A UK Expansion Worker visa allows you to come to the UK to set up a branch of an overseas business that has not started trading in the UK yet.

You must already work for the overseas business as either a senior manager or specialist employee.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a UK Expansion Worker visa you need to:

• have a valid certificate of sponsorship from your employer
• have worked for your employer outside the UK
• do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
• be paid the minimum eligible salary required for your job
  

  How long you can stay in the UK

  You can stay in the UK with a UK Expansion Worker visa for whichever is shorter of:

  • 12 months after the start date of the job on your certificate of sponsorship
  • the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days

  If you want to stay longer in the UK, you can extend your visa by 12 months. The maximum time you can stay in the UK on a UK Expansion Worker visa is 2 years.

  If you’ve spent time in the UK on this or another visa, you might not be able to stay on a UK Expansion Worker visa for as long. You can only stay in the UK for a maximum of 5 years in any 6 year period if you’ve spent time on any of these visas:

  • Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa
  • Intra-company Transfer visa
  • Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility)
  • Secondment Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
  • Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
  • Service Supplier visa (Global Business Mobility)
  • UK Expansion Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
    

    How much it costs

    You, your partner or children will each need to:

    • pay the application fee
    • pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay
    • prove you have enough personal savings
      

      How long it takes

      You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.

      As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide your documents.

      You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.

      Getting a decision

      Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within:

      • 3 weeks, if you’re outside the UK
      • 8 weeks, if you’re inside the UK

      If you need to go to an appointment, you may be able to pay for a faster decision.

      What you can and cannot do

      With a UK Expansion Worker visa you can:

      • work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship
      • study
      • bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible
      • do voluntary work
      • travel abroad and return to the UK

      You cannot:

      • apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension
      • change jobs unless you are eligible and you update your visa
      • have a second job
      • apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’)

      If your application is successful, you’ll get a full list of what you can and cannot do with this visa.