What is the UK Service Supplier Visa?

The UK Service Supplier Visa allows overseas service providers to send staff to work in the UK on a temporary basis to fulfil a contract to supply services as part of a UK international trade agreement. The UK Service Supplier Visa is one of 5 categories under the new Global Business Mobility visa programme, which opened on 11^th April 2022. The Global Business Mobility visa scheme was introduced to make doing business in the UK easier for overseas organisations. The new Service Supplier Visa replaces the old International Agreement visa used for contractual service suppliers and self-employed professionals.

Some important points to bear in mind about the UK Service Supplier Visa include:

The applicants must be sponsored by a UK business before they can apply
The overseas employer must have a contract with a UK business that is covered by a valid international trade agreement
Those granted a UK Service Supplier Visa are permitted to work (paid or voluntary), study, and travel in and out of the UK freely
The Service Supplier Visa does not provide a route to settlement / ILR in the UK. Service Supplier Visa holders can, however, apply to switch to a different type of visa that leads to ILR
Service Supplier Visa holders are permitted to bring their dependant family members with them to the UK; this includes the visa holder’s spouse and children
The Service Supplier Visa holders can stay in the UK initially for up to 6 or 12 months (depending on the trade agreement under which services are being provided in the UK). This can be further extended

UK Service Supplier Visa requirements

Under the Service Supplier Visa rules, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

be an employee of an overseas organisation or a self-employed service provider that is based overseas
fulfilling a contract under a valid international trade agreement
meet the nationality or residence requirements required under the international trade agreement
hold a Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK sponsor
meet the 12-month employment requirement (see below for more details)
be sponsored for an eligible role or have the relevant qualifications/skills for the job being performed in the UK
have enough funds in their bank account to support themselves during their first month in the UK

International trade agreement contract requirements

International trade agreements exist to make it easier to trade between 2 or more nations. The UK has several international trade agreements with other countries, including EU and non-EU countries. A Service Supplier visa will only be granted where an employee of an overseas service supplier (or a self-employed person) is coming to the UK to provide services as part of a current UK international trade agreement.

Applicants must also meet the nationality requirements applicable to the specific trade agreement under which they are coming to the UK. In many cases, they must be a national of the country in which the service provider is based. In some limited cases, it may be possible for a person to apply if they are a permanent resident of the country where the service provider is based.

Sponsorship requirements

Service Supplier Visa applicants are required to provide evidence of a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) issued by their UK sponsor. This is the business for whom they are providing services in the UK. Sponsors must have an A-rated sponsorship licence specifically for the Global Business Mobility Service Supplier scheme. The CoS must have been granted within 3 months of the Service Supplier Visa application.

List of eligible occupations

Service Supplier Visa applicants must either have an eligible job on the list of eligible occupations¹ or relevant qualifications and experience. We recommend that you ask your employer for the standard occupation code (SOC) for your sponsored role and check this is on the official list of eligible occupations.

If it is not, you may still be able to apply if you have a bachelor’s degree or higher or a technical qualification equivalent to a bachelor’s degree. Those without a job on the eligible occupation list must have:

3 years of professional experience relevant to the service they will be providing in the UK (for employees)
6 years of professional experience for those who are self-employed

Applicants should note that some occupations have different requirements; including those providing services covering:

advertising or translation
chef de cuisine
entertainment services (excluding audio-visual services under the CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement)
fashion and modelling
management consulting services
technical testing and analysis

The Home Office guidance² provides more details for applicants with any of these roles.

Financial requirements

No general salary or going-rate threshold applies to Service Supplier applicants, although they must still be paid in accordance with UK National Minimum Wage rules. They must also normally have at least £1,270 in savings to support themselves when they arrive in the UK, and the funds must have been held for at least 28 consecutive days before the application date.

Where a Service Supplier visa applicant has been in the UK for 12 months or more, the support funds requirement may not apply. Alternatively, sponsors may cover these costs (this should be stated on the CoS).

UK Service Supplier Visa required documents

The Home Office will request a number of documents, these include (please note this list is not exhaustive):

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) unique reference number
current valid passport
job title and annual salary details
standard occupational code (SOC)
details of the employer
details of the UK based sponsor (i.e. their company name and sponsor licence number)
evidence of at least £1,270 in support funds held for at least 28 days (e.g. a bank statement). If the sponsor is covering these costs, the CoS must state this.
proof of relationship with the applicant’s dependant partner and/or children if they will be included on the main application (e.g. marriage or civil partnership certificate and birth certificate)
tuberculosis test results (if from a TB listed country)

How to apply for a Service Supplier Visa

Ensure you have your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your UK sponsor
Complete the Service Supplier Visa application online
Pay any required application fees (please see below for more details)
Provide valid evidence of your identity – either by booking and attending a biometric appointment with a visa application centre (VAC) or using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ mobile phone app.
Upload any documents requested by the Home Office
Attend an interview if you are required to do so – not all applicants need to do this. If you are asked to attend an interview, be reassured that this is normal and is intended to allow the Home Office to review your eligibility before a final decision is made.

How long can you stay with a Service Supplier Visa?

A Service Supplier Visa is normally granted for up to 6 or 12 months (depending on the international trade agreement). The maximum amount of time you can stay in the UK on a Service Supplier visa is 6 or 12 months. If you have reached this maximum time, you can either apply for a different type of visa or apply for a new Service Supplier visa from outside the UK. If you apply for a new Service Supplier Visa from outside of the UK, you will need to ensure you are within the rule that states you can stay for a maximum of 5 years in any 6 year period if you have spent time on any of the following visas:

Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa
Intra-company Transfer visa (ICT 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)

Service Supplier Visa extension

You can extend your Service Supplier Visa from within the UK before your current visa expires, provided you have not reached the maximum stay of 6 or 12 months that applies under the relevant trade agreement. You must still be contracted to work for the sponsor who issued your current Certificate of Sponsorship and continue to meet the relevant job, qualification and experience requirements.

Change jobs/employers on a Service Supplier Visa?

You can change jobs on a Service Supplier Visa, but if the new job has a different occupation code, you must apply to update your visa and obtain approval from the Home Office. You must still be contracted to work for the sponsor who issued your current Certificate of Sponsorship.

To update your visa, you will need to submit a new application, prove your identity, pay the applicable fees and provide details of your new Certificate of Sponsorship. Your new job must also meet the Service Supplier eligibility requirements.

You can continue working in your current job while your application is being considered, provided you apply before your current visa expires. You must not start the new job until your updated permission has been granted.

Service Supplier Visa dependent visa

As a Service Supplier worker, your dependant family members can join you in the UK. Dependant family members include:

husband, wife, civil partner, or unmarried partner (if unmarried, you must have been in a relationship with your partner for at least 2 years)
child/ren under the age of 18
child/ren over the age of 18 if they are dependant on you and not living a fully independent life.

Your family members will need to submit their own application, either as your partner or child, if applying from outside the UK. Furthermore, each dependant needs to prove their identity, pay the application fees, and submit any documents required to the Home Office.

UK Service Supplier Visa to ILR

There is no direct route for UK Service Supplier Visa holders to gain indefinite leave to remain (ILR). They can, however, choose to switch to an ILR qualifying visa such as the:

Qualifying visa holders must normally be living in the UK for at least 5 years to apply for ILR. For some visas, including the Global Talent visa, this qualifying period is 3 years. It is then possible to apply for British citizenship 1 year after gaining ILR.

References:

¹ GOV.UK: Global Business Mobility: eligible occupations and codes

²GOV.UK: Service Supplier visa

Service Supplier Visa UK