Sole Representatives

This immigration category enables overseas companies to establish a first commercial presence in the UK by forming a branch or wholly owned subsidiary.  It allows one person, who must not be a European national, to come to the UK to do this.  ‘Sole’ means what it says; if a company then wants to send a second person to the UK a work permit will have to be obtained for the second person.

The company must be based overseas, and to be the sole representative you must have been recruited outside the UK.  You must be a full-time employee, and have the power to make decisions on behalf of the company.  You must not be a majority shareholder.

For further advice contact our immigration team.