Representative of an Overseas Business Visa
If you are working for an international newspaper, news agency, or broadcasting company, you might qualify for the UK Representative of an Overseas Business Visa.
If you are a foreign national interested in working or settling in the UK, our immigration specialists are here to help. Call us today at +44 2080 162308 or contact us online.
What is the Representative of an Overseas Business Visa?
The Visa is created for workers of foreign companies to work as their organization’s representatives in the UK. You might qualify for a family visa if:
- You work as an employee of a newspaper from another country, a news agency, or a broadcast group.
- You will be based in the UK for an extended assignment.
This type of visa is not suitable for businesses looking to establish a branch or subsidiary in the UK. If that matches your requirements, you can opt for the UK Expansion Worker Visa through the Global Business Mobility route.
Already in the UK?
As a sole representative in the UK, you may still qualify for an extension, provided you remain eligible for the visa type.
Things You Can Do:
- Work for your foreign employer during the time you are in the UK.
- Bring your family along, especially your partner and your children who are 18 and below.
- Ensure you obtain a new visa before your current one expires.
- You can apply for settlement (ILR) after living legally in the UK for 5 consecutive years.
- Choose this visa instead of another visa if you are eligible to switch inside the UK.
Things You Are Not Allowed to Do:
- It is not possible to work on your own or to start and run a business in the UK.
- You are not permitted to take a job with anyone other than the overseas company that brought you.
- You cannot get money from programs like Universal Credit or any form of welfare.
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It is important to be eligible for all points below if you want to get this visa successfully:
1. You Need to Work at an Eligible Organisation
It is necessary to have an employment contract with an overseas employer.
- Newspaper
- A news agency is a company that specializes in gathering, reporting, and disseminating news.
- Broadcasting organisation
You cannot start the programme until your employer is located outside the UK, and you will be in the UK for at least 12 months. It means you are being sent as a regular employee to represent your employer on a day-to-day basis.
2. You Must Have Enough Money to Support Yourself
You are required to show that you can take care of your needs in the UK without the UK supplying public benefits.
This involves:
- Offering proof of how much you have earned or saved
- Showing how your employer handles your costs, if it does
The UKVI does not specify a set minimum income for this visa, so ensure your funds are sufficient for your housing, food, and essential living costs (as well as those of your dependents, if applicable).
3. You Must Meet the English Language Requirement
Prove that you have good knowledge of English by doing one of these tasks:
- A spoken and written certification showing a standard of communication equivalent to level A1 in speaking and listening through the Secure English Language Test (SELT) is required.
- Having completed a course, taught in English, and having it accepted by UK NARIC to be the equivalent of a UK bachelor’s degree or above, OR
- Being a national of a country where English is an official language (such as the USA, Canada, Australia, etc.)
By speaking English, you can comfortably live and work in the UK with nobody holding you back because of language.
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You may be required to show your English language skills when applying for the Representative of an Overseas Business Visa. It allows you to communicate well while living and working in the UK.
You can fulfill the English requirement by any of the following:
- Getting a passing grade in an English test at CEFR A1 for speaking and listening
OR - Owning an educational award that was awarded in English and is on Ecctis’s list as being the same as a UK bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD degree
There may be more specific exceptions. Check the complete visa guidance for details.
Some people are not required to show their English skills.
If you come from one of the following countries where English is the primary language, you are not required to show proof of knowing it:
- Also called Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Jamaica
- New Zealand
- Dominica
- The Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Canada
- St Vincent and the Grenadines is the name of the country.
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Guyana
- Grenada
- The countries of St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- USA
These are British Overseas Territories.
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You must submit some documents to show that you are eligible and to help your application when applying for this visa. Let me explain how that works:
All applicants should have certain documents:
- Valid passport or any other official travel identification
- Documents showing income, such as bank statements or payslips (for the last 6 months)
- A document or certificate proving you know English (e.g., test certificate or an academic certificate)
- An explanation of everything the parent company does, which involves:
- The way the business is structured
- Financial accounts
- Asset details
- A written confirmation that clearly states you will be working in the UK for the company full-time and for an extended period
If Applying from Outside the UK
- Details about your accommodation – where you are planning to stay in the UK
- If you are from a country where a tuberculosis (TB) test is required, your TB test results
- A passport page left empty for the visa to be put in
There are also Some Other Necessary Requirements
- Copies of documents in languages besides English or Welsh must be certified.
- Depending on your situation, you may be asked to provide extra documents—the complete visa guidance gives details about these.
You need to go online to the Gov.uk site to apply for the UK Representative of an Overseas Business visa. As part of your application, you will need to detail your personal information and explain your job and role in the overseas company. The earliest time to apply is three months before you plan to go.
After you have submitted your application online, you will have to go to a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point. You will be asked to give your biometric details, which are your fingerprints and photograph. You need to provide fingerprints for verification and to get your biometric residence permit if your application is granted.
As well as making your application online and getting a biometric appointment, you will need to provide some documents. If you choose, you can submit the documents digitally when you apply, or you can have them scanned when you visit the UKVCAS center for your appointment.
It is important not to go to the UK while your visa application is being processed. Applying for a visa before you know the result may mean your application will be cancelled.
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The fees for the Representative of an Overseas Business visa depend on whether you are applying from outside the UK or within the UK. Typically, using the UK, such as when extending your visa or switching categories, incurs a slightly higher cost than applying from abroad.
Besides the application fee, you are required to pay the immigration healthcare surcharge. You will need to pay this cost to gain access to the National Health Service (NHS) during your stay, and the amount depends on your visa duration.
Always look at the British government’s website for the most recent fees because they may have changed since the last time.
If you plan to remain in the UK after your visa is finished, you can apply for an extension before the deadline. You qualify by already having a valid visa for intended use as a sole representative of an overseas business or as an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency, or broadcasting organisation.
You must continue working for the same company, and its main business must still be located outside the UK. The sole representative is required to continue overseeing the UK branch or subsidiary they have established.
Documentation Needed and the Application Procedure
You must be in the UK when you apply for an extension of your visa. The papers or permission forms that are required for you will be based on your role.
- Sole representatives must show detailed proof of the UK business’s operations, who owns it, proof that they are still working for the employer, and their salary.
- Overseas media staff must supply confirmation from their employer that their job and income continue unchanged.
If your visa expires soon, you may be eligible for a visa extension of up to 2 years (you can also apply for an additional third year if your original visa was granted before October 2009).
At the end of 5 years in the UK on this visa and while you keep working, you could qualify for settlement (indefinite leave to remain).
You need to submit your application online before your current visa expires. Next, set up a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) meeting, where you will give your biometric info and present your documents electronically or by handing them over when you attend the appointment.
Until you receive a decision on your extension application, do not leave the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man, or your application may no longer be valid.
The decision is usually made within 8 weeks. However, some more detailed cases may require additional time, and you may be contacted to ask further questions or schedule an interview.
You don’t have to leave if you applied before your existing visa ran out.
When applying within the UK using the online application, help is available if you need it with completing the form. But, they cannot advise applicants on immigration matters.
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If you have a Representative of an Overseas Business visa, your family members can come to the UK with you. Those you can list as dependents include:
- Your spouse or partner
- Your children aged 17 or younger (even if born in the UK while you were there)
- Children aged 18 or more who already have permission to stay in the UK with you
For success in the visa application, your partner’s or child’s visa would usually expire on the same date as yours. If the parents’ visas have diverse expiry dates, the child’s visa will expire at the earliest date.
A sole representative cannot have their spouse or partner as a dependent on their visa if the partner owns or controls most of the company they are representing in another country.
People applying from outside the UK can do so only via the internet and must again visit a visa application centre to provide biometrics. They may be given the choice to pay a fee for a quicker answer.
Family members who are already in the UK can extend or change their visa at the same time as you, if they choose, or up until their current one expires.
Dependants on a visitor visa are unfortunately unable to change their status to the family visa while staying in the UK.
Partners or children on a Student visa can switch to another visa only if they have completed their course or they have been granted a holder for two years due to studying for a PhD.
What Can Dependants Do While in the UK?
Once you come to the UK, your partner and children are free to:
- Work (apart from jobs as sportspeople or coaches)
- Go to school or train for job
- Move in and out of the UK
- Apply for permanent leave to remain if they have met other criteria.
They are unable to get most public support, such as help with benefits or the State Pension.
Should you have children born in the UK during your stay, it is necessary to score them as dependents online to enable them to go with you when you leave. A copy of the complete UK birth certificate, which lists the names of both parents, is required.
When the visa is approved for dependents, they will be provided with a list of rights and restrictions related to their visa.
If you are residing in the UK on another visa, you might be qualified for a Representative of an Overseas Business visa without having to leave, provided you fit the requirements, like working as an employee of a foreign media outlet on a long-term basis.
Indeed, those granted visas for short visits or to study for a limited period are not allowed to switch; they must leave the UK to apply.
Applying online for a switch before your current visa expires requires providing biometrics and the necessary documents. Most decisions are made within 8 weeks, but you can opt for the faster service option to receive a response sooner.
Each family member will need to go through the application process individually to switch their visas.
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Having an immigration solicitor or agent helps you apply for or renew your visa much more easily.
UK solicitors that are part of the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) are allowed to advise you and handle your application for you.
Putting a registered solicitor in place lets them receive direct updates, so you stay updated every step of the way.
People working for recognized legal institutions like:
- The Law Society (in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland)
- The Institute of Legal Executives
- The Faculty of Advocates
- The General Council of the Bar
Do not need to register with IAA.
Additionally, those who provide immigration advice to their employers or to state education or healthcare workers may also be exempt.
When an adviser is based outside the UK, they may not be required to register with the IAA.
However, please note that you can’t send or return your passport or documents to advisers located outside the UK.
An expert immigration solicitor helps you complete your application correctly which raises your chances of success.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the application process for a Representative of an Overseas Business visa?
You have to complete the application online on the official UK government website. The earliest booking is three months ahead of your trip date. You are required to go to a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) appointment to provide your fingerprints and a recent photograph after submitting your application. You must bring supporting documents with you, either by uploading them before the appointment or by having them scanned at the meeting. Wait for your visa application to be decided before going to the UK.
Can my Representative of an Overseas Business visa be extended?
You are allowed to request an extension if you apply before the expiration date on your current visa. You are required to keep working for your overseas employer, and the company must still operate mainly from outside the UK. The sole representative must continue to oversee the UK branch or subsidiary. The extension may allow the person to remain in Australia for up to an additional 2 years after the original visa expires. You have to be physically present in the UK to apply for an extension.
Am I allowed to have my family members travel with me on this visa?
If your spouse, partner, or children under the age of 18 (or over 18 as dependents) wish to move with you, they can do so. They must submit a separate application, regardless of whether they are in or outside the UK, when applying for a change or extension. Like you, they will receive a visa for their length of stay, which allows them to work and study in the UK; however, they do not qualify for most public assistance.
Can I make an application for a Representative of an Overseas Business visa after I have arrived in the UK?
A person holding a work visa from an overseas media organisation or who has studied for two years or more on a Student visa (including PhD), including when they have completed their course of study and obtained their PhD qualification, is usually eligible to switch. Visit visas, short-term student visas, and other similar visas cannot be changed. If switching is not allowed, you must apply from outside the UK.
What should I pay in fees for the application or extension of this visa?
There is no fixed price for this visa, as its fees may change; however, you will typically pay for the visa application or extension, as well as for immigration healthcare. The surcharge means you can use the UK’s National Health Service during the time you are here. Confirm the prevailing processing fees on the official site before applying.
Is it allowed to enlist an immigration solicitor or agent for help while applying for a visa?
Yes, you may seek the help of a registered immigration solicitor or agent when applying. Registration with the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) is needed unless they are exempt, because they belong to the Law Society or the Bar. Having a solicitor on hand makes it less likely that mistakes will happen during the application. Those assisting in the UK are not required to be IAA registered, and they can’t take charge of your travel documents.
What should I do if I go on a trip outside the UK while my application is in progress?
Until your application is done, you are not allowed to leave the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man. Withdrawal of your application will occur if you go without a decision, which may mean you have to start afresh as an international applicant.
