whereTOemigrate
Get your free results
GB country scene

Service Supplier — Global Business Mobility

United KingdomWork

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

Get your free results Read the five questions ↓

What type of worker, employment situation, occupation or professional activity is this pathway actually designed for?

The Service Supplier visa is for an employee of an overseas company or a self-employed professional based overseas who has a contract to provide services for a UK company.

See recorded sources
  • Overview
    You can apply for a Service Supplier visa if you have a contract to provide services for a UK company, either as: an employee for an overseas company a self-employed professional based overseas

Does the applicant need a job offer, employer, sponsor, transfer relationship or other employer involvement? What is important about that employer relationship?

The applicant must have a certificate of sponsorship from a UK sponsor with information about the work they will be doing in the UK.

See recorded sources
  • Eligibility
    have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your UK sponsor with information about the work you’ll be doing in the UK

What are the few decisive professional characteristics of the pathway: occupation, qualifications, experience, salary, skill level, shortage status, labour-market condition or equivalent?

The applicant must be providing a service to a UK business under a contract covered by a valid international trade agreement, and must be doing an eligible job; if the job is not eligible, they may still qualify with relevant qualifications and experience. They must have worked for their employer for at least 12 months outside the UK, or have at least 12 months' professional experience if self-employed.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The document does not specify which occupations are eligible, what qualifications or experience are relevant, or any salary or skill level requirements.
  • Eligibility
    be providing a service to a UK business under a contract that is covered by a valid international trade agreement
  • Eligibility
    be doing an eligible job - if your job is not eligible you may still qualify if you have relevant qualifications and experience
  • Eligibility
    have worked for your employer for at least 12 months outside the UK, or have at least 12 months’ professional experience if you’re a self-employed service provider

What work does the permission allow? Is the holder tied to an employer, occupation or sector? Can family accompany where clearly established?

The holder can work for their sponsor in the job described in the certificate of sponsorship, study, bring their partner and children as dependants if eligible, travel abroad and return to the UK, and do voluntary work, which must be unpaid and for a registered charity, a voluntary organisation, an associated fundraising body or a statutory body. They cannot apply for most benefits (public funds) or the State Pension, change jobs unless they update their visa, apply to settle permanently (indefinite leave to remain), or do a second job.

See recorded sources
  • https://www.gov.uk/service-supplier-visa
    You can: work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship study bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible travel abroad and return to the UK do voluntary work
  • https://www.gov.uk/service-supplier-visa
    Any voluntary work you do must be unpaid and for one of the following: a registered charity a voluntary organisation an associated fundraising body (an organisation that raises money for a charity or voluntary organisation) a statutory body (a government-appointed body, for example Historic England)
  • https://www.gov.uk/service-supplier-visa
    You cannot: apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension change jobs unless you update your visa apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) do a second job

How long is the permission normally granted for, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction exists if officially stated?

The holder can stay for whichever is the shorter of 6 months or 12 months (depending on the trade agreement the services are provided under) and the time given on the certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days. Anyone who has spent time on the Service Supplier visa or the other listed Global Business Mobility and Intra-company visas can only stay in the UK for a maximum of 5 years in any 6 year period. The holder cannot apply to settle permanently in the UK (indefinite leave to remain).

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The source does not describe how, or whether, the Service Supplier visa is renewed or extended beyond the 6 or 12 month maximum; it only lists 'inside the UK and extending your current visa' as an application channel without conditions.
  • https://www.gov.uk/service-supplier-visa
    You can stay for whichever is the shorter of: 6 months or 12 months - this depends on the trade agreement you’re providing services under the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days
  • https://www.gov.uk/service-supplier-visa
    You can only stay in the UK for a maximum of 5 years in any 6 year period if you’ve spent time on any of these visas: Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa Intra-company Transfer visa Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility) Secondment Worker visa (Global Business Mobility) Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility) Service Supplier visa (Global Business Mobility) UK Expansion Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
  • https://www.gov.uk/service-supplier-visa
    You cannot: apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension change jobs unless you update your visa apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’)

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

Explore more pathways in United Kingdom · All pathways

Your story.
Your next step.

Get your free results