You can come to the UK on a Representative of an Overseas Business visa if you’re an employee being posted to the UK on a long-term assignment. You could work for:
- An overseas newspaper
- News agency
- Broadcasting organisation.
This route was launched by the Government in the summer of 2022. It used to be known as the Representative of an Overseas Newspaper, News Agency, or Broadcasting Organisation visa.
Our business immigration solicitors can advise on what documents you need for your visa. We’ll also prepare your visa application to ensure you can come to the UK without any issues.
Contact us to start your Representative of an Overseas Business. We’ll discuss your situation and advise you on the best way to move forward.
The Home Office have strict requirements for a Representative of an Overseas Business visa. They can refuse applications that don’t meet their standards. We have the expertise to ensure you meet every requirement, making your application as strong as possible.
If the Home Office unfairly refuses your application, we can challenge this at an administrative review.
Once you have your visa you can live and work in the UK. However, you’re only allowed to work for the organisation that posted you to the UK.
Our team can help you with your initial application. We can also advise you on how to meet the requirements of your visa once you’re in the UK.
Who can apply for a Sole Representative visa?
To apply for Representative of an Overseas Business you must:
- Be aged 18 or over
- Be coming to the UK as an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation on a long-term assignment
- Have enough funds to support yourself without needing public funds
- Meet the English language requirement.
Our immigration solicitors work with many organisations that apply under this immigration category. Part of our service is to examine your application in detail and make sure there are no weak points. If there are, we’ll advise you on how to strengthen your application, so it has the best possible chance of success.
How can we help?
We understand the detail needed to ensure your application has the best chance of succeeding. We’ll work with you to ensure your application goes through as smoothly as possible.
Moving to a new country isn’t just about visas. As a full-service law firm, we’ve expert teams that can support you as you settle in the UK. Our tax, trust and estate team can help you manage your international assets and comply with the UK’s complicated tax system.
We have a range of business legal services that could help your business prosper in the UK. Our real estate team can advise on renting or building your business premises and our employment team can help with any employment concerns you have.
We also have an expert commercial team who can help you draft contracts and supply chain agreements. They can also give you advice that’s specific to your industry.
Why choose us to help with Sole Representative visas?
Relocating to a new country is a big step. There’ll already be a lot on your mind, so we’ll help minimize any disruption to your employment at this crucial stage. We have decades of experience in working on immigration cases.
Our team are rated by independent legal guides like Chambers & Partners. We’re renowned for being highly skilled at dealing with complex immigration issues for high-net-worth individuals. No matter where you’re based or how complex your situation, we’ll give you practical advice that suits your situation.
Get in touch with our team today to discuss how we can help you.
Frequently asked questions:
How long does the application take?
Once you’ve applied, it can take up to three weeks for the application to be determined if it’s submitted outside of the UK. It can take about eight weeks if the application is submitted within the UK.
Depending on what country you’re applying from, there may be a fast-track option for an extra cost. This’ll give you a decision within five working days.
If you have family that you want to bring to the UK with you, we can help with their visas too. We’ll look at the most suitable visa options for them and prepare their application(s) in line with yours.
What can I do under a Sole Representative visa?
A Sole Representative visa gives you the right to:
- Bring your dependants (family) with you to the UK
- Work full-time for your employer
- Extend your visa
- Apply for settlement in the UK once you’ve been here for five years
- Keep living in the UK if your company’s circumstances change, once you’ve been here longer than two years.
What can’t I do under a Sole Representative visa?
If you come to the UK under a Sole Representative visa, you can’t:
- Work for yourself
- Work for any business besides the one you’re employed by under the visa
- Get public funds
- Stay in the UK if your employer ends the sole representative arrangement
- Change from another type of visa to this visa.
Do you need a solicitor to apply for a visa?
Although it’s not a legal requirement for you to have a solicitor, we strongly urge you to contact us when applying for a visa.
Our expertise can go a long way towards ensuring your application has the best chance of being approved. We’ve decades of experience in supporting clients who wish to apply for a visa. We can advise you on everything you’ll need to submit a strong application.
We can also anticipate any hurdles you’re likely to come up against and take the right steps to help you avoid these.
With our help, you can speak to us whenever you feel you need to, in a way that’s most convenient for you.
