Service Supplier Visa UK

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. Access Global Immigration Visa Experts 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 or must be able to rely on the alternative qualification and professional-experience provisions where the job is not listed as eligible. 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.

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 Global Business Mobility cap 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.