United Kingdom Expansion Worker Visa

To qualify for the UK Expansion Worker Visa, the Applicant must meet eligibility requirements which include:
• Have a valid certificate of sponsorship from the Applicant’s employing UK Company
• The Applicant must have worked for the parent company outside the UK for at least 12 months (there
are exceptions)
• Have a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
• Be sponsored to undertake a genuine job in the UK
• Be paid the minimum eligible salary required for the job or at least £42,400 (whichever is higher)
• Have sufficient funds (at least £1,270 for the Main Applicant plus £285 for a dependent partner, £315
for a first child and £200 for each additional child) held for at least 28 consecutive days
• Pay the Health Surcharge Fee (GBP 624 per person)
• Not be ineligible under the ‘general grounds for refusal’
• The Applicant must provide a Criminal Record Certificate confirming they have no criminal convictions
issued within the last six months; and
• Provide a ‘clear’ tuberculosis test result.

The UK Expansion Worker Visa is valid for either 1 year after the start date of the job detailed in the Certificate  of Sponsorship or the time given on the Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter. 

The overseas business must not be trading in the UK but instead they must have a UK registered company  as either an overseas branch or a subsidiary of the overseas linked business. The overseas business must  also be active and trading overseas for a minimum of 3 years. 

The Applicant must have worked for the overseas business for at least 12 months prior to the date of the  application unless the Applicant’s gross annual is more than £73,900 or if the Applicant is a Japanese  National seeking to establish a UK branch or subsidiary of the linked business or organisation under the UK Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. 

The Applicant must do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations, undertake a genuine job in the UK and  be paid the minimum eligible salary required for the job or at least £42,400 (whichever is higher).  

The Applicant will be able to extend the visa for a further 12 months only. Note that if the Applicant has  already spent time in the UK on any of the Global Mobility Routes or the former Intra-company routes then  the Applicant may not be able to stay in the UK on the UK Expansion Worker Visa for the full time period set  out above. 

No, the visa only allows the Applicant to live and work in the UK. 

Yes, the spouse (or partner who you have lived with for at least 2 years) and children who are under 18 years  old (including adopted children) that are financially dependent on the Applicant may be included. Dependents  are free to work or study in the UK.

No, however, after the UK Expansion Worker Visa holder establishes a trading presence in the UK, the applicant may become eligible to switch to a visa that leads to settlement such as the Skilled Worker visa.

Once the applicant has switched to a visa that leads to settlement, they may become eligible to apply for permanent residence after 5 years of residence in the UK. 

The Applicant will become eligible to apply for British citizenship after having lived in the UK for at least 5  years AND having held permanent residence for at least 1 year, subject to meeting residency, language and  other requirements. 

Yes, there is no restriction on dual (or multiple) citizenship.