The UK Expansion Worker visa allows skilled professionals to come to the UK to set up a new branch of an overseas business that hasn’t yet started operations in the UK. To be eligible, you must be a senior manager or specialist employee of the overseas business.
To qualify for this visa, you must:
- Have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your UK employer.
- Have worked for your employer outside the UK.
- Be employed in a job role listed on the UK government’s list of eligible occupations.
- Earn the minimum salary required for your specific job role.
You must have worked for your employer outside of the UK for at least 12 months unless you meet one of the following criteria:
- You’re earning over £73,900.
- You’re a Japanese national working for a Japanese company expanding to the UK.
- You’re an Australian national or permanent resident working for an Australian company expanding to the UK.
Duration of Stay:
- Initial Stay: Up to 12 months or the duration specified on your CoS, whichever is shorter.
- Extension: You can extend your stay for an additional 12 months, making a total maximum stay of 2 years.
When applying for a UK Expansion Worker visa, you’ll need to cover the following costs:
Application Fee: £298
Healthcare Surcharge
Typically £1,035 per year
Living Costs: You’ll need to show you have at least £1,270 to support yourself initially (unless exempt)
Note :
- Your total stay in the UK on work visas, including the UK Expansion Worker visa, may be limited to 5 years within a 6-year period.
- Depending on your job role and circumstances, you may be eligible to switch to a different work visa, such as a Senior or Specialist Worker visa, within the UK.
- To access the NHS, you may need to pay a healthcare surcharge.
Let FederPath simplify your visa application journey, if you're considering applying for a UK Expansion Worker Visa, you may also want to explore our article on the Skilled Worker Visa for additional visa options.