UK immigration advice for overseas businesses
Establishing a UK operation means deciding who will lead it, which work needs to take place here and when those people need to be in position. Immigration arrangements should form part of those decisions from the outset.
Knightsbridge Immigration helps overseas businesses plan the movement of owners, managers and employees to the UK. We consider your existing operations, proposed UK activities and staffing needs, so you understand the available options and the preparation required to support your expansion.
Assess your stage of UK expansion
The appropriate immigration approach depends partly on how far your UK plans have progressed. A business preparing to establish its first UK operation faces different requirements from one already trading here.
The UK Expansion Worker route may be relevant where an eligible overseas business needs to send senior managers or specialist employees to establish a UK branch or subsidiary that has not yet started trading.
Our UK Business Expansion service considers the business’s position, proposed activities and personnel. We identify the relevant requirements and explain what evidence is needed before an application can proceed.
Bring the right people to your UK operation
Where a UK business is already operating, the Senior or Specialist Worker route may support qualifying transfers from a linked overseas organisation. The Skilled Worker route may also be relevant to eligible UK roles.
We examine the proposed duties, salary, employment arrangements and relationship between the businesses. The employee’s circumstances and intended length of assignment also matter.
Global Business Mobility routes do not lead directly to settlement. Where an employee’s plans include a longer-term move with their family, we consider that alongside the business’s immediate requirements when assessing the options.
Prepare the business for sponsorship
Company registration, sponsor licensing and an employee’s immigration permission are separate matters. Each needs to be addressed in the appropriate sequence.
Our Business Sponsor Licence support helps you understand the evidence and arrangements needed for the relevant licence. Depending on the route, this may include information about overseas trading, the UK presence, links between entities and the roles to be filled.
We also consider who will manage sponsorship and how the business will meet its responsibilities. This helps identify practical gaps before they affect an application or planned assignment.
Arrange exploratory and business visits
Directors and employees may need to visit the UK before the business is ready to transfer staff. Meetings, contract negotiations and certain other activities can be permitted under the visitor rules.
We assess the actual activities, duration and payment arrangements to determine whether the proposed trip fits those rules or requires another form of permission.
Our Visitors & Business Travellers page explains the advice available for these earlier visits and other short business trips.
Support the operation as it develops
The immigration work may continue after the first employee arrives. Further recruitment, changes to sponsored roles or developments in the business structure can create additional requirements.
Our HR & Compliance support helps those responsible understand record keeping, monitoring and reporting duties. We can also assess the immigration implications of proposed staffing changes as the UK operation develops.
Throughout the process, we explain the relevant application stages, costs and information needed from the businesses and individuals involved. This gives you a clearer basis for coordinating immigration preparation with your commercial timetable.
Discuss your UK business plans
Tell us where your business operates, whether you have established or started trading through a UK operation, and who you intend to send here. Include the proposed activities and any important dates.
We will confirm whether we can assist and explain the proposed scope of advice, application support and fees before you decide whether to instruct us.
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