UK Expansion Worker Visa: 2025 Guide for Businesses & Employees

Quick Summary: Who This Visa Is For

The UK Expansion Worker visa is designed for senior managers or specialist staff who are sent to the UK to set up a new branch or subsidiary of their overseas employer. It is part of the Global Business Mobility route.

• Stay length: up to 12 months initially, extendable once to a maximum of 2 years.
• Costs: £319 application fee + £1,035 annual healthcare surcharge + proof of funds (usually £1,270, unless exempt).
• Decision times: around 3 weeks if applying from outside the UK, 8 weeks if applying inside.
• Settlement: this visa does not lead to permanent residence on its own.

Is This the Right Route for You?

You should choose the Expansion Worker visa if your business does not yet trade in the UK and you are sending someone senior to establish operations here.

• If your UK branch is already trading, the correct visa is usually the Senior or Specialist Worker visa.
• If you are being hired directly by a UK employer (including your own UK-registered company), the Skilled Worker visa may be more suitable.

Eligibility Checklist

For the Employer

• Must hold, or apply for, a UK sponsor licence under the Expansion Worker category.
• Must show a UK footprint (premises or Companies House registration).
• Must prove an overseas trading history, usually 3 years or more, plus a credible plan to expand into the UK.

For the Employee

• Must already work for the linked overseas business in a senior management or specialist role.
• Must usually have worked for that overseas employer outside the UK for at least 12 months, unless exempt.

Role & Salary Rules

• The role must be on the list of eligible occupations.
• Minimum salary is £52,500 or the “going rate” for the job code, whichever is higher.
• Exemptions apply for “high earners” (£73,900+) and some Japanese or Australian nationals.

Other Requirements

• A valid Certificate of Sponsorship from the UK entity.
• Proof of maintenance funds unless exempt.
• TB testing if required based on your country of residence.

What’s Changing in 2025

From 22 July 2025, the salary threshold rises to £52,500 (previously £48,500). Businesses planning to assign Certificates of Sponsorship after this date must meet the new rates.

Sponsor Licence: What the Business Needs in Place

To sponsor an Expansion Worker, the overseas business must apply for a UK sponsor licence. Key requirements include:

• Evidence of a UK footprint such as office premises or a Companies House registration.
• Evidence of active trading overseas and a credible business plan for UK expansion.
• An Authorising Officer (AO): if based in the UK, the licence can be fully rated with up to 5 Certificates of Sponsorship. If the AO is overseas, the licence starts on a provisional basis with just 1 Certificate, which must be used for the AO to enter the UK and then upgrade the licence.

Failure to establish a UK trading presence within the timeframe can result in the sponsor’s allocation being reduced to zero.

How Long You Can Stay

• The visa is granted for up to 12 months initially.
• It can be extended once, for another 12 months, making a total maximum stay of 2 years.
• Time spent on this visa counts towards the overall cap of 5 years in any 6-year period across Global Business Mobility and previous intra-company routes.

What You Can and Cannot Do

You can:

• Work in the sponsored role for your UK sponsor.
• Study.
• Travel in and out of the UK.
• Bring your partner and children as dependants if they qualify.
• Do voluntary work.

You cannot:

• Access public funds or the State Pension.
• Take a second job.
• Switch employers without applying for a new visa.
• Apply for indefinite leave to remain through this route.

Application Process: Step by Step

1. Your employer secures a sponsor licence and issues you a Certificate of Sponsorship.
2. You submit an online visa application, up to 3 months before your start date.
3. You provide documents, pay the fees, and prove your identity (either through the UKVI app or at a visa centre).
4. A decision is normally given within 3–8 weeks depending on where you apply.

Documents You’ll Need

From the employer:

• Certificate of Sponsorship.
• Evidence of overseas trading link and expansion plans.

From the employee:

• Passport.
• Evidence of employment with the overseas business (such as payslips or contracts).
• Proof of funds (unless exempt).
• TB test results (if required).

For dependants:

• Marriage or birth certificates.
• Proof of funds if maintenance is not certified by the sponsor.

Costs & Processing Times

• Visa fee: £319 per applicant.
• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £1,035 per year.
• Maintenance funds: £1,270 (unless exempt).
• Decision times: 3 weeks if applying from outside the UK; 8 weeks inside the UK. Priority services may be available at additional cost.

Common Refusal Reasons (and How to Avoid Them)

• Using the wrong occupation code or role description.
• Salary below the new threshold or going rate.
• Insufficient evidence of 12 months overseas employment.
• Weak or missing documents proving the UK expansion plan.
• Not meeting the financial requirement.

Careful preparation of both the sponsor licence application and the visa application is key to avoiding these issues.

After Expansion: Your Next Steps

Once the UK branch is established and trading, the business can add further immigration routes to its sponsor licence — such as Skilled Worker. This allows employees to switch onto a visa route that can lead to settlement in the UK.

FAQs

Can I bring my family?
Yes, your partner and children can apply as your dependants if they meet the requirements.

Do I need to speak English for this visa?
No English language requirement applies for this route.

How many employees can be sponsored?
Up to 5 at a time, depending on the licence rating and business need.

Can I stay beyond 2 years?
Not on this visa. You may be able to switch to another visa category once your UK entity is trading.

Need Help Today?

If you’re planning to expand your business into the UK, or if you’ve been told you’ll be coming to set up a new branch, the rules can feel overwhelming.

At Alexander Boyd Solicitors in Glasgow, we offer:

• Same-day or next-day appointments if you’re under time pressure.
• Clear, fixed fees agreed before you start.
• Calm, straightforward guidance so you know exactly what to expect.

👉 If your visa deadline is near, or you’re unsure what steps to take, we’re here to help — fast.