Content Correct as of September 2025
The Service Supplier Visa allows UK businesses to employ overseas service providers and self-employed independent professionals to come to the UK to complete temporary work assignments as part of a qualifying service contract.
We’re here to support you in obtaining your service supplier visa first try, saving you both time and money category.
A UK service supplier visa enables businesses from overseas to send their employees or self-employed individuals to the UK for the purpose of completing contracted work for a UK based company. It is designed for short-term stays, as opposed to permanent settlement in the UK, and requires a valid certificate of sponsorship from the UK organisation.
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To be eligible to apply under the Service Supplier route, applicants must:
Under the Service Supplier Visa, visa holders will not be permitted to take a second job in the UK.
Jobs that qualify for a Service Supplier Visa must be skilled at a minimum of RQF Level 6 and are identified as eligible for global business mobility. If a job is not featured, the worker must hold a relevant qualification and must have at least three years’ experience. Some contracts may require six years’ of experience.
RQF level 6 qualifications usually require a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, typically for roles such as:
Note: this is not an exhaustive list of the roles which qualify as RQF level 6.
Find out more about 2025 immigration rules.
To be granted a service supplier visa, you’ll need to be given a certificate of sponsorship from a UK based organisation that holds a valid licence.
This proves that you are entering the country to fulfil certain work requirements for that business, and that they have appropriate processes in place to monitor and manage sponsored workers.
An online application for a Service Supplier Visa will need to be submitted using the reference number found on your certificate of sponsorship (CoS).
Applicants must also provide:
You may also be asked to attend an in-person appointment to prove some or all of these documents.
Check out our visa supporting document checklist for more information.
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You can apply for a service supplier visa online, through the UK government website, or via an immigration specialist like ourselves, by providing all the documents mentioned above, as well as outlining the purpose of your visit, and the nature of the work you’re undertaking. You’ll also be asked to provide a reference number from your CoS.
An application can be made for a service supplier up to three months before the date the applicant is due to start work in the UK. Applications must also be made within three months of receiving their CoS.
If an application is successful, the contractual service supplier will be able to enter the UK initially for six months to a year.
Yes, you are able to extend your leave under the service supplier visa route. You can extend under this route for a further route between 6 and 12 months. However, you are subject to a maximum cumulative period of 5 years in any 6 year period.
There may be an option to request a review of a refusal to grant a Service Supplier visa. Such reviews may take some time to be decided, so it is worth contacting an immigration expert to discuss your options.
The service supplier visa is not a route to settlement. You are able to switch to other visa routes that can lead to settlement form within the UK.
The Service Supplier visa permits an applicant to bring their dependent partner and children as part of this visa. A partner or any children would be granted leave as a dependent, and their leave would be granted in-line with the main applicant.
It is possible to switch to another visa category from the Service Supplier Visa route. This may be a preferred option if looking to reach settlement.
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Our immigration solicitors can assist and manage the visa and immigration process for overseas service suppliers to ensure they are able to undertake a temporary assignment in the UK. We can also help UK employers to obtain the right sponsor licence, maintain their licence and comply with their sponsor duties.
Our team of business immigration solicitors has assisted many employers and sponsored workers across a variety of industries to gain permission to work in the UK through Global Business Mobility routes, including the service supplier visa.
Thanks to our extensive knowledge of immigration rules, we are able to provide pragmatic advice and meet our clients’ needs. We have connections with the Home Office and other immigration authorities so we can advise you with confidence, and ensure the entire immigration procedure runs smoothly and efficiently for you.
Working with a law firm can be a big decision, which is why we ensure that our clients are at the heart of everything we do. We are a highly driven team that is dedicated to providing clear and reliable immigration advice.
Call us today on 0300 131 6767 or fill out our enquiry form and we will get straight back to you. Let our legal experts take the uncertainty out of your Service Supplier visa application so you can start your successful immigration journey today.
Latitude Law is proud to be consistently recognised by globally respected legal directories for our expertise in both corporate and personal immigration. We are featured in The Times Best 250 Law Firms in England & Wales 2025, Chambers & Partners UK & High Net Worth 2025, Legal 500 2025, and Lexology 2025 - each highlighting firms that demonstrate exceptional professionalism, specialist knowledge, and success in complex immigration matters. These independent endorsements distinguish us from other law firms and act as a kitemark of our integrity, quality, and commitment to outstanding client service.
Our commitment to client care is reflected in over 200 five-star Google reviews, showcasing the trust and satisfaction of those we've helped. Whether you're navigating a challenging immigration matter or seeking strategic legal advice, you can be confident you're in expert hands.
As the requirements for a Service Supplier visa are complex, to ensure success, you should seek specialist advice from an immigration solicitor before you proceed with an application. Latitude Law’s specialist lawyers can advise you about your individual requirements and ensure that the conditions of your sponsored work are compliant with the very latest immigration rules.
Get in touch with our legal team today on 0300 131 6767 or fill out our enquiry form and we will get straight back to you. Face your future knowing you have the dedicated support of one of our expert lawyers.
This case study highlights how Latitude Law’s expert knowledge of this niche & complex visa route ensured that the client had access to the right workers in the right location on a short-term basis.
This case study explores how Latitude Law ensured an EU-based business could still enjoy trouble-free movement of personnel into the UK post-Brexit.
The Secondment Worker visa permits overseas workers to take up temporary work assignments in the UK where the employee is being seconded to the country as part of a high-value contract or investment by their overseas employer.
The Business Visitor visa is for individuals who wish to enter the UK in order to undertake permitted short-term business-related activities. As the business visitor visa route falls within the standard visitor visa category, business visitors will only be permitted to travel to the UK for short periods e.g. a maximum period of 6 months.
A Skilled Worker visa is open to individuals wanting to work in the UK who have been offered an eligible job by an employer with an approved Sponsor Licence.
