SERVICE SUPPLIER VISA

The Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier Visa is for overseas workers who need to come to the UK temporarily to provide services covered by one of the UK’s international trade commitments. It can be used by employees of overseas service providers, known as contractual service suppliers, and by qualifying self-employed professionals established outside the UK.

The route is closely tied to the relevant international trade agreement. It is not enough for an overseas business simply to have a commercial contract with a UK company. The service being provided, the location of the overseas service provider and the nationality or residence status of the individual worker must fall within an applicable UK trade commitment. The UK business receiving the services must also hold the appropriate sponsor licence and register the eligible contract before sponsoring the worker.

The Service Supplier Visa is a temporary work route. It does not lead directly to settlement in the UK, although a Service Supplier may potentially switch into another immigration category which does provide a route to settlement if they satisfy the requirements of that category. A partner and eligible dependant children may also accompany or join the main applicant.

1. What Is the UK Service Supplier Visa?

The Service Supplier route is one of the five Global Business Mobility routes. It allows an overseas service provider to send an eligible worker to the UK temporarily to fulfil a qualifying contract with a UK business.

There are two broad types of Service Supplier:

• a contractual service supplier, who is employed by an overseas service provider; or
• an independent professional, who is self-employed and established outside the UK.

In either case, the proposed work must form part of the supply of services under one of the UK’s international trade commitments that is in force or being provisionally applied.

The Service Supplier route replaced the provisions for contractual service suppliers and independent professionals previously found within the Temporary Work – International Agreement route.

It is important to distinguish a Service Supplier assignment from ordinary recruitment. The route is designed to facilitate the temporary delivery of services pursuant to an eligible international trade commitment. It is not a general mechanism by which a UK company can employ or hire an overseas worker simply because the individual has specialist expertise.

2. Service Supplier Visa Eligibility Requirements

An applicant will generally need to satisfy the Home Office that:

• they are aged 18 or over;
• they are currently working as or for an overseas service provider which will provide services to their UK sponsor;
• they have completed the required period of work outside the UK;
• their UK sponsor has an eligible contract with the overseas service provider and that contract has been registered;
• they have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship;
• the sponsored role is genuine and complies with the restrictions on third-party working;
• they satisfy either Option A or Option B of the skill-level requirement;
• they meet the applicable nationality or residence requirement;
• they genuinely intend and are able to undertake the sponsored role;
• the assignment complies with applicable minimum wage and working time requirements;
• they satisfy the financial requirement, where applicable; and
• they meet the relevant suitability, tuberculosis and any other applicable immigration requirements.

A Service Supplier must score 40 points:

Requirement	Points
Sponsorship	20
Job at the appropriate skill level – Option A or Option B	20
Total	40

Unlike some other Global Business Mobility routes, there is no separate points requirement for salary. However, this does not mean that remuneration arrangements can disregard UK employment protections.

The exact requirements will depend on the relevant trade agreement, the type of service being provided, whether the applicant is an employee or independent professional, and the circumstances of the UK contract.

3. Eligible Service Contracts and UK Trade Agreements

A central feature of the Service Supplier route is that the assignment must arise from a contract for services covered by an eligible UK international trade agreement.

The UK currently has qualifying commitments under a range of agreements, including the General Agreement on Trade in Services, agreements with the European Union, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the UK–India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), and various other bilateral or regional agreements.

However, the existence of a trade agreement with a particular country does not mean that every type of service can be provided under the Service Supplier route. Each agreement has its own sectoral coverage.

Official sector tables identify qualifying services including, depending on the relevant agreement, areas such as accounting, advertising, architecture, computer-related services, engineering, environmental services, legal advisory services, management consultancy, research and development, taxation advice, technical testing and analysis and translation services. Some agreements cover narrower or specialist categories.

It is therefore necessary to identify:

1. the service that the UK customer is purchasing;
2. the international agreement under which that service is covered;
3. whether the agreement applies to a contractual service supplier, an independent professional or both;
4. where the overseas service provider is established; and
5. whether the proposed worker satisfies the nationality or residence conditions attached to that trade commitment.

Contractual Service Suppliers

A contractual service supplier is employed by an overseas service provider which has contracted to provide qualifying services to the UK sponsor.

The overseas service provider must be based outside the UK and have no commercial presence in the UK for the purposes of the Service Supplier arrangements. The worker must remain connected to the overseas service provider and satisfy the overseas work requirement.

Independent Professionals

The route can also be available to self-employed professionals established outside the UK.

An independent professional does not need to be an employee of an overseas business, but must be genuinely self-employed and satisfy the relevant trade-agreement, professional-experience, qualification, nationality or residence, and overseas work requirements.

Independent professionals relying on Option B generally require at least six years’ professional experience in the sector in which the services will be provided.

Requirements for the Service Contract

The UK sponsor must have an eligible contract with an overseas service provider.

Sponsor guidance requires the service to be provided under a genuine contract for a period not exceeding 12 months. The contract must have been awarded through open tendering or another procedure capable of demonstrating that it is genuine, and the UK sponsor must be the final consumer of the service.

The arrangement cannot be used merely to supply the Service Supplier as labour to another organisation.

The contract must be registered with the Home Office before the worker can be properly sponsored against it. Once approved, a Certificates of Sponsorship may be assigned only to workers coming to the UK to fulfil the relevant registered contract.

UK–India CETA and the Service Supplier Route

The UK–India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement entered into force on 15 July 2026 and now forms part of the Service Supplier framework.

Indian nationals can therefore qualify as Service Suppliers where the proposed service falls within a relevant UK–India CETA commitment and the remaining immigration requirements are met.

There is a specific annual restriction relating to Indian nationals sponsored as traditional chefs, classical musicians or yoga instructors. The Immigration Rules provide for a maximum annual allocation of 1,800 grants across those roles, measured from 1 January to 31 December each year.

This is separate from the ordinary assessment of whether the particular service and applicant otherwise qualify under the route.

CPTPP Service Suppliers

The CPTPP also forms part of the Service Supplier framework.

For a CPTPP application, it is necessary to consider not only the relevant service sector but also whether the country in which the overseas service provider is located and the applicant’s nationality fall within the countries for which the UK’s accession to the CPTPP has taken effect.

As the CPTPP expands and ratifications take effect at different times, the relevant position should be checked at the date of each application rather than assumed from membership of the CPTPP alone.

4. UK Sponsor and Certificate of Sponsorship Requirements

A Service Supplier must be sponsored by a UK business which is authorised to sponsor workers on the Service Supplier route.

The sponsor will normally need to be A-rated on the register of licensed sponsors. An exception applies where the applicant was last granted permission as a Service Supplier and is applying to continue working for the same sponsor.

The sponsor must assign the applicant a valid Certificate of Sponsorship. This is an electronic sponsorship record rather than a physical certificate.

The Certificate of Sponsorship must:

• identify the applicant and confirm that they are being sponsored as a Service Supplier;
• provide details of the sponsored job;
• state a job start date no more than three months after the application date;
• not have been used for a previous application that was granted or refused;
• not have been withdrawn by the sponsor or cancelled;
• confirm whether the Academic Technology Approval Scheme requirement applies; and
• identify the sponsor’s registered contract on which the applicant will work.

The visa application must normally be made no more than three months after the Certificate of Sponsorship was assigned.

The Certificate of Sponsorship does not itself guarantee that the visa application will be granted. The applicant must independently meet the immigration requirements, and the underlying sponsorship and contract arrangements must withstand scrutiny.

5. Service Supplier Overseas Work Requirement

An applicant must be currently working as or for the overseas service provider that will provide services to the UK sponsor.

They must also have worked as or for that overseas service provider outside the UK for a cumulative period of at least 12 months.

The 12 months do not necessarily have to consist of one uninterrupted period physically outside the UK.

For an employee, the applicant must have been continuously working for the relevant overseas service provider from the start of the qualifying 12-month period until the date of application, whether that work took place inside or outside the UK.

For a self-employed independent professional, the applicant must instead have been continuously working in the same sector as the services they will provide to the UK sponsor.

Certain breaks do not interrupt the required continuity. These include qualifying periods of:

• statutory maternity, paternity, parental or shared parental leave;
• statutory adoption leave;
• sick leave;
• assisting with a national or international humanitarian or environmental crisis with the agreement of the overseas service provider;
• legally organised industrial action;
• jury service; and
• attending court as a witness.

Evidence of the overseas work history may be requested. An employee may, for example, need to demonstrate payment from the overseas employer. A self-employed applicant may rely on appropriate evidence of their business activity, which might include invoices, accounts, bank records or other evidence appropriate to the circumstances.

6. Skill-Level Requirements: Option A and Option B

A Service Supplier must obtain 20 points for meeting the skill-level requirement.

There are two ways to do this.

Option A: Eligible Occupation Code

Under Option A, the applicant must normally be sponsored for a job falling within an eligible SOC 2020 occupation code listed in Table 2 or Table 3 of Appendix Skilled Occupations.

These roles are generally at graduate skill level or above. The applicant does not necessarily need to hold a degree simply because the occupation is regarded as graduate level. What matters under Option A is the skill level and occupation code of the sponsored role.

Sponsors should ensure that the occupation code genuinely reflects the work that the applicant will undertake. An artificially selected occupation code cannot be used to bring an otherwise ineligible role within the route.

Transitional Occupations Until April 2030

A limited transitional provision applies to certain roles listed in Table 2b of Appendix Skilled Occupations.

An applicant may potentially continue to be sponsored in one of these occupations where:

• they were granted permission as a Service Supplier under the Rules in force before 4 April 2024;
• they have held continuous Service Supplier permission since then, subject to the limited rules concerning disregarded overstaying;
• they are applying for further permission on the same route; and
• the application is made before 4 April 2030.

This transitional provision does not make Table 2b occupations generally available to new Service Supplier applicants.

Option B: Qualifications and Professional Experience

Option B provides an alternative for Service Suppliers whose proposed role is not contained in the ordinary list of eligible Global Business Mobility occupations.

An applicant relying on Option B must generally hold:

• a university degree; or
• a technical qualification equivalent to university-degree level.

There are specific rules for particular sectors. For example:

Service	Qualification Requirement
Fashion and modelling	No qualification required
Chef de cuisine under the CARIFORUM agreement	Advanced technical qualification
Certain entertainment services	No qualification required
Management consulting and related services for managers and senior consultants	University degree
Advertising or translation	Relevant qualifications
Technical testing and analysis	University degree or relevant technical qualification

The sponsor guidance specifically recognises certain Swiss Advanced Federal Diplomas as examples of technical qualifications assessed as equivalent to UK degree level.

Professional Experience Under Option B

Applicants relying on Option B must also have relevant professional experience.

The usual requirement is:

• three years’ professional experience in the relevant sector for most employed contractual service suppliers;
• six years’ professional experience for a self-employed independent professional; or
• six years’ relevant experience at chef de cuisine level where relying on the specific CARIFORUM provision.

Professional Qualifications and Registration

Irrespective of the immigration skill test, the applicant must hold any professional qualifications or registrations which are legally or professionally required to provide the relevant services in the UK.

A person may therefore meet the immigration qualification requirement but still be unable lawfully to carry out a regulated profession without additional UK recognition, authorisation or registration.

ATAS Requirements

In certain sensitive research roles at PhD level or above, the Academic Technology Approval Scheme may apply.

Where relevant, this must be identified in the Certificate of Sponsorship and the applicant may need a valid ATAS certificate.

7. Nationality and Residence Requirements for Service Suppliers

The Service Supplier route contains specific nationality and residence requirements which depend upon the trade agreement relied upon.

The basic rule is usually that the applicant must be a national of the country or territory in which the overseas service provider is established. However, the Immigration Rules contain several important alternatives and extensions.

For example:

• certain General Agreement on Trade in Services cases can include qualifying permanent residents;
• the UK–Switzerland Services Mobility Agreement can cover permanent residents of Switzerland;
• relevant EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement commitments extend to qualifying EU nationals and certain other persons within the treaty definition;
• the Australia and New Zealand agreements contain provisions for permanent residents;
• Indian nationals can qualify under applicable UK–India CETA commitments; and
• CPTPP cases have their own nationality and ratification conditions.

Eligibility should therefore not be assessed simply by asking whether the applicant comes from a country that has a trade agreement with the UK.

The particular trade commitment, service sector, place of establishment of the overseas service provider and status of the individual applicant all need to be considered together.

8. Genuine Role and Genuine Intention Requirements

The sponsored position must be genuine.

An application can be refused where there are reasonable grounds to believe that the proposed job:

• does not exist;
• is a sham; or
• has been created mainly so that the applicant can obtain entry clearance or permission to stay.

The route also restricts third-party working. The assignment must not amount to hiring the applicant to an organisation other than the sponsor to fill a temporary or permanent position. Nor can the worker be used to perform an ongoing routine role or provide an ongoing routine service for a third party.

There is a separate genuineness requirement applying to the applicant personally. They must genuinely intend and be able to undertake the role for which they are sponsored and must not intend to take employment outside the work permitted by the Service Supplier route.

The immigration analysis should therefore consider both whether the commercial assignment is genuine and whether the proposed worker’s background, skills and intentions are consistent with that assignment.

9. Salary, Minimum Wage and Working Time Requirements

There is no general Service Supplier Visa salary threshold and no occupation-specific going-rate requirement equivalent to those applying on some other sponsored work routes.

However, the absence of a points-based salary threshold does not mean that remuneration arrangements are irrelevant.

The sponsored assignment must comply with the National Minimum Wage Regulations and Working Time Regulations where those requirements apply. A role may fail the sponsorship requirement if there are reasonable grounds to believe that it does not comply.

Care should therefore be taken when structuring remuneration, working hours, overseas allowances and other arrangements, particularly where the worker remains employed and paid by the overseas service provider.

10. Service Supplier Visa Financial Requirement

An applicant applying from outside the UK, or who has been living in the UK with permission for less than 12 months, will normally need to demonstrate funds of at least £1,270.

The funds must generally have been held for at least 28 consecutive days, with the end of the 28-day period falling within the permitted period before the application.

Alternatively, an A-rated sponsor may certify on the Certificate of Sponsorship that it will maintain and accommodate the applicant, if necessary, during the first month of their employment up to the required amount.

An applicant applying for permission to stay who has already been living in the UK with valid permission for at least 12 months will normally satisfy the financial requirement without having to demonstrate the £1,270 funds.

Different additional maintenance requirements apply to family members.

11. Is There an English Language Requirement?

There is no English language requirement for the Service Supplier Visa.

An applicant does not need to take an approved English-language test or demonstrate a specified academic qualification taught in English in order to qualify under this route.

This distinguishes the Service Supplier route from settlement-oriented work categories such as the Skilled Worker route.

12. Can You Switch to a Service Supplier Visa From Inside the UK?

It is possible to switch into the Service Supplier route from some immigration categories from inside the UK, provided the requirements of the route are met.

However, an applicant cannot switch where they have, or were last granted, permission:

• as a Visitor;
• as a Short-term Student;
• as a Parent of a Child Student;
• as a Seasonal Worker;
• as a Domestic Worker in a Private Household; or
• outside the Immigration Rules.

A person on immigration bail will also generally be unable to meet the suitability requirements for permission to stay.

Switching From the Student Route

Additional restrictions apply where the applicant has or last had Student permission.

They must satisfy one of the permitted conditions. Broadly, this means that they must either:

• have completed the course for which their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned;
• be studying a qualifying full-time degree-level course and have a Certificate of Sponsorship with a start date no earlier than the course completion date; or
• be studying for a PhD with a qualifying higher education provider and have a Certificate of Sponsorship start date at least 24 months after the start of the PhD.

Students should therefore check the switching requirements before making an in-country application.

13. Extending or Updating a Service Supplier Visa

A Service Supplier may be able to extend their permission where:

• they remain contracted to work for the sponsor which issued their current Certificate of Sponsorship;
• they have not reached the maximum permitted stay;
• the relevant trade commitment continues to apply; and
• their job, qualifications and experience continue to satisfy the requirements of the route.

A fresh Certificate of Sponsorship will normally be required.

An extension application must be submitted before the applicant’s existing permission expires.

What if the Job Changes?

If the worker changes to a different occupation code, they will generally need to apply to update their visa, rather than simply continuing under their existing permission.

They must remain contracted to work for the sponsor which issued their current Certificate of Sponsorship, the new role must independently meet the eligibility requirements and the sponsor must issue a new Certificate of Sponsorship.

A Service Supplier should not simply begin a materially different sponsored role on the assumption that their existing permission automatically covers it.

14. How Long Can You Stay on a Service Supplier Visa?

The maximum permitted duration of a Service Supplier assignment depends on the international trade agreement under which the service is being provided.

Permission will be granted for the shortest applicable period by reference to:

• the end date of the sponsored assignment plus 14 days;
• the maximum single-assignment period permitted by the relevant trade agreement; and
• the overall maximum period permitted under the Global Business Mobility routes.

A maximum single assignment of 12 months is available in specified circumstances, including qualifying assignments under:

• the EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement;
• the UK–Switzerland Services Mobility Agreement;
• the UK–Australia Free Trade Agreement;
• qualifying CPTPP commitments; and
• the UK–India CETA.

In other cases, the maximum single assignment is generally six months.

The relevant treaty should always be identified before calculating the maximum period of permission.

15. Maximum Time Under the Global Business Mobility Routes

Irrespective of the maximum duration of a particular Service Supplier assignment, an applicant cannot normally accumulate more than five years of permission in any six-year period across the relevant Global Business Mobility and predecessor Intra-Company routes.

The calculation can include time previously spent in the UK as a:

• Service Supplier;
• Senior or Specialist Worker;
• Graduate Trainee;
• UK Expansion Worker;
• Secondment Worker;
• Intra-Company Transfer worker; or
• Intra-Company Graduate Trainee.

Applicants who have previously spent substantial periods in the UK under these categories should calculate their immigration history carefully before a further Certificate of Sponsorship is assigned.

16. What Can You Do on a Service Supplier Visa?

A successful Service Supplier applicant can:

• undertake the sponsored job described in their Certificate of Sponsorship;
• undertake permitted voluntary work;
• study, subject to any applicable ATAS requirement;
• travel outside the UK and return while their permission remains valid; and
• bring eligible family members as dependants.

A Service Supplier cannot:

• access public funds;
• ordinarily undertake a second job;
• work outside the activities permitted by their sponsorship;
• freely change sponsored occupation without making any required application to update their permission; or
• obtain settlement directly through the Service Supplier route.

17. Can Your Partner and Children Join You?

A Service Supplier can be accompanied or joined by an eligible partner and dependant children.

A dependant partner may include a spouse, civil partner or qualifying unmarried partner.

A dependant child can generally include:

• a child under the age of 18; or
• a child aged 18 or over who already has permission in the UK as the Service Supplier’s dependant and continues to satisfy the applicable requirements.

Where family members have not already been living in the UK with permission for the required period, additional maintenance funds will normally be required.

The current amounts are:

• £285 for a dependant partner;
• £315 for the first dependant child; and
• £200 for each additional dependant child.

These funds are in addition to the £1,270 normally required for the main applicant, unless the relevant exemption or sponsor-maintenance provision applies.

Family members make their own dependant applications and their immigration permission will normally end at the same time as that of the principal Service Supplier.

18. Documents Required for a Service Supplier Visa Application

The precise documentary requirements will depend on the individual circumstances, but an applicant will normally need to provide information or evidence relating to:

• their Certificate of Sponsorship reference number;
• their passport or other valid identity and nationality document;
• their job title and occupation code;
• the identity and sponsor licence number of the UK sponsor;
• their financial circumstances, where the maintenance requirement is not otherwise satisfied;
• any dependant relationships relied upon;
• tuberculosis screening, where applicable;
• their overseas employment or professional work history;
• relevant academic, technical or professional qualifications;
• any required professional registration; and
• an ATAS certificate, where applicable.

An employee asked to evidence their overseas employment may use appropriate materials such as payslips and bank statements.

A self-employed independent professional may instead need evidence demonstrating genuine professional activity in the relevant sector, such as invoices, business accounts, an accountant’s letter, business banking records, premises documentation or appropriate marketing material.

Documents which are not in English or Welsh will generally require an appropriate certified translation.

The fact that a document does not appear on a generic checklist does not necessarily mean that it will not be relevant. Service Supplier applications can turn on detailed issues concerning the overseas business, trade commitment, contract, sector, applicant’s professional history and sponsored role.

19. Service Supplier Visa Application Process

A Service Supplier application typically involves several stages.

Step 1: Confirm That the Contract Is Eligible

The UK business and overseas service provider should first identify the trade agreement and sector under which the proposed service qualifies.

This should be done before assuming that an individual worker can be sponsored.

Step 2: Confirm the UK Business Has the Correct Sponsor Licence

The UK recipient of the service must be authorised to sponsor Service Suppliers.

If the UK business does not already hold the required sponsor licence, it will normally need to apply for the necessary authorisation.

Step 3: Register the Eligible Contract

The contract between the UK sponsor and overseas service provider must be registered with the Home Office.

The sponsor may only assign Service Supplier Certificates of Sponsorship in connection with a qualifying registered contract.

Step 4: Check the Individual Applicant’s Eligibility

The sponsor and applicant should establish that the proposed worker satisfies the applicable:

• overseas work requirement;
• nationality or residence requirement;
• Option A or Option B skill requirement;
• professional qualification or registration requirements; and
• genuineness and other immigration requirements.

Step 5: Assign the Certificate of Sponsorship

Once the sponsorship requirements are met, the UK sponsor can assign a Certificate of Sponsorship identifying the relevant registered contract and sponsored role.

Step 6: Submit the Visa Application

The applicant must apply online using the appropriate application process.

Depending on their nationality, passport and circumstances, they may establish their identity digitally or need to attend an appointment to provide biometrics and supporting documents.

Applicants outside the UK must obtain entry clearance as a Service Supplier before travelling to the UK in reliance on this route.

20. Service Supplier Visa Fees and Immigration Health Surcharge

Fees stated below are correct as at 7 October 2026.

The application fee for a Service Supplier Visa is currently £340.

Applicants will also generally need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which is normally £1,035 for each year of permission for an adult applicant.

Family members applying as dependants will make separate applications and will also normally incur the applicable visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.

The total cost of an application can therefore depend on the length of permission sought and the number and circumstances of accompanying family members.

Immigration fees are changed periodically, so the applicable figures should be checked immediately before submission.

21. Service Supplier Visa Processing Times

A Service Supplier application is normally decided within approximately:

• 3 weeks where the application is made from outside the UK; or
• 8 weeks where the application is made from inside the UK.

These are standard processing estimates rather than guaranteed decision periods.

An application may take longer where, for example, supporting evidence needs to be verified, the applicant is required to attend an interview or further consideration is required because of their personal circumstances.

A faster decision service may be available for some applications.

22. Does the Service Supplier Visa Lead to Settlement?

The Service Supplier Visa does not lead directly to indefinite leave to remain.

Time spent in the Service Supplier category does not create a five-year settlement route in the way that qualifying time under certain other work categories can.

However, a Service Supplier may be able to switch into another immigration category if they meet its requirements.

For example, a person who obtains a qualifying sponsored job with an eligible UK employer may potentially switch to the Skilled Worker route. Depending on their circumstances and business plans, other settlement-oriented categories may also warrant consideration.

A person intending to remain in the UK permanently should therefore consider the longer-term immigration strategy at an early stage. Moving from a temporary Global Business Mobility route to a settlement route can involve materially different sponsorship, salary, English-language and residence requirements.

23. Service Supplier Visa Refusals and Administrative Review

A Service Supplier application will be refused if the decision maker is not satisfied that the relevant suitability and eligibility requirements are met.

Potential refusal issues may include:

• an ineligible service contract;
• incorrect analysis of the applicable trade agreement;
• failure to meet the nationality or residence requirement;
• an unsuitable occupation code;
• insufficient qualifications or professional experience under Option B;
• failure to demonstrate the required overseas work history;
• concerns that the role or contract is not genuine;
• prohibited third-party working;
• defective sponsorship; or
• failure to provide required evidence.

If an application is refused, the applicant can apply for Administrative Review under Appendix AR where they consider that the decision contains an eligible caseworking error.

Administrative Review is not a general opportunity to make a fresh application or simply provide evidence that should have been submitted originally. The appropriate strategy will depend on the basis of refusal, whether there has been a reviewable decision-making error and whether a fresh application would offer a more effective remedy.

Where a decision is legally defective and no adequate alternative remedy exists, Judicial Review may potentially be relevant in an appropriate case.

24. Service Supplier Sponsor Licences for UK Businesses

A UK business wishing to receive overseas service suppliers must hold the appropriate sponsor licence permission.

For the Service Supplier route, the sponsor-licence analysis is inseparable from the underlying commercial contract.

The UK business must have an eligible contract with an overseas service provider for a service covered by a qualifying international trade commitment. The overseas service provider must have no commercial presence in the UK for these purposes.

The contract must be genuine, generally last no more than 12 months and have been awarded through an appropriate tendering or other genuine procurement procedure. The UK sponsor must be the final consumer of the contracted service.

The UK business cannot use the route simply as a method of obtaining overseas labour for onward supply to another organisation.

The sponsor must register qualifying contracts and ensure that each Certificate of Sponsorship is connected to the correct registered contract.

Sponsor compliance should therefore be considered before workers are assigned. Errors concerning the contract, occupation code, genuine role, worker’s eligibility or actual activities in the UK can affect not only the individual’s application but also the sponsor’s licence.

25. Frequently Asked Questions: Service Supplier Visa

Who Qualifies for a UK Service Supplier Visa?

The route is for contractual service suppliers employed by qualifying overseas service providers and certain self-employed independent professionals who need to provide services in the UK under an eligible international trade commitment. The applicant must also satisfy the sponsorship, overseas work, nationality or residence, skill and other immigration requirements.

Which Countries Are Eligible for a Service Supplier Visa?

There is no single simple list of eligible nationalities. Eligibility depends on the relevant trade agreement, where the overseas service provider is established, the service sector and the applicant’s nationality or qualifying residence status. The rules differ between agreements such as the EU–UK TCA, UK–Switzerland agreement, CPTPP and UK–India CETA.

Which Professions Qualify for a Service Supplier Visa?

Qualifying sectors vary according to the international trade agreement. They can include professional and consultancy services such as architecture, engineering, management consulting, legal advisory work, technical testing, computer-related services and other specified sectors. An applicant must identify both an eligible service sector and the relevant trade agreement.

Can a Self-Employed Consultant Apply for a Service Supplier Visa?

Potentially, yes. The route can be used by qualifying independent professionals established outside the UK. A self-employed applicant will generally need six years’ professional experience in the relevant sector when relying on Option B, as well as satisfying the applicable trade-agreement and other immigration requirements.

Does the UK Company Need a Sponsor Licence?

Yes. The UK business receiving the services must be authorised to sponsor workers on the Service Supplier route and must have an eligible registered contract with the overseas service provider.

Can the Overseas Service Provider Have a UK Office?

The Service Supplier sponsor framework requires the relevant overseas service provider to have no commercial presence in the UK. Where the overseas business already has a UK establishment, another immigration route may therefore need to be considered depending on the circumstances.

Is There a Minimum Salary for a Service Supplier Visa?

There is no general immigration salary threshold or occupation-specific going rate under the Service Supplier route. However, the sponsored work must comply with applicable National Minimum Wage and Working Time legislation.

Do I Need to Pass an English Test?

No. There is no English-language requirement for the Service Supplier Visa.

How Long Can I Stay in the UK?

The maximum single assignment is normally either six or 12 months depending on the relevant trade agreement. Permission is also limited by the sponsored assignment and the overall five-years-in-six maximum applicable across relevant Global Business Mobility and predecessor routes.

Can I Bring My Family?

Yes. An eligible partner and dependant children can normally accompany or join a Service Supplier. Separate applications are required and additional maintenance funds may need to be demonstrated.

Can I Take a Second Job on a Service Supplier Visa?

No. The Service Supplier route generally permits only the sponsored job and permitted voluntary work. A second job is not permitted.

Can I Switch From a Service Supplier Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa?

Potentially, yes. A Service Supplier may be able to switch to the Skilled Worker route from within the UK if they satisfy all of the Skilled Worker requirements. The Service Supplier route itself does not lead to settlement, so switching may be relevant where the individual intends to establish a longer-term UK immigration pathway.