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Representatives of overseas business

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Conditions of your stay

This page explains how long you can stay in the UK as a representative of an overseas business, and other conditions of your stay.

If you meet all the requirements for this category (see the Can you apply? page) and you successfully apply for a visa, you will be allowed to come to the UK as a representative of an overseas business for an initial period of 3 years. You will then be able to apply to extend your stay for up to another 2 years.

After you have been in the UK for a given period (currently 5 years), you may be able to apply for permission to settle permanently in the UK. For more information, see the Settlement page.

While you are in the UK as the representative of an overseas business, You are expected to work full-time for that employer. You may not do business of your own, or represent any other company's interests.

During your stay, you will have no recourse to public funds, and you must register with the police if we require you to do so. For more information about hese and other requirements, see the Rights and responsibilities section.

Additional conditions for sole representatives of overseas companies

If the company's circumstances change and you have been in the UK for at least 2 years, you may continue to stay here as a sole representative even if your company appoints a superior. After some time, you may be able to apply for permission to settle here if you are still filling a genuine vacancy and the company wants to retain your services. For more information, see the Settlement page.

If either party terminates a sole representative arrangement, a replacement will normally have to apply for under the points-based system. This application can be made by the outgoing sole representative, or by a solicitor on behalf of the company (see below).

More information

  • Using a solicitor or other agent

    This page explains whether you can use a solicitor or other agent when making an application as a representative of an overseas business.

    If you want to use an agent, you should ensure that they are registered with the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner (OISC), or are exempt from the requirement to be registered (see below). Anyone who gives advice or acts on your behalf but is not registered or exempt could be committing a criminal offence.

    You can get lists of registered and exempted immigration advisers from OISC, whose contact details are on the right side of this page.

    The Law Society, which regulates solicitors in England and Wales, may also be able to help you find a solicitor. You can call the Law Society on 0870 606 6575.

    Once we have made our decision on your application, we will send it to your representative, provided they are registered or permitted to give immigration advice.

    If you and your representative are outside the UK, your representative does not need to register with the OISC. However, if you are in the UK but your representative is not, we will not be able to send your passport or other travel documents to your representative, and you will need to provide us with an address in the UK.

    Exemptions from OISC registration

    Some immigration advisers are exempt from OISC registration. To be exempt, an adviser must be a member of a designated professional body, work under the supervision of a designated professional body or be exempt by ministerial order.

    If an immigration adviser is a member of or works under the supervision of one of the designated professional bodies below, they are exempt from registration with the OISC:

    • the Law Society;
    • the Law Society in Scotland;
    • the Law Society in Northern Ireland;
    • the Institute of Legal Executives;
    • the Faculty of Advocates;
    • the General Council of the Bar; and
    • the General Council of the Bar of Northern Ireland.

    If an immigration adviser is a member of or works under the supervision of one of the organisations below, they are exempt from registration with the OISC by ministerial order:

    • state education institutions and their student unions;
    • health sector bodies; and
    • employers giving immigration advice to their employees or prospective employees only.

Policy & Law

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