The UK has an active and healthy environment for business and this attracts overseas businesses to invest in their UK subsidiary for expanding the demands for their product or services. The immigration rules, therefore, provide this route for individuals to apply to come to the UK as a representative of an overseas company planning to set up a UK branch or a wholly-owned subsidiary for their overseas parent company. You can also apply under this visa category if you are an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organization and are posted on a long-term assignment to the UK

Requirements for a Representative of an Overseas Business

There are certain restrictions on what you can and you cannot do if you are in the UK as a sole representative of an overseas business:

You can:

• extend your visa
• work full-time work for your employer
• bring dependents or family members to the UK
• Apply for permanent residence, after living in the UK for 5 consecutive years, however, initially, you will be granted leave for three years.
• Stay in the UK, in case of company circumstances change. (i.e. they appoint a superior in the UK)
• Indulge in self-employed work or other business activities
• Stay in the UK if your sole representative agreement is ended by your overseas employer.
• Switch from another visa category
• Have access to public funds. Things to Consider While Applying for a Sole Representative If you are planning to come to the UK as a sole representative, you must satisfy the following criteria: Sole Representatives

If you are coming to the UK as a sole representative you must:

 You may also be eligible if the company has a legal entity in the UK that doesn’t employ staff or transact business. If your company has been working to establish a UK branch or subsidiary, but it is not yet set up, you can replace a previous sole representative. Newspaper, news agency or broadcast employees As an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organization, you can come to the UK if you’re being posted here on a long-term assignment. 

Language requirement:

 In addition to this, you must have passed a required English test at (normally) level A1 or above. You can claim an exemption if you are from the majority English speaking countries below: 

You can also claim points for language if you have an academic qualification that was taught in English and is recognized by UK NARIC as being equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD