UK Global Expansion Visa

Expand Into Britain Seamlessly

We prepare UK Expansion Worker cases, from the provisional sponsor licence and your UK footprint to the visas for senior staff opening your new British branch.

What Is the Global Expansion Visa?

Business expansion planning documents and strategy

Your UK Branch

The UK Expansion Worker visa — part of the Global Business Mobility routes — is designed for overseas businesses that don't yet trade in the UK but want to establish a presence there. It allows senior managers or specialist employees to enter the UK and set up the branch or subsidiary.

Unlike ordinary work visas, no UK trading history is needed — your overseas business track record is what counts. We prepare the expansion case, the sponsor licence, and the visas together as one project.

  • No existing UK trading presence required
  • Send senior managers & specialist staff to the UK
  • Bring your spouse and children as dependants
  • Switch to Skilled Worker later for the settlement path

Requirement → Our Support

What You Need

Every Expansion Worker requirement, with exactly how our team supports you on each one.

Established Overseas Business

Your company must be actively trading overseas with a credible track record.

Our SupportWe compile your corporate documents, accounts, and trading evidence into a Home Office-ready portfolio.

A Genuine UK Expansion Plan

Evidence of a credible plan to establish and grow a UK branch or subsidiary.

Our SupportWe draft a professional UK expansion business plan — market research, financials, and hiring projections included.

UK Footprint

Proof of a UK footprint, such as premises or a registered UK entity.

Our SupportWe guide you through UK company registration and premises evidence that satisfies the footprint requirement.

Provisional Sponsor Licence

The overseas business must obtain a provisional UK sponsor licence before visas can be issued.

Our SupportWe prepare and submit the sponsor licence application — the most technical stage of the route — on your behalf.

Senior or Specialist Role

Applicants must be genuine senior managers or specialist employees of the business.

Our SupportWe evidence your role, seniority, and employment history so the Home Office has no doubts about who is leading the expansion.

Salary & Employment Criteria

The UK role must meet the required skill level and salary threshold for the route.

Our SupportWe map your role to the correct occupation code and confirm the current salary requirement before anything is submitted.

Why This Route

Expansion Visa Benefits

A structured, Home Office-approved way to enter one of the world's largest markets.

Benefit One

Enter the UK Market

Open a legal UK branch for your brand with Home Office approval. No UK history needed.

First branch or subsidiary
Benefit Two

Bring Your Key Team

Sponsor several senior managers and specialists to build the UK operation.

Team-based expansion
Benefit Three

Family Dependants

Your partner and children under 18 can join you, with work and study rights.

Full family relocation
Benefit Four

Route to Settlement

Once your branch is trading, switch to Skilled Worker, which leads to ILR in 5 years.

Switch inside the UK

Is This Route for Me?

Answer one question — get an instant next step.

What stage is your business at?

Who Expands to the UK

Who We Help

From family enterprises to tech firms — if your business is established abroad,
the UK market is within reach.

Tech team in an open-plan office — software firms expanding to the UK

Tech & Software Firms

SaaS, IT services, and development houses opening a UK sales or delivery hub.

Trading and services businesses expanding to the UK

Trading & Services

Import-export houses, consultancies, and professional services entering the UK market.

Engineers on a factory floor — manufacturing businesses

Manufacturing

Producers and contractors establishing UK distribution, sales, or project offices.

Food and hospitality brands expanding internationally

Food & Retail Brands

Restaurant groups, franchises, and retail brands launching their first UK location.

The Ozmark Method

Office to Branch

Five clear stages, from your first private sitting to your switch onto the settlement path —
in plain language, with no surprises along the way.

  1. 1

    Free Consultation

    A private, no-obligation sitting to understand your business, your expansion goals, and your budget for the project.

  2. 2

    Business Assessment

    An honest read of your overseas trading history, structure and readiness against the real bar the Home Office applies — before a rupee is spent.

  3. 3

    UK Footprint & Business Plan

    UK entity registration, premises evidence, and a professional expansion business plan written for your circumstances rather than a template.

  4. 4

    Sponsor Licence & Visas

    We secure the provisional sponsor licence, assign Certificates of Sponsorship, and submit and track the visa applications.

  5. 5

    Arrival & Scale-Up

    Post-arrival compliance, additional staff visas, and — once trading — your switch to the Skilled Worker settlement path.

Success Stories

Businesses We've Expanded

We had traded in Lahore for eleven years but did not know how to enter the UK. Ozmark handled the licence and plan, and our London office opened.
T.M.Textile Exporter · London Branch
The provisional sponsor licence felt impossible on our own. Their team prepared the whole application, and both our senior managers got visas.
K.S.IT Services Firm · Manchester
A year after arriving on the Expansion route, our UK branch was trading and I switched to Skilled Worker. Now we are on the path to settlement.
R.A.Food Brand Director · Birmingham

Before You Ask

Your Questions, Answered

Consultants answering a client's questions about UK expansion
Does my business need to already trade in the UK?

No — this route exists precisely for businesses that do not yet have a UK trading presence. You do, however, need evidence of a UK "footprint," such as a registered UK entity or premises, and a credible plan to expand. We set all of this up for you.

How long is the visa granted for?

The Expansion Worker visa is granted for an initial period of up to one year, extendable to a maximum stay of two years on this route. Most clients switch to the Skilled Worker visa once the UK branch is trading, which opens the 5-year settlement path.

Does this visa lead to settlement (ILR)?

Not directly — the Expansion Worker route itself doesn't lead to settlement. But once your UK branch is operating, you can switch to the Skilled Worker visa from inside the UK, and that route leads to Indefinite Leave to Remain after 5 years. We plan this transition from day one.

How many employees can we send to the UK?

A business can sponsor a limited number of Expansion Workers at a time during the setup phase. Once the branch is established and the licence is upgraded, you can sponsor additional staff under the Skilled Worker route. We structure your team's moves in the right order.

Can my family come with me?

Yes — your spouse or partner and children under 18 can apply as dependants, with the right to work and study in the UK. We prepare the dependant applications alongside yours.

We're Listening

The UK Awaits

Tell us about your business — our experts will assess your eligibility for the Global Expansion route free of charge and map out your complete UK entry plan. Response within 24 hours.

Monday to Saturday, 10am – 6pm PKT · Every enquiry stays confidential.