UK Service Supplier Visa

Services Under UK Trade Deal

The UK Service Supplier Visa is a Global Business Mobility route for overseas service providers and independent professionals who need to enter the UK temporarily to fulfil a contract covered by one of the UK's international trade agreements.

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What is a UK Service Supplier Visa?
The Service Supplier Visa is a sub-route under the Global Business Mobility (GBM) framework, introduced in April 2022 as a replacement for the contractual service supplier and independent professional provisions that previously sat under the International Agreement route.
Fulfilling Contracts Under International Trade Agreements

It is available to two categories of applicant: employees of an overseas service provider who are being sent to the UK to fulfil a specific contract, and self-employed independent professionals based overseas who are providing services directly to a UK client. In both cases, the services must be covered by a valid international trade agreement to which the UK is a party.

Unlike most other GBM routes, the Service Supplier Visa does not require the overseas business and the UK sponsor to be part of the same corporate group. The route is available to any overseas service provider with an eligible contract and a UK-licensed sponsor.

There is no minimum salary threshold — the applicant must simply be paid in compliance with UK National Minimum Wage legislation. This route does not lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain and is intended solely for the duration of the contracted assignment.

UK Immigration · Global Business Mobility route information

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Why Choose Our UK Service Supplier Visa Services?

Our expert corporate immigration team offers comprehensive guidance through the UK Global Business Mobility Service Supplier visa path. We ensure seamless execution by validating eligible international trade agreements, managing Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) requirements, and verifying candidate professional qualifications flawlessly. We simplify complex Home Office regulations, handle meticulous document review, and guide your contractual service suppliers smoothly, keeping your cross-border delivery efficient and completely stress-free.
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What is a Service Supplier Visa? ⌃

A temporary work visa under the Global Business Mobility framework for overseas service providers and independent professionals coming to the UK to fulfil a contract covered by one of the UK's international trade agreements. It replaced the contractual service supplier provisions under the International Agreement route in April 2022.

Who can apply under this route? ⌃

Employees of an overseas service provider, or self-employed independent professionals based overseas, who have a contract with a UK-based client that is covered by a valid international trade agreement and a Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed UK sponsor.

How do I know if my service contract is eligible? ⌃

The service must fall within the scope of a trade agreement to which the UK is a party, and the relevant sectoral coverage must apply. The Home Office publishes a list of eligible trade agreements and sectors on GOV.UK. V Immigration can assess whether your specific contract and service type are covered.

Do I need a UK sponsor? ⌃

Yes. The UK business receiving the services must hold a valid GBM sponsor licence with the Service Supplier rating, register the service contract on the Sponsor Management System, and issue a Certificate of Sponsorship before the application is made.

How long can I stay in the UK? ⌃

Permission is granted for the shorter of (a) 6 or 12 months, depending on the relevant trade agreement, or (b) the time stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days. In addition, applicants may be subject to a maximum of five years' permission in any six-year period across certain Global Business Mobility and Intra-Company routes.

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UK Service Supplier Visa Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, the UK sponsor, the overseas service provider, and the individual applicant must all meet the Home Office requirements set out below.

01

Trade Agreement & Contract

The service delivery dynamic requires a valid underlying trade framework and a strictly registered commercial contract.

  • Eligible International Trade Agreement: The service to be provided must be covered by a relevant international trade agreement between the UK and the country or territory where the overseas service provider is based (e.g., GATS, UK-EU TCA, CPTPP, or bilateral free trade agreements).
  • Valid Service Contract: There must be a genuine, current contract for services between the UK sponsor and the overseas service provider or self-employed professional that falls within the trade agreement's scope.
  • Contract Registered on SMS: The UK sponsor must register the underlying service contract on the Sponsor Management System before assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship.
  • Genuine Arrangement: The Home Office must be satisfied that the contract is genuine and is not a means of circumventing the Immigration Rules via simple labor supply or routine work.
02

Sponsorship Requirements

The UK enterprise receiving the business services must hold specific active licensing and authorization credentials.

  • Valid Sponsor Licence: The UK business receiving the services must hold a valid Global Business Mobility sponsor licence with the Service Supplier rating and must be A-rated at the time the CoS is assigned.
  • Certificate of Sponsorship: A valid CoS must be issued to the applicant before the visa application is submitted and must be used within three months of assignment.
  • No Corporate Group Link Required: Unlike the Senior or Specialist Worker routes, the UK sponsor and the overseas service provider are not required to be part of the same corporate group.
03

Role, Qualifications & Experience

The applicant's professional history and the corresponding UK destination role must pass mandatory technical criteria.

  • Eligible Occupation Code: The role must normally be on the list of eligible occupations for the GBM Service Supplier route as set out in the relevant Appendix to the Immigration Rules.
  • Alternative Qualifications Route: If the role is not on the list, applicants normally need a bachelor's degree or higher (or equivalent technical qualification), alongside at least three years of professional experience in the relevant sector.
  • 12-Month Employment/Experience Rule: Employed applicants must have worked for their overseas employer outside the UK for at least 12 months immediately prior to applying. Self-employed applicants must hold 12 months of sector experience.
04

Nationality & Residence

Your location, legal residency status, and nationality profile must align with active international agreements.

  • Nationality Rules: The applicant must generally be a national of the country or territory in which the overseas service provider is based, as required by the applicable trade agreement.
  • Permanent Residents: In certain cases, permanent residents of a qualifying country may be eligible. This applies under specific frameworks, such as permanent residents of Australia and New Zealand under the CPTPP.
  • CPTPP Applicants: Where services are supplied under the CPTPP, the applicant must be a national of a country that has ratified the UK's accession to CPTPP.
05

Financial & Other

Standard entry clearings, statutory maintenance funds, and baseline employment legal thresholds.

  • Maintenance Funds: Must demonstrate at least £1,270 held for 28 consecutive days, unless the applicant has held valid UK leave for 12+ months or the sponsor certifies maintenance on the CoS.
  • Tuberculosis Test: Applicants from countries listed by the Home Office as requiring a TB test must provide a valid certificate from an approved clinic.
  • No English Language Requirement: There is absolutely no English language proficiency requirement for the Service Supplier Visa.
  • No Minimum Salary Threshold: There is no specific salary threshold for this route. The applicant must simply be paid in accordance with UK National Minimum Wage legislation.
Final Note: Meeting all these requirements and submitting proper evidence will significantly increase your chances of a successful UK Service Supplier Visa application.
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Expert Guidance For Your Service Supplier
Journey, Simplified.

Our experienced professionals provide end-to-end guidance, ensuring a smooth, compliant, and successful application journey.

01 — assessment
Eligibility and Contract Assessment

Eligibility and Contract Assessment

We review the service contract, the applicable trade agreement, and the applicant's qualifications and employment history to confirm eligibility for the Service Supplier route before any application is made.

02 — verification
Sponsor and Document Review

Sponsor and Document Review

We advise the UK sponsor on their obligations, assist with registering the contract on the SMS, guide the CoS assignment process, and review all contractual and personal documentation for compliance before submission.

03 — filing
Application Preparation and Submission

Application Preparation and Submission

We prepare and submit the visa application, ensuring the CoS details are accurate and that the supporting evidence clearly demonstrates how the arrangement meets the applicable Home Office requirements.

04 — success path
Approval Assistance

Approval Assistance

Following a grant of leave, we advise on the conditions of the visa, the sponsor's ongoing compliance obligations, extension applications within the permitted cumulative period, and options for switching to an alternative route.