At First Law Solicitors, we provide sophisticated legal and commercial guidance for overseas companies expanding their presence into the United Kingdom through the UK Expansion Worker Visa route under the Global Business Mobility (GBM) framework.
This visa is designed for senior managers and specialist employees sent to establish a UK branch or subsidiary of an existing overseas business. Our solicitors deliver structured, compliant, and commercially sound solutions that protect your organisation’s investment and operational continuity.
The UK Expansion Worker Visa replaced the former Representative of an Overseas Business route and now forms a central part of the Global Business Mobility framework.
It enables overseas companies without an active trading presence in the UK to send key personnel to set up new operations. The company must demonstrate genuine plans to expand, a credible business structure, and financial capability to support the new branch.
Each applicant must hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from their overseas employer and meet the salary and skill requirements set by the Home Office.
We manage the entire process from securing a Sponsor Licence to submitting compliant CoS assignments and preparing visa applications through the UK’s digital immigration system.
Before an application can be made, the overseas company must hold a Sponsor Licence under the Global Business Mobility category.
This licence confirms that the organisation is a genuine overseas business with plans to establish a permanent UK base. We prepare all required corporate documentation, including audited accounts, organisational charts, and proof of overseas trading activity.
Once granted, the Sponsor Licence enables the business to assign Certificates of Sponsorship to senior employees or specialists involved in the initial UK setup.
Our solicitors oversee this process with precise attention to Home Office compliance standards, ensuring that every document and statement aligns with the 2025 DCER system requirements.
To qualify as a UK Expansion Worker, the applicant must:
We assess eligibility in advance through a detailed legal audit to avoid refusals based on misclassified roles or underpaid positions.
A UK Expansion Worker Visa is typically granted for up to twelve months initially and can be extended to a maximum of two years.
Although this route does not itself lead directly to settlement, it forms a strategic entry point into the UK market. Once the UK entity becomes fully operational and meets sponsor requirements, future sponsorship can transfer under the Skilled Worker or Senior or Specialist Worker route, which may then lead to permanent residence.
Our team structures each application to preserve future settlement options and minimise disruption when transitioning between immigration categories.
Dependants, including partners and children under eighteen, may accompany or join the main applicant in the UK.
Family members enjoy full work and study rights, subject to general immigration conditions. We handle all related applications to ensure the family’s immigration status aligns precisely with the principal visa holder’s term of stay.
All Global Business Mobility applications are now processed entirely through the Home Office’s Digital Immigration Platform, with no physical visa vignettes or Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) issued after January 2026.
Our submissions use Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) and meet the data security obligations introduced by the Data Use and Access Act 2025.
We also maintain compliance with the Digital Compliance Evidence Review (DCER) framework, which enables the Home Office to verify corporate data directly with HMRC and overseas regulators.
A Sponsor Licence or visa refusal can delay market entry for months. By engaging First Law Solicitors, businesses gain immediate access to a dedicated immigration team experienced in corporate compliance, cross-border taxation, and investment structuring.
We act as an integrated legal partner, ensuring that every stage from overseas incorporation evidence to employee relocation is fully compliant and commercially efficient.
Our focus is to deliver operational readiness and regulatory assurance so that your expansion proceeds on schedule and without interruption.
Corporate Expertise: Our solicitors combine legal accuracy with commercial intelligence, ensuring your expansion is both compliant and profitable.
Digital Precision: Every application is filed through our encrypted digital portal, fully aligned with the Data Use and Access Act 2025 and the Home Office’s digital-by-default standard.
Strategic Continuity: We design long-term immigration strategies that evolve with your company, from initial market entry to full-scale operations.
Regulatory Authority: We interpret and implement every update to the Global Business Mobility guidance, ensuring your compliance framework remains ahead of Home Office expectations.
At First Law Solicitors, we help your business expand confidently into the UK market, combining legal excellence, digital compliance, and strategic foresight.
If your organisation is planning to establish a UK branch or transfer senior staff under the Global Business Mobility framework, contact First Law Solicitors for expert representation.
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