Sole Representative of an Overseas Business Visas – Extensions and Settlement only

The Sole Representative visa route closed to new applicants on 11 April 2022 and has since been replaced by the Global Business Mobility: UK Expansion Worker visa.

The only exception applies to Media Representatives, who may still apply under this category if they are employees of an overseas newspaper, news agency, or broadcasting organisation assigned to the UK on a long-term posting.

Individuals already in the UK under the Sole Representative route may continue to extend their visa or apply for Settlement, also known as Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) (LINK TO 3.8.14.1 Applications for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) / Settlement), provided they meet the eligibility criteria. Extensions are typically granted for up to 2 years, following an initial 3-year visa period.

Applicants must demonstrate:

Continued employment with the same overseas business.
That the UK branch or subsidiary remains wholly owned by the overseas parent company.
That they are still supervising the UK entity.
That they meet the English language requirement and can support themselves without recourse to public funds.

For businesses seeking to assign a representative to establish a UK presence, the appropriate route is now the UK Expansion Worker visa under the Global Business Mobility framework.

If you require strategic advice or assistance with extending a Sole Representative visa, transitioning to the UK Expansion Worker route, or applying for Settlement having completed 5 years as a Sole Representative, our Immigration team can provide tailored guidance and support.