Is your business eligible to
send a sole rep to the UK?

23 September 2019

As more overseas businesses look to establish a UK hub, the UK visa route which allows a single representative from an overseas business to come to the UK and set up a wholly owned UK subsidiary is becoming increasingly popular.

As part of our Sole Representative season of articles, we take a look at the criteria that must be met by overseas businesses in order to branch out to the UK via the sole rep visa route.

What does a business need to prove in order to file a sole rep visa application?

In order for your business rep to qualify for their sole representative visa (also known as a Representative on an Overseas Business visa) and establish a branch of your overseas business in the UK, you must be able to satisfy a set of criteria.

To be eligible for this visa, your business must:

have satisfactory motivation to establish a UK presence;
maintain its headquarters and principal place of business outside the UK;
have no other branch, subsidiary or representative already in the UK; and
intend to operate the UK branch or subsidiary in the same type of business activity as the overseas business.

Smith Stone Walters is a specialist UK immigration practice and our team regularly files sole rep visa applications on behalf of our clients. To find out more about our services please click here.

You can read more about how best to prepare your business for a successful sole representative visa application below:

What is a sole representative visa?

How to choose your sole rep visa candidate

Applying for your sole rep visa? Let Smith Stone Walters help

The dos and don’ts of a sole rep visa

Can I extend my UK sole rep visa?