Overseas Business Representative Visa

The requirements to be met by a sole representative are that he:

- has been recruited as an employee outside the UK as a representative of a company which has its headquarters and principal place of business outside the UK and which has no branch, subsidiary or other representative in the UK;

- is a senior employee with full authority to take operational decisions on behalf of the overseas firm as its representative in the UK;

- will establish a branch or wholly owned subsidiary of the overseas firm;

- will be employed full time as a representative of the overseas firm;

- does not intend to take any other employment;

- is not a majority shareholder in the company;

- can demonstrate competence in the English language to a specified standard; and

- he will not be reliant upon public funds.

A sole representative will normally be granted entry to the UK for up to 36 months.

It is possible to extend this leave providing that a UK branch or subsidiary has been established and the overseas company has not transferred its principal place of business to the UK.

After five years of continuous employment in the UK, sole representatives may apply for indefinite leave to remain.

Once granted, this allows individuals to remain in the UK indefinitely and to switch jobs freely, without the need to obtain further approval from the Home Office.

The spouse and any unmarried children under 18 of a sole representative may accompany him to the UK.

However, they must obtain entry clearance from the relevant British diplomatic post before they travel. They will be allowed to remain in the UK for the same period as the sole representative and will also be granted any extensions or indefinite leave to remain in line. They may work in the UK if no special restrictions have been placed on their stay.

Each dependant of an Overseas Business Representative visa were required to pay an 'NHS surcharge' fee in advance for each whole or part year of the visa.