Sponsor Licence for UK Expansion Worker—Global Business Mobility (GBM) routes

Sponsor Licence for A UK Branch of Overseas Business that Want to Hire High-skilled Workers or Management  from Overseas Companies

What is the Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence?

The UK Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence is required for the UK subsidiary or branch of an overseas business that intends to hire migrant workers.

To obtain a Sponsor Licence for an Expansion Worker, the overseas business is required to register its UK subsidiary or branch with Companies House, though it is not allowed to start operations until the expansion worker is appointed to the UK. The applicant must provide evidence that they intend to establish a UK branch or wholly-owned subsidiary of an established overseas business. To meet the requirements, some of the information and documentation that the applicant must provide are:

A UK Footprint:

• registered a UK branch or wholly-owned subsidiary of the overseas business, or
• žhave bought or leased business premises in the UK

A Credible Expansion Plan

• ževidence of capability to fund their planned expansion
• a summary of overseas business, evidence of market research conducted and detailed reasoning for choosing the UK or a business plan or other document summarising the last 12 months’ activity of the overseas company, its financial position, reasons for expansion, the proposed overall investment in the UK and projected operating costs or expenditure for at least the first 12 months of operating in the UK

Overseas Trading Presence:

• the overseas businsess must have been trading for at least 3 years before the date of the application
• ževidence must be provided to show the overseas business has been trading throughout the 12 month period immediately before the application
• žFinancial status of the overseas business

What Passportia Can Offer You

Passportia can assess the overseas business, prepare and submit an application for an Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence. This includes all necessary steps, such as assisting with the registration of the UK business, securing office space, completing the online application form, drafting a letter of representation that addresses the relevant points, and reviewing all supporting documents.

Once the Sponsor Licence is granted, it will be issued with a Provisional Rating. Passportia can then provide additional support in the following areas:

• Assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to the lead Expansion Worker
• žHandling Expansion Worker initial and extension visa applications
• žUpgrading the Sponsor Licence Rate from Provisional Rating to A Rating
• žAssisting with the application for up to 4 additional CoS for other Expansion Workers
• žOffering training and advice on using the Sponsor Management System (SMS)
• žConducting annual reviews of employee documentation
• žAdding Skilled Worker or other routes to the Sponsor Licence
• žProviding guidance on other UK immigration matters.

To enquire about quotations - please fill in the form below or call a number on the right. No-win no fee arrangements may be available in certain circumstances. We look forward to hearing from you. 

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