The Sole Representative of an Overseas Business Visa is a category of visas for senior employees who are appointed by dispatched representatives of overseas companies that are planning to establish branches or subsidiaries in the UK. 

 

There are some restriction and conditions to the stay as a Sole Representative.






The Home Office expects a senior employee of its overseas headquarters, to be paid salary to work and live in the UK. It is expected that the representatives have no problem to maintain and accommodate during their stay in the UK, and were already proven as part of the initial application.

Therefore, there is no recourse to public funds. However, the public fund does not include public education and NHS. For example, it is possible to send children to state funded school and access the National Health System.  

Individuals of some nationality have a condition that they should be registered with the police. First registration requires proof of address. If the address changes, update to the police. It is also important document to extend the visa, therefore it should be updated when necessary.


What can you do as a Sole Representative?

The most restrictive condition is that you are only able to be employed by the company that your visa was granted from.

You should establish a branch as a representative of the parent company and work full-time whilst receiving salary as a representative.

You are permitted to study if necessary, and there is no specific time limit for studying. Of course, the main reason for staying in the UK is to work for the parent company and this job should be full-time. Therefore, if you intend to study for a longer period of time or to a degree that can interfere with your work, it would be appropriate to change to a student visa.


What can't you do as a Sole Representative?

The most important thing for the Sole Representative Visa holder is that the business or employment can’t be done except for the UK branch of the parent company. The meaning of 'employment' stipulated by the Immigration rules are including ‘paid and unpaid employment, paid and unpaid work placements undertaken as part of a course or period of study, self-employer and engaging in business or any professional activity.’

This means that it is not possible to have any other business interests, part time work or consulting work in the UK on the side of your employment for the business which has sent you to the UK. You must only work for the employer that your visa was granted for and if you wish to take on additional role, you must change your immigration category.

The Sole Representative Visa holder cannot act as a major shareholder in the headquarters or the UK branch. In particular, the branch office should belong to the parent company.

The Sole Representative Visa is initially granted with a period of three years to work in the UK. This can be extended for further two years and allow you to apply for settlement after five years. If you cannot meet the ILR condition for any reason, you can extend your visa again and there is no limit to the number of times you can extend it without settlement.