UK Sole Representative Visa in Dubai

The UK Sole Representative visa is for those who have been directly employed by a UK business to work in Dubai with a UK employer. It is a Tier 2 (General) visa which allows you to live and work in the United Arab Emirates for an indefinite period of time. This article covers everything you need to know about the UK Sole Representative visa including its costs, how long it takes, and how to get it.

If you are UK citizen or a British national and you have an office in Dubai, or if you are a GCC national operating a business in Mena, then it is possible that you can apply for a UK Sole Representative Visa also known as UK Business Visa (Tier 2 General).The UK Sole Representative Visa provides an opportunity to work, live and study in the United Kingdom.

Do you have a UK company looking to do business in Dubai? If yes, then this is perfect opportunity for you. You can avail the partner visa that allows you to stay in the UAE and manage your business operations with ease. But you need to include the right set of documents along with the visa application form.

If you are a business owner who wants to open a new branch of your company in Dubai, or if you are an individual who wants to move there for work purposes, then you may be eligible for a UK Sole Representative Visa (SRV). This visa is issued by the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is valid for 3 years.

The SRV allows individuals to set up their own companies in the UAE and can be renewed indefinitely. Businesses that wish to hire new employees must apply for an SRV before doing so.

The UK Sole Representative Visa (SRV) allows those who have invested at least AED 200,000 in their business venture in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to stay there for up to three years. The SRV also gives them permission to open bank accounts and make transactions without having any locally registered commercial property.

Who qualifies for this visa?

In order to qualify for an SRV, applicants must:

Be over 18 years old;

Have received approval from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce

You can apply as a representative of an overseas business if you’re an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation posted on a long-term assignment to the UK.

If you’re a representative of an overseas business planning to set up its first UK branch, apply for a UK Expansion Worker visa (Global Business Mobility) instead.

You must also meet the other eligibility requirements.

If you’re already in the UK as a sole representative, you can still apply to extend your stay.

How long it will take

If you apply from outside the UK, the earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.

Example

You can apply from 16 March if you plan to travel on 15 June.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.

It’s currently taking longer to get a decision on Representative of an Overseas Business visas when you apply from outside the UK. Find out visa decision waiting times.

Find out about paying for a faster decision.

If you apply from inside the UK

You will get a decision within 8 weeks.

UKVI will contact you if your application will take longer, for example:

• if your supporting documents need to be verified
• if you need to attend an interview
• because of your personal circumstances (for example, if you have a criminal conviction)

Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expires.

Fees

If you apply from outside the UK, a Representative of an Overseas Business visa costs £625.

If you apply from inside the UK, the visa costs £719. You’ll also need to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken – there’s no fee for this.

Healthcare surcharge

You must pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application. Check how much you need to pay before you apply.

How long you can stay

The visa lets you stay in the UK for an initial period of 3 years.

You may be able to extend your visa for another 2 years.

After you’ve been in the UK for 5 years, you can apply for permission to settle permanently in the UK.

What you can and cannot do

You can:

• work for your employer, full time
• bring your family (‘dependants’) with you to the UK
• apply to extend your visa
• apply to settle in the UK after you’ve been here for 5 years

You cannot:

• work for yourself or any other business
• get public funds
• Conclusion
• The UK Sole Representative Visa allows you to live and work in the UAE as a representative of your UK-registered company. It’s a great option if you want to start your own business in Dubai, but don’t have the time or resources to set up a physical office.