Service Supplier Visa
he Service Supplier Visa is the perfect solution for employees of an overseas service provider ( or contractual service suppliers) and self-employed professionals outside of the UK to temporarily come to the UK to undertake a contract to supply services covered by one of the UK’s international trade agreements.
It provides reliable supplier payment and management solutions that are secure, efficient, and cost-effective.
With the Service Supplier Visa, businesses can enjoy easy access to an extensive worldwide network of world-class suppliers in the UK.
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
To be eligible for a Service Supplier visa, you must:
- be an employee of an overseas business, or a self-employed service provider based overseas
- be providing a service to a UK business under a contract that is covered by a valid international trade agreement
- be doing an eligible job – if your job is not eligible you may still qualify if you have relevant qualifications and experience
- have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your UK sponsor with information about the work you’ll be doing in the UK
- 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
The specific eligibility depends on your job.
How long you can stay for?
How long you can stay in the UK depends on the type of trade agreement you’re providing services under.
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
The maximum you can stay on a Service Supplier visa is 6 or 12 months depending on the type of trade agreement you’re providing services under.
If you’ve spent time in the UK on a Service Supplier visa or another visa before:
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)
For more information on our Service Supplier Visas, please get in contact where we would love to discuss further on how we could help you.
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If your job is not eligible
If you do not have an eligible occupation code, you may still be able to apply for a Service Supplier visa if you have relevant qualifications and experience.
You will normally need one of the following qualifications:
- a bachelor’s degree or higher in any subject
- a technical qualification that’s equivalent to a bachelor’s degree
You’ll also need:
- 3 years’ professional experience relevant to the service you provide if you’re an overseas employee
- 6 years’ professional experience if you’re self-employed
Some services have different experience and qualifications requirements:
| Services | Qualifications and experience |
| Advertising or translation | Relevant qualifications |
| Chef de cuisine | Advanced technical qualification and 6 years experience |
| Entertainment services (excluding audio-visual services under the CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement) | No qualifications required |
| Fashion and modelling | No qualifications required |
| Management consulting services | Bachelor’s degree |
| Technical testing and analysis | Bachelor’s degree or relevant technical qualification |
If you’re not providing services in one of these areas, you might still be eligible if you have at least a bachelor’s degree (in any subject) or equivalent technical qualifications.
Fees:
When you apply for a Service Supplier visa, you’ll need to have enough money to:
- pay the £259 application fee
- pay the healthcare surcharge – this is usually £624 per year
- support yourself when you arrive in the UK – you’ll usually need to have at least £1,270 available (unless you’re exempt)
Money to support yourself:
You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK.
You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 consecutive days. The end date of the 28 day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply.
You’ll usually need to show proof of this when you apply, unless either:
- you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for 12 months or more
- your sponsor can cover your costs during your first month in the UK, up to £1,270.
If you require assistance with applying for the Service Supplier visa, please contact us for a quote.
UK Expansion Worker Visa
This Visa facilitates the immigration of workers from non-EU countries to the UK for the purpose of expanding business and creating job opportunities.
Specialist Worker Visa
The Specialist Worker Visa is a gateway into the United Kingdom for individuals looking to pursue their career abroad. This visa allows individuals to enter the UK to work in an occupation with a specific skill and knowledge set.
Graduate Trainee Visa
The Graduate Trainee Visa is a special visa designed to help foreign students transition from academic studies into the professional world.
Secondment Worker Visa
The Secondment Worker Visa provides an opportunity for businesses or companies to temporarily hire qualified professionals from other countries.
Get in Touch
With years of experience working in UK immigration and Litigation law, our advisors can help you understand the process and take the right steps toward obtaining your goals. Get in touch today.