business

Work Permits are granted, depending on the circumstances, for periods of up to
five years.

(b) Sole Representative of Overseas Business
A Common Wealth citizen may apply to enter the UK as the sole representative of an
overseas business which has no branch, subsidiary or other representative in the UK. The
application must be made to the British Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate in the
country where the applicant is living and will normally be referred for decision to the Home Office in
London. The business has to prove that it has a good business reason for wishing to open a
representative office in the UK. Full information about the business activities must be provided and it
must also be shown that the individual is fully authorised and suitably qualified to represent the
business.

However, the individual cannot hold a majority or controlling shareholding in the company. Since this
status is designed to encourage inward investment to the UK, it is very helpful to produce proposals for
capital investment and jobs for UK residents. It cannot, however, normally be used by those who run
their own overseas businesses to get around the Businessman rules set out in (c) below.

(c) Business or Self-Employment
Common Wealth citizens may apply to enter the UK in order to take over or join as a partner an existing
business, or to set up in a new business or self- employment. This application must be made from
abroad as in (b) above. An applicant must show that he will be occupied full time in the running of his
business or self-employment, be investing a minimum of £200,000 in it and be providing at least two
new jobs for UK residents. He must also provide detailed proposals as to how he intends to utilise his
investment, and the Home Office must be convinced as to the seriousness of his intent. Where there
is an existing business, audited accounts and the terms of the take over or partnership should be
produced.

(d) Self-Employed Writer, Composer or Artist
This status is the one major exception to the normal financial requirements for
self-employment. Common Wealth citizens may enter the UK as self-employed writers or
artists, provided that they can produce evidence that they can maintain themselves and
any dependants without taking other work or having recourse to public funds. Evidence
required is financial statements and evidence of work/contracts in the UK or abroad
which will lead to financial reward. An application must be made from abroad as
in (b) above. Please note that the definition "writer" or "artist" are construed
quite narrowly, to avoid abuse of this route, and do not normally include
musicians or other performers. Journalists who write exclusively for
newspapers and magazines are also excluded.

Continued >> Retired Persons or of Independent Means