UK Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence – Eligibility, Requirements & Documents

The UK Expansion worker sponsor licence is a route for overseas businesses to establish a branch or subsidiary in the UK. This visa route allows eligible businesses to sponsor senior managers or specialists workers to perform work related to the business’s expansion in the UK.

This article will guide you through the documents, requirements, and faqs to apply for an Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence.

Eligibility requirements for UK expansion worker sponsor licence

In terms of requirements of UK Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence, you will need to satisfy the Home Office that:

• A summary of your planned expansion to the UK.
• Information about your overseas business;
• You are capable of carrying out your sponsor duties and evidencing your compliance in a timeframe and as per sponsor guidance.
• You need to offer employment which meets the skill level requirement for the UK Expansion Worker route; 
• Proof of your UK footprint;
• There is a qualifying link between you (the sponsor) and the overseas business that will send workers to you;
• The overseas business that is expanding to the UK is active and trading overseas and, unless an exception applies, has been active and trading for at least 3 years;
• The business you are establishing in the UK is either wholly owned by the overseas business or is part of the same legal entity;
• You need to appoint an Authorising Officer, Key Contact and at least one Level 1 User.

Required documents for expansion worker sponsor licence

To apply for a UK expansion worker sponsor licence, you must provide the following documents:

• Proof of your UK ‘footprint’ All businesses applying under UK Expansion Worker must show they have a UK footprint.
• Evidence of your overseas trading presence Unless an exception applies
• Evidence you have been trading overseas for at least 12 months before the date of your application 
• Evidence your business was trading overseas 3 years before the date of application
• Evidence of your planned expansion to the UK Unless an exception applies
• Evidence of your expansion plans
• A summary of your overseas business

If you require Immigration Advice Services or help with an Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence, please contact +441614644140 or email us at info@deluxelawchambers.co.uk for fast, professional, and affordable immigration advice from our highly experienced UK immigration lawyers. You can book an appointment online for a detailed immigration consultation.

Proof of your UK ‘footprint’

All businesses applying under UK Expansion Worker must show they have a UK footprint. This must be one of the following documents:

• proof you have registered a UK branch or wholly-owned subsidiary of your overseas company with Companies House (you need only provide your Companies House reference number); or
• evidence you have bought or leased business premises in the UK (such as a lease agreement or proof of purchase)

Evidence of your overseas trading presence

Unless an exception applies, you must submit the documents listed under (a) and (b) below.

(a) Evidence you have been trading overseas for at least 12 months before the date of your application

You must submit one document under sub-paragraph (i) below and one document under sub-paragraph (ii).

(i) One of the following:

• corporate or business bank statements showing active transactions for services or goods received or provided covering a period of at least 12 months before the date of your application; or
• audited or unaudited accounts or, where your business is not required to file such accounts, a balance sheet along with a profit and loss statement for the most recent financial year (as defined by laws applicable to the overseas business), together with an accountant’s certificate of confirmation – this certificate should include confirmation of the accountant’s registration with any appropriate regulatory body in the country in which those accounts have been produced

(ii) One of the following:

• copies of contracts for goods or services covering at least the 12-month period before the date of application; or
• evidence of advertising for services or goods offered by your overseas business

(b) Evidence your business was trading overseas 3 years before the date of application – this should be at least one of the following:

• business accounts for the relevant period (these must be audited if required by the applicable laws in the jurisdiction in which your business is based)
• corporate or business bank statements for the relevant period
• contracts for goods and services for the relevant period
• annual reports and investor information for the relevant period
• any other credible evidence to show you were actively trading during this period

Evidence of your planned expansion to the UK

Unless an exception applies, you must send one document listed under (a) and two listed under (b) below.

(a) Evidence of your capability to fund your planned expansion, which must show that you have funds available to cover the initial costs for the first 12 months, as projected in your expansion plan – at least one of the following:

• corporate or business bank statements showing transactions from the 12-month period before the date of application (if not already submitted under 2(a)(i) above)
• a letter from your corporate banking provider, setting out the dealings it has had with you, including the nature and duration of those dealings

(b) Evidence of your expansion plans – unless an exception applies, you must send at least 2 of the following:

(i) A summary of your overseas business, which must include all of the following:

• information about which sector, or sectors, you operate in
• a current hierarchy chart for the overseas business detailing any owner, director and board members and the total number of employees
• information about any jobs you intend to fill in the UK, including the job title, occupation code, and salary

(ii) 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.

(iii) Evidence of market research conducted and detailed reasoning for choosing the UK as a viable market to expand to (if not included in the business plan).

(iv) Where the expansion is subject to a shareholder vote process, as detailed in the company’s original articles of incorporation or equivalent, you must send evidence that this process has been followed (this may form part of the company’s filed accounts).

(v) Where the evidence under (3)(b)(ii) or (3)(b)(iii) above has been produced either wholly or in part by a third party (for example, where market research was outsourced to a specialist company) you must also include certified copies of the contract or agreement for that piece of work with the third party.

Other documents

Unless an exception applies, you must also send at least one of the following:

• annual reports and investor information
• evidence of engagement with, or advice sought from, specialist advice companies, such as company formation businesses, relocation firms, UK corporate law services, tax services, or the British Chamber of Commerce
• details of any recruitment campaigns you have run, or plan to run, in the UK for employees of the UK business once trading begins
• Articles of Association (or equivalent document) for your overseas business
• details of any tendering or other process where any activity relating to your business expansion plan, such as the commission of market research, has been conducted by an independent third party

How to Apply for a UK Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence?

In order to successfully apply for a UK Expansion Worker sponsor licence, you will need to satisfy various general and route-specific requirements.

The Process Explained

The process of obtaining this licence involves a detailed review of your business by the government to ensure your genuine need to expand your business in the UK.

Duration of a UK Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence

If your sponsor licence application is successful, your licence will be valid for 4 years.  It is not possible to renew a UK Expansion Worker sponsor licence because you will normally be expected to have established a UK trading presence within 2 years from the date when the licence was granted.

How can we help with your UK Expansion worker sponsor licence application?

We understand that efficiency, both in terms of money and workforce is important to any successful business. At Deluxe Law Chambers, our commercial awareness and experience in dealing with sponsor licence applications sets us apart from other immigration law firms.

We understand what needs to be done to secure an Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence allowing you to do what you do best, run your business to ensure it is profitable. We take the stress away from applying for a Sponsor Licence which can be complex in nature giving you confidence of a successful outcome.

• We conduct a review of your organisation and HR structure.
• We advise you on the required documents to apply for a sponsor licence application.
• Our legal team advise you on expansion worker sponsor licence requirements.
• We work with you to build a robust system for your organisation to comply with the Home Office requirements.
• We prepare your application form.
• We advise you about your duties and responsibilities as a sponsor licence holder.
• We maintain a high reputation for being understanding, tenacious, and flexible in dealing with our clients to ensure the best result possible.