UK Expansion Worker Visa
Would you like to open a business in the United Kingdom? The UK Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence is designed to help any overseas company that wants to operate in the UK.
If you would like more information, Immigration Solicitors UK can provide detailed legal counsel on the UK Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence program for foreign companies. Feel free to contact us by phone at +442080162308 or visit our website to reach us.
Introduction to the UK Expansion Worker Visa
The Global Business Mobility framework has the UK Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence as a core part to assist global businesses setting up operations in the UK. Under this licence, businesses based outside the UK can engage experienced staff or executives for shorter placements, where they can assist in establishing the company’s UK presence and grow the business.
Employers must follow a set procedure with the Home Office, demonstrating a strong plan for expansion, compliance with all immigration rules, and an intention to positively impact the UK economy to obtain a sponsor licence. Applicants must demonstrate that their finances are stable and independent, and that they can fulfill all requirements.
You have to meet specific requirements to be eligible for a UK Expansion Worker visa. There are four leading groups, which are grouped into:
1. Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
- It is necessary to have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK-licensed sponsor (your employer).
- The CoS is a special number used when you start a job, and it is sent to you by email.
- You should apply for your visa within 3 months of getting the certificate.
- If the employer is not yet an approved sponsor, they need to get a sponsor licence before hiring you.
2. Previous Jobs Done for the Company
Your sponsoring employer had to hire you outside the UK for at least 12 months, unless you meet these specified exceptions:
- You earn at least £73,900 per year.
- You are a Japanese citizen working for a Japanese company planning to establish a presence in the UK.
- You live and work in Australia as a national or permanent resident, but your company plans to expand in the UK.
3. You have experience in the following positions
- The job you plan to do in the UK should be recognized on the eligible employment list.
- To see if they meet the criteria:
- Your employer or Certificate of Sponsorship should tell you what the 4-digit occupation code is.
- Enter this code on the UK government’s website to check that your role is on their eligible list.
- Your employer or Certificate of Sponsorship should tell you what the 4-digit occupation code is.
4. Salary Requirements
Your earnings have to meet both of the following standards to be considered:
- Be more than £48,500 each year.
- Make at least as much as the average salary offered for your role (whichever is more).
Each career comes with a suggested salary range, which is available in the UK government’s salary threshold tables.
Note: It is also important that the job be paid according to national minimum wage rates, and workers are not expected to work more hours than what is standard. If people do not comply, they could be denied a visa.
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You should set aside money for different costs if you apply for a UK Expansion Worker visa. These are the visa application fee, the healthcare surcharge, and money to help with your living costs in the UK. Because the exact amount of aid can change, you’ll be told the final price when you apply.
You have to pay a healthcare surcharge when applying for a visa. This entitles you to use the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) while you are in the country. Most visas have a surcharge that is based on their length of validity.
In addition to other requirements, you have to demonstrate you can take care of your finances once you arrive in the UK. Typically, the bank account must maintain a specific balance for at least 28 consecutive days. The end of the 28 days must be within 31 days after you apply.
You don’t usually need to prove this if you have lived in the UK under a valid visa for a year or longer. In addition, your partner and children need to be able to show that they are self-sufficient if they want to apply with you.
Always look at the latest UK government advice for the most recent updates.
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It is necessary to obtain the necessary documents when you apply for a UK Expansion Worker visa. The right documentation will reduce the risk of delays or rejections in processing. You might need the following key documents and evidence to help you.
Required Documents
While applying, you need to provide the following documents:
The Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) carries a reference number
The UK sponsor (employer) is responsible for giving you this special number. It describes what you will do and your responsibilities in the UK.
A legal travel document or a valid passport
It is essential that your passport accurately identifies you and clearly indicates your country of origin. A space for a photo ID should be included, plus there should be at least one blank page in case of a biometric appointment.
Job details
You are required to state your job title, your annual salary, and the employment code for that role. Generally, the details are found on your certificate of sponsorship.
Employer details
Write down your employer’s name and include their licence number too. You will also see it on your certificate of sponsorship.
Financial proof
You should prove that your savings are enough to cover your living expenses in the UK, generally by providing bank or building society statements for at least 28 daily transactions. Your final day in custody should be within 31 days before the day you file your application.
Evidence of family relationships (if necessary)
It is necessary to include proof of your relationship with your partner or kids since they are applying on your form, for example, with marriage certificates or birth certificates.
Tuberculosis (TB) screening outcomes
Only necessary when a TB test is required by UK law for people from the selected countries. You must be tested for tuberculosis at a clinic that the Home Office accepts.
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You are expected to make an online application for a British visa under the Expansion Worker route before traveling to the UK. Here is a list of things you need to understand to make it work:
- Go to the company’s website and apply for a job.
- You must complete the whole application for a UK Expansion Worker visa on the official UK government website online.
- Clear the way by having all the necessary papers ready before beginning the application process. These are the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), your passport, details of the job you were offered, proof that you can fund your stay, and additional items such as TB test results, employment details, or evidence of your connection to your dependents.
- You are allowed to save your progress on the online form so that you can come back to it on a different occasion.
After applying online, please verify your identity. Depending on your nationality and the passport you hold, you can do this in two different ways:
‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ App
When you are eligible, you can open the app, scan your identity document, and either get into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account or set up a new one. You can do this on your own, and you won’t have to visit a visa centre.
Visa Application Centre (VAC)
If the app is not available for you, you will have to make an appointment at a visa application centre in your home country (or in a nearby country if no centre is close). At the appointment, you will have your fingerprints and a photo taken (collecting biometric information).
You may be asked to send your passport and documents to the visa centre, but you may have to travel to a different city or another country for your interview, depending on your place of residence.
You will also need to provide your supporting documentation either when you are being checked or after the check is completed. For example, you will need financial details, information about your work history, and any further paperwork required, depending on your job.
Double-check that all guidelines and papers are:
- Up-to-date and true
- In English or Welsh (or together with a certified translation)
Final Note
After sending in your application, it is up to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to process it. When the result is available, you will get a message on how to collect your visa or use your digital immigration status, if you used the app for your application.
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If you are applying to come to or remain in the UK, your partner and children may also apply to join or stay with you as your dependents, provided they meet the eligibility criteria. Below is a comprehensive guide outlining the requirements, process, and key considerations for including dependents in your visa application.
Who Qualifies as a Dependant?
A dependent may include:
- Your husband, wife, civil partner, or unmarried partner.
- Your child under 18 years of age, including those born in the UK during your stay.
- Your child is over 18 if they currently have valid leave to enter or remain in the UK as your dependant.
Visa Duration for Dependants
If granted, a dependent’s visa typically ends on the same date as the principal applicant’s visa. However, if a child’s parents hold visas with differing expiry dates, the child’s visa will expire on the earlier of the two dates.
To apply as your partner, the applicant must provide evidence of one of the following:
- You are in a legally recognised marriage or civil partnership in the UK.
- You have been living together in a committed relationship for at least 2 years.
- You have been in a relationship for at least 2 years but are unable to live together due to valid reasons (e.g., work, study, or cultural constraints).
If Not Living Together
In such cases, you must demonstrate an ongoing commitment through evidence such as:
- Regular communication (e.g., call logs, messages, emails).
- Shared financial responsibilities (e.g., joint accounts or financial support).
- Shared responsibilities for children.
- Proof of spending time together (e.g., photos from holidays or events).
To qualify as your dependent, your child must:
- Live with you, unless living away for full-time education (e.g., boarding school or university).
- Not be married or in a civil partnership.
Evidence of Residency
You must provide proof of the child’s address. Acceptable documents include:
- Bank statements.
- Credit card bills.
- Driving licence.
- NHS registration document.
- An official letter from their educational institution.
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Applicants must demonstrate sufficient funds to support dependents during their stay in the UK.
You or your dependent must have the following minimum funds available for 28 consecutive days (within 31 days before applying):
- £285 for your partner.
- £315 for your first child.
- £200 for each additional child.
Example:
To bring a partner and one child, a total of £600 is required (£285 + £315), in addition to the £1,270 needed to support yourself.
Note: Proof of funds is not required if all family members have been lawfully residing in the UK for at least 12 months with a valid visa.
Applying from Outside the UK
Each family member must:
- Apply online separately as either a partner or a child.
- Pay the relevant visa fees.
- Apply before travelling to the UK.
- Use your Global Web Form (GWF) or Unique Application Number (UAN) to link their application to yours.
Proving Identity
Applicants must:
- Use the UK Immigration: ID Check app, or
- Attend a visa application centre to submit biometric data (fingerprints and photograph).
Note: In some cases, the visa centre may retain passports/documents and may be located in a different country.
Decision Timeline
- A decision is typically made within 3 weeks.
- Priority services may be available for faster processing.
Applying from Inside the UK (Extend or Switch)
Dependants already in the UK can extend or switch their visa, provided:
- They apply before their current visa expires, or
- They are applied for simultaneously with the principal applicant.
Children who turn 18 during your stay remain eligible to apply as dependents.
Restrictions on Switching
Dependants cannot switch from the following visa categories:
- Visitor visa
- Short-term student visa
- Parent of a Child Student visa
- Seasonal worker visa
- Domestic worker in a private household visa
- Immigration bail
- Exceptional permission granted outside immigration rules (e.g., on compassionate grounds)
Note for Students: If your partner or child is in the UK on a Student visa, they may switch only if they:
- Completed their sponsored course, or
- Have studied for a PhD for at least 24 months.
Identity Verification (In-country applications)
- Use the UK Immigration: ID Check app or
- Attend a UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services) service point.
Important: They must not travel outside the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands, or Isle of Man until a decision is made. Otherwise, the application will be withdrawn.
Decision Timeline
- Decisions are usually issued within 8 weeks.
- Faster services may be available for a fee.
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Children born in the UK do not automatically become British citizens. If you wish to travel in and out of the UK with your child, you must:
- Apply online for a dependent visa.
- Submit the child’s full UK birth certificate (including both parents’ names).
- Apply before the child turns 18 if they intend to stay in the UK.
Your dependent partner or child can:
- Work (except as a professional sportsperson or coach).
- Study.
- Travel abroad and return to the UK.
However, they cannot:
- Access most public funds (benefits).
- Claim the State Pension.
If successful, the visa decision letter will include a complete list of permissions and restrictions.
If you fit all the listed eligibility conditions, you can extend your UK Expansion Worker visa.
Eligibility Requirements
You must:
- Still be in the same work role as when your previous entry or stay permission was granted.
- Hold a job that uses the same kind of occupation code as your old visa.
- Keep on working with the same sponsor that has given you the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
- Not having passed the time limit allowed under this visa type.
Caution:
If you stay longer with a visa extension, this will not give your partner or child an extension as well. In addition, they need to apply for extension of their visa in a separate application, at least six months before their current visa’s expiry date. If a new visa is not issued, it will stay valid just until the date listed on the original.
Rules on Travel During the Visa Application
During the processing of your visa extension application, you cannot go anywhere outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man. Should you do this, the application process is automatically stopped.
To apply for an extension, you must be physically present in the UK.
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Suppose the application for your UK Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence is denied. In such cases, this situation typically occurs when the application contains errors, such as incomplete or missing fees or required documents. A refund may be available to you, and you are generally allowed to reapply if the information is corrected.
In this case, your application meets the approval standards, but a refusal means it does not meet them. Many responses explain that the reason for refusal is that:
- Only minimal proof points are given about the business’s legal status or its plans for scaling
- Insufficient or poorly qualified leaders
- Previously, the person did not follow immigration procedures correctly.
- Problems with processing by the Home Office
Should your application be refused, you could ask for an Error Correction if you are sure an error took place. Courts can also hear judicial reviews when someone feels that the procedures used were unfair.
When neither of these options works, a business must wait for the standard cooling-off period, approximately 6–12 months, and reapply.
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we understand that immigrating to a new country is a significant
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It can be hard for overseas companies that are not used to UK immigration rules to handle the process of sponsoring workers through a UK Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence.
Our business immigration consultants provide professional, fully-customised assistance to your organisation from start to finish.
The first thing we do is review your documents and eligibility to ensure your application complies with Home Office rules. Our team helps you identify potential compliance issues and ensures they are addressed before your application is submitted, which increases your chances of approval.
For those who have faced a refusal in the past, we guide them on ways to rectify the errors and suggest steps to reapply after cooling off.
Once your licence is granted, we continue to support you by ensuring your organisation adheres to UK immigration guidelines.
Whatever the situation, whether you’re a new or returning applicant after your first application, we will back you through each step.
You can get personal guidance on the UK Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence by calling us at +44 (0)333 920 9246 or by filling out our online contact form.
