Immigration, Simplified

UK Expansion Worker Visa

The UK Expansion Worker visa is part of the Global Business Mobility route. It is designed for senior managers or specialist employees of an overseas company who need to move to the UK to establish the first branch or subsidiary of that business.

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Official UK Government Updates

For accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official UK Government source:

UK Expansion Worker Visa

Core Eligibility

To qualify for this sponsored route, you must meet the following:

Sponsorship: A valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your employer’s UK branch or subsidiary.
Overseas Employment: You must have worked for the overseas business for at least 12 months outside the UK (unless you earn over £73,900 or are a Japanese or Australian national).
Skill Level: The role must be at RQF Level 6 (Bachelor’s degree equivalent) or above.
Financial Maintenance: You must show at least £1,270 in personal savings held for 28 consecutive days.

2026 Salary Requirements

The salary thresholds for this route were significantly increased in late 2025. You must be paid the higher of the following:

Requirement	2026 Threshold
General Salary Threshold	£52,500 per year
Occupation Going Rate	100% of the pro-rated going rate

High Earners: If your salary is £73,900 or higher, you are exempt from the 12-month prior employment rule.
Hours: These thresholds are typically based on a 48-hour working week. If you work more, only the first 48 hours count toward the threshold.

2026 Costs and Fees

The UK Expansion Worker visa involves substantial upfront costs for both the application and healthcare.

Fee Type	2026 Rate	Total for 1 Year
Visa Application Fee	£298	£298
Health Surcharge (IHS)	£1,035 per year	£1,035
Total Upfront Cost	—	£1,333

Immigration Skills Charge: Employers are usually exempt from this charge for the Expansion Worker route, which helps lower the business’s initial setup costs compared to the Skilled Worker route.

Rights and Restrictions

Duration: The visa is granted for 1 year initially. You can extend it for 1 more year, but the maximum time allowed on this specific route is 2 years.
Work: You can only work for your sponsor in the role described on your CoS. You cannot take a second job.
No Settlement: This route does not lead directly to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). However, once the UK branch is trading, many workers switch to the Skilled Worker route to start their settlement “clock.”
Business Limit: A single business can only sponsor up to 5 workers at a time on this route to establish their UK presence.

Dependants

Your partner and children can join you. They must pay the same £298 application fee and the £1,035 annual health surcharge. You must also prove additional savings for them (£285 for a partner, £315 for a first child, and £200 for each additional child).