Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier visa explained by our consultant based in India

The Service Supplier visa is for overseas workers who are undertaking temporary work assignments in the UK. The worker must either be a contractual service supplier employed by an overseas service provider, or a self-employed independent professional based overseas. The worker also needs to undertake an assignment in the UK to provide services covered by one of the UK’s international trade agreements.

While applying for a Service Supplier visa, the applicant needs to have enough money to:

• Pay the £259 Application fee.
• Pay the Healthcare surcharge – this is usually £624 per year.
• Support themselves after arriving in the UK – the applicant usually has to have at least £1,270 available (unless exempted from this requirement).

Documents required for a UK Graduate Trainee visa are listed below:

• A Certificate of Sponsorship reference number – given by the UK-based employer.
• A valid passport to prove identity. The passport must have a blank page.
• Job title and annual salary.
• Job’s occupation code.
• Name of the employer and their Sponsor Licence number – this is mentioned on the Certificate of Sponsorship.
• Evidence that the applicant has enough personal savings to support their stay in the UK. For example, bank statements.
• Proof of relationship – partner or children (if they are applying along with the main applicant).
• Tuberculosis test results (if required).

Documents required for a UK Service Supplier visa are listed below:

• A Certificate of Sponsorship reference number – given by the UK-based employer.
• A valid passport to prove identity. The passport must have a blank page.
• Job title and annual salary.
• Job’s occupation code.
• Name of the employer and their Sponsor Licence number – this is mentioned on the Certificate of Sponsorship.
• Evidence that the applicant has enough personal savings to support their stay in the UK. For example, bank statements.
• Proof of relationship – partner or children (if they are applying along with the main applicant).
• Tuberculosis test results (if required).

The applicant must apply for a Service Supplier visa online.
Depending on the following circumstances, the applicant can apply from;

• Outside the UK to come to the UK.
• Inside the UK and extend the current visa.
• Inside the UK and switch from a different visa.
• The applicant can include a partner and children (under 18 years) in the application to stay in the UK if they are eligible.
• If the applicant wants to change the job or employer, it is required that the applicant applies to update the visa.

Yes, a Certificate of Sponsorship from the UK employer is a mandatory requirement for the applicant to apply for a Service Supplier visa.

This depends on the type of trade agreement of the services being provided by the applicant.
The applicant can stay for whichever is the shorter span:

• 6 months or 12 months – this depends on the trade agreement provided for the services offered.
• The time mentioned on the Certificate of Sponsorship, plus 14 days.

With a Service Supplier visa, the applicant can:

• Work for their sponsor in the job described in the Certificate of Sponsorship.
• Study.
• Bring partner and children as ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible.
• Do voluntary work.
• Travel abroad and return to the UK.

The main applicant can be accompanied by a partner and children (under 18 years) to the UK on a UK Service Supplier visa.

The Service Supplier visa does not permit settlement in the UK.