The Service Supplier Visa supports overseas service providers and self-employed professionals who need to come to the UK temporarily under a qualifying service contract. This route is evidence-led because the sponsor, contract, trade agreement, occupation and professional experience must all align.
Review whether the trade agreement, sponsor, contract and professional evidence are strong enough before you apply.
The Service Supplier Visa is designed for overseas service providers who need to deliver a service to a UK business under a contract covered by a qualifying international trade agreement. It can be used by an employee of an overseas business or by a self-employed professional based overseas, provided the service, contract and applicant all meet the route requirements.
This is not a general work visa and it is not suitable for standard UK recruitment. The UK sponsor must be authorised to sponsor the person for the relevant contract and must issue a Certificate of Sponsorship that matches the service being provided, the applicant’s role, dates and work details.
For many applicants, the difficulty is not completing a form. The real risk is proving that the trade agreement, occupation code, qualifications, professional experience and overseas work history all support the same application. Immigration Visa Expert can review the case structure before the application is prepared.
A Service Supplier applicant must be an employee of an overseas business or a self-employed service provider based overseas. The service must be delivered to a UK sponsor under a contract that is covered by a qualifying international trade agreement.
The applicant must be sponsored for eligible work. If the occupation is not eligible, the applicant may still qualify under the alternative qualification and professional-experience provisions. They will normally need a bachelor’s degree or higher in any subject, or a technical qualification equivalent to a bachelor’s degree, plus at least 3 years of relevant professional experience if they are an overseas employee or 6 years if self-employed. Some services have different qualification or experience requirements, including advertising or translation, chef de cuisine, entertainment, fashion or modelling, management consulting, and technical testing or analysis. Check the current GOV.UK guidance and relevant trade agreement for the sector-specific rules. The evidence must show that the applicant’s skill, sector experience and service being supplied are consistent with the sponsored role.
An overseas employee must usually have worked for the overseas employer outside the UK for at least 12 months. A self-employed professional must usually show at least 12 months of relevant professional activity in the same sector as the service being supplied.
The Service Supplier route is closely linked to international trade commitments. This means the service contract must fall within a trade agreement that allows the relevant type of service supplier to come to the UK temporarily.
The trade-agreement analysis can affect eligibility, nationality or residence requirements, service sector coverage and maximum stay. Some agreements allow up to 12 months, while others allow up to 6 months. The Certificate of Sponsorship should support the relevant contract and agreement clearly.
This is one of the most important parts of the application. If the trade agreement, contract description, sponsor record or applicant evidence does not align, the application can be weakened even where the person is highly experienced.
The document strategy should confirm identity, sponsorship, contract fit, occupation or qualification position, overseas work history, financial position and family relationship evidence where dependants are included.
The exact evidence depends on whether the applicant is an overseas employee or a self-employed professional. It may also depend on the relevant trade agreement, the service sector, the occupation code and whether the applicant relies on qualifications and professional experience instead of a listed eligible occupation.
We can review the sponsor details, contract position, applicant evidence and dependant documents before the application is prepared.
A partner and dependent children can apply with or after the main applicant if they meet the relevant relationship, age, care and financial requirements. Their permission is usually linked to the main applicant’s permission.
Dependent partners and children may normally work, study and travel, subject to the conditions of their permission. They cannot normally access public funds.
Family applications should be planned carefully because evidence of relationship, residence, finances and timing can affect whether dependants are approved with the main applicant or need a separate strategy.
A Service Supplier Visa may be extended from inside the UK if the applicant continues to work for the same sponsor under the relevant contract, still meets the route requirements, and has not reached the maximum permitted stay.
The maximum stay depends on the trade agreement and the sponsored work dates. In many cases the single assignment limit is 6 months, while certain agreements may allow up to 12 months. The wider maximum of 5 years in any 6-year period across the relevant Global Business Mobility and legacy Intra-company routes can also restrict total time in the UK across relevant mobility routes.
If the role, contract, sponsor or service arrangement changes, the position should be reviewed before any extension or visa update is planned.
The Service Supplier Visa does not directly lead to indefinite leave to remain. It is a temporary work route for a specific service arrangement under a qualifying trade agreement.
If the applicant wants a longer-term UK work and settlement plan, they may need to consider whether another route such as Skilled Worker could become available later, depending on sponsor licence position, role, salary and eligibility.
Settlement planning should not be left until the visa is close to expiry. Early advice can help decide whether the current route is suitable or whether another UK immigration strategy may be more appropriate.
We help applicants, overseas service providers and UK sponsors structure the case around eligibility, trade agreement coverage, sponsorship evidence and future planning.
We can assess the sponsor, trade agreement, Certificate of Sponsorship, professional evidence, funds, dependants and extension strategy before the application is submitted.
It is a temporary Global Business Mobility route for an overseas employee or self-employed professional who will provide services to a UK business under a qualifying international trade agreement.
Yes, self-employed professionals based overseas may qualify if the service, trade agreement, professional experience and sponsorship requirements are met.
Yes. You must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from an approved UK sponsor before you apply. The CoS is an electronic record containing details of the work you will do in the UK, and you will use its reference number in your visa application.
Yes. The UK business receiving the service must be an approved sponsor and must issue a Certificate of Sponsorship or sponsorship reference number for the relevant work.
An overseas employee usually needs 12 months of overseas work with the relevant employer. A self-employed professional usually needs 12 months of relevant professional activity in the same sector.
The route is not usually assessed through a general salary threshold in the same way as some other work routes. The case instead focuses on sponsorship, trade agreement coverage, eligible work, qualifications, experience and contract fit.
The maximum single assignment is usually 6 or 12 months depending on the relevant trade agreement and the Certificate of Sponsorship dates. The wider maximum of 5 years in any 6-year period across the relevant Global Business Mobility and legacy Intra-company routes can also apply.
A partner and dependent children may apply if they meet the relationship and financial requirements. Their permission is usually linked to the main applicant.
An extension may be possible from inside the UK if the same sponsor and contract continue, the route requirements remain met and the maximum stay has not been reached.
No. This route does not directly lead to indefinite leave to remain. Longer-term settlement planning may require another immigration route.
We can review the trade agreement position, sponsorship record, Certificate of Sponsorship, occupation or qualification evidence, overseas work history, funds, dependants and extension or settlement strategy.
Switching may be possible from some UK immigration categories if you meet all Service Supplier requirements. If you have Student permission, you must meet one of the course-completion, job-start or full-time PhD conditions. You cannot switch from a Visitor, Short-term Student, Parent of a Child Student, Seasonal Worker or Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa, while on immigration bail, or with permission outside the Immigration Rules. Check the current GOV.UK switching rules.
Review the decision promptly. You may be able to apply for Administrative Review under Appendix AR if you believe the refusal contains a caseworking error. Depending on the refusal reason and the evidence available, a fresh application or another immigration route may sometimes be more appropriate.
For overseas group employees moving to a UK linked business in a senior or specialist role.
For overseas businesses sending senior staff to establish a UK branch or subsidiary.
For overseas workers seconded to the UK under a qualifying high-value contract or investment.
For overseas group employees joining a UK graduate training programme leading to a senior or specialist role.
For UK organisations that need the correct sponsor licence before assigning a mobility Certificate of Sponsorship.
For understanding healthcare surcharge costs across UK work visa routes and dependant applications.
Speak to Immigration Visa Expert for advice on sponsorship, trade agreement coverage, professional evidence, dependants, extension and long-term route planning.
