa

The application process requires coordination between applicants and the UK sponsor.

Application Steps

• UK employer issues your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
• You apply online via the UKVI portal
• You pay the visa application fees and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
• You submit biometric information (photo and fingerprints)
• You wait for a decision often within a few weeks, with priority services available

Your stay is typically up to 12 months initially, with options to extend.

Documents Required

To support your application, you’ll need to present:

• A valid passport or equivalent travel documentation
• The CoS reference from your UK sponsor
• Evidence of your employment and salary with the foreign company
• Proof of clear business expansion plans, such as strategy documents
• No English language test is required for this route, unlike other GBM categories

Documents must be clear, translated into English if needed, and uploaded through the visa portal or delivered to a visa service centre.

Fees, Duration & Processing Times

Costs

• Visa application fee: £319
• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £1,035 per year
• Support Funds: You usually need at least £1,270 in your account unless a sponsor certifies maintenance

Length of Stay

• Initial stay of up to 12 months, extendable to 2 years total
• Any extensions must reflect ongoing UK setup and maintenance of the sponsor licence

Time to Decision

• Applications typically take 3 to 8 weeks, depending on location and processing speed
• Priority services may shorten that time significantly

What You Can and Can’t Do on This Visa

This route gives you space and rights to establish your UK operation, but with rules to stay on the programme.

Permitted Activities

• Work exclusively for your UK sponsor in building and running the new branch
• Travel in and out of the UK freely
• Bring dependants, including partner and children
• Oversee staff, liaise with clients, and drive UK based business activity

Not Allowed

• Taking a second job outside your sponsored role
• Applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) directly from this visa
• Accessing public funds, like state benefits or universal credit

If you do want to stay in the UK permanently, you must switch to another visa that leads to settlement.

Bringing Family: Can You Bring Dependants?

Yes. If you’re granted the UK Expansion Worker Visa, your partner and children under 18 can apply as dependants.

Dependant Rights

• They will receive visas that match your stay time
• They can work or study in the UK
• They will have access to the NHS after IHS payment
• They can freely travel in and out of the country

Your family will need to show they can be maintained in the UK, either by showing personal funds or by having the sponsor certify maintenance support.

Is This a Route to Permanent Residency?

No. While the UK Expansion Worker visa is valuable, it does not count towards Indefinite Leave to Remain.

What You Need to Do

Once the UK branch is up and running, you can:

• Switch to a settlement eligible visa, such as Skilled Worker Visa
• Let your dependants switch with you

Time spent on this visa does not count towards the five years required for ILR, so switching routes is essential if your long-term plan is to stay permanently.

FAQs – UK Expansion Worker Visa

Who is eligible for the UK Expansion Worker visa?

Senior executives and specialist staff from overseas companies creating a new UK entity are eligible, provided they meet the employment and salary criteria.

Can I bring my family to the UK on this visa?

Yes. Dependants such as partners and children under 18 can apply and will enjoy the same work and study freedoms.

Does this visa lead to permanent settlement?

Not directly. You will need to switch to a visa like Skilled Worker Visa or Spouse Visa to qualify for settlement later.

How long can I stay in the UK with this visa?

Initially you can stay for up to 12 months; a second period may extend it until 2 years in total.

The UK Expansion Worker Visa offers a practical solution for overseas businesses that want to establish a UK operation. You gain time, flexibility, and full work rights to oversee the UK setup while your family can settle with you.

This route is not about immediate settlement, it’s about creating a base for future operations and enabling a smooth start. If your long-term goal includes staying in the UK, you will likely transition later to a route that supports permanent residency.

This visa sets everything in place: business presence, sponsor set up, staff in tow, and family support. It is an excellent first step to growing operations in the UK.

Need Help Bringing Your Team to the UK?

If you are planning to set up a UK branch and bring staff over, we can help.

Call 0161 464 4140 or Book an Appointment for FREE UK immigration advice and full application support.

Our team specialises in UK immigration here at solicitors in Manchester, and we’ll help make the process smooth from sponsorship through to staff and family relocation.