About the Service Supplier Visa
If you have a contract to provide services to a UK business, you may be eligible to apply for a Service Supplier Visa. This visa is available for those working in specific roles either as:
- An employee of a company based overseas
- A self-employed professional based outside the UK
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for a Service Supplier Visa, you must meet the following criteria:
- Be employed by an overseas business or work as a self-employed service provider based outside the UK.
- Be under contract to provide services to a UK business, with this contract covered by a valid international trade agreement.
- Be engaged in a qualifying job role; if your role isn’t directly eligible, relevant qualifications and experience may be considered.
- Hold a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your UK sponsor that specifies the work you will undertake in the UK.
- You must have at least 12 months of employment with your employer outside the UK or 12 months of professional experience if you are a self-employed service provider.
Your exact eligibility depends on the nature of your job, so reviewing the criteria carefully is essential.
Duration of Stay
The length of time you can stay in the UK on a Service Supplier Visa depends on the trade agreement tied to the services you’re providing. You can live for whichever time duration is shorter:
- Either 6 or 12 months, based on the terms of the trade agreement for your contract.
- The duration specified on your certificate of sponsorship, along with an extra 14 days.
The maximum stay allowed on a Service Supplier Visa is either 6 or 12 months, depending on the relevant trade agreement
If You’ve Previously Spent Time in the UK on a Similar Visa:
In total, you’re permitted to stay in the UK for up to 5 years within any 6-year period if you’ve previously held any of the following 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)
If you’re interested in learning more about how the Service Supplier Visa can work for you or need assistance with the application process, reach out to Hermes Legal for guidance. Our professional Immigration Lawyers are here to help with your UK visa needs. Call us at 0203 9301711 or email us at info@hermeslegal.co.uk today.