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Establishing business in U.K.
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There are three main ways of entering the UK in order to start a business.
These are:
1) Sole Representatives of Overseas Firms
An individual can apply for a Sole Representative visa in order to represent a foreign company in the UK. The intention must be to establish a commercial presence in the UK in the form of a registered branch or a wholly owned subsidiary. The UK branch must be registered with Companies House within one month of the branch opening.
The applicant should usually have worked for the company overseas (but not as an agent) for at least one year at a senior level, and be able to take the majority of decisions locally.
Sole representatives are expected to work full time and are usually required to spend at least 9 months of their initial one year visa in the UK.
2) Businessmen
An individual with not less than £200,000 of his own money to use in the UK may qualify for a Business Visa in order to establish a UK-registered company, a partnership, or become a sole trader in the UK. The applicant must have either a controlling or equal financial interest in the company and must produce a business plan to show that profits from the business will be sufficient to maintain and accommodate him in the UK.
3) Innovator Scheme
This scheme was established in September 2000 and allows entrepreneurs with exceptional abilities and a proven track record in their area of expertise to enter the UK and set up their business with the minimum of red tape. The Government envisaged that the scheme would be used mainly by IT entrepreneurs, but it is available to any area of business. The scheme uses a points system, in which points are earned for qualifications, experience, and availability of capital. The advantage of this scheme is that the applications are processed quickly, applications can be made in the UK if the applicant is already a resident, and the seed capital can come from a third party.
N.B. Nationals of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary may make similar applications under the provisions of EC Association Agreements and the £200,000 requirement is waived.
We can also help with Investor applications (for those with at least £1 million of their own money to invest in the UK).
Please contact Jones Kelleher for further details.
UK Work Permit & Immigration Specialists
Jones Kelleher & Associates Limited
visit http://www.joneskel.com/ for more information
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