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Apply for ILR as a Sole Representative of an Overseas Business

: Written by: Arshad Mahmood; Last Updated: 01 May 2026

You can submit a SET (O) application to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) as a sole representative of an overseas business 28 days before completing the 5-year qualifying period of residence in the UK. Your qualifying period for ILR can include time from the date you were granted initial entry clearance as a sole representative of an overseas business. You can apply for ILR as a sole representative of an overseas business 28 days before completing the 5-year qualifying period. An application for ILR as a sole representative of an overseas business is made by completing an online application form. An application for ILR as a sole representative of an overseas business is made in accordance with the requirements as set out in Appendix Representative of an Overseas Business of the Immigration Rules. You cannot submit your ILR application as a sole representative via priority or super priority service; the only option is standard service.

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Free Immigration Advice for ILR as a Representative of an Overseas Business

Our specialist team of work visa solicitors can provide a free, one-off 5-minute immigration advice session regarding your Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application as a Representative of an Overseas Business. Ask a question online to our specialist team of immigration solicitors for free immigration advice online, or book an appointment online for detailed immigration advice and consultation with one of our expert immigration solicitors concerning your application for ILR as a Representative of an Overseas Business.

Requirements for ILR as a Sole Representative

The applicant should meet the following requirements to be eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) as a sole representative of an overseas business:

Valid application: The applicant must submit a valid application for ILR as the sole representative of an overseas business from inside the UK;

Immigration status requirement: The applicant must be in the UK and have, or have last been granted, permission as a Representative of an Overseas Business;

Qualifying period requirement: The applicant must have spent the last 5 years before the date of application in the UK with permission as a Representative of an Overseas Business;

Continuous residence requirement: The applicant must meet the continuous residence requirement in Appendix Continuous Residence during the qualifying period;

Work requirement: The applicant must meet the work requirement as set out in Appendix Representative of an Overseas Business of the Immigration Rules.

Additional business requirements: The applicant must meet the additional business requirements as set out in Appendix Representative of an Overseas Business of the Immigration Rules.

Suitability requirement: The applicant must not fall for refusal under Appendix Part Suitability of the Immigration Rules.

Not in breach of immigration laws: The applicant must not be:

in breach of immigration laws, except that where the Exceptions for overstayers section of Part Suitability applies, that period of overstaying will be disregarded; or
on immigration bail.

English language requirement: Unless an exemption applies, the applicant must demonstrate English language proficiency at level B1 or higher in speaking and listening on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The applicant must demonstrate that they meet the English language requirement specified in Appendix English Language.

Knowledge of Life in the UK requirement: The applicant must meet the Knowledge of Life in the UK requirement as specified in Appendix KOL UK.

Work Requirement

Throughout the qualifying period:

the overseas business or media organisation that the applicant represents must have been active and trading with its headquarters and principal place of business remaining outside the UK; and
the applicant must have been employed and working full-time for the overseas business they represent, or for that business’s UK branch or subsidiary, and
the applicant must not have undertaken work for any other business or engaged in business of their own.

The applicant must provide:

evidence of salary paid by their employer in the 12 months immediately before the date of application and details of the remuneration package the employee receives; and
a letter from their employer confirming that they still require the applicant to work for them, and that the applicant will be required for the foreseeable future.

The applicant must be required by their employer to continue in the role for which their leave to remain as a sole representative was granted.

Additional Business Requirements

Where the applicant has, or was last granted permission as a Sole Representative, the applicant must meet the following additional business requirements:

Throughout the relevant qualifying period, the applicant must have met the following requirements:

they must not have had a majority stake in, or otherwise owned or controlled a majority of the overseas business they represent, whether that ownership or control was by means of a shareholding, partnership agreement, sole proprietorship or any other arrangement; and
The applicant must have established and then supervised a registered branch or wholly owned subsidiary of the overseas business they represent in the UK, where that branch or subsidiary was actively trading in the same type of business as the overseas business.

The applicant must provide all of the following:

evidence of business that has been generated, principally with firms in the UK, on behalf of their employer since their last grant of permission, in the form of accounts, copies of invoices or letters from businesses with whom the applicant has done business, including the value of transactions; and
either a copy of the share register or a letter from the overseas business’s accountant confirming that the UK business is wholly owned by the overseas business; and
a letter from the applicant’s employer confirming that the applicant has supervised the UK branch or subsidiary since the last grant of permission.

English Language Requirement

Unless an exemption applies, the applicant must demonstrate English language proficiency at level B1 or higher in speaking and listening on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. The applicant must demonstrate that they meet the English language requirement specified in Appendix English Language.

Knowledge of Life in the UK Requirement

The applicant must meet the Knowledge of Life in the UK requirement as specified in Appendix KOLL.

How Can We Help With Your ILR as a Sole Representative?

Our expert team of work visa solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representation for your ILR application as a sole representative of an overseas business. Our immigration solicitors will carry out all the work on your ILR application until a decision is made by the Home Office UKVI on your ILR application. The immigration casework to be carried out by our expert team of immigration solicitors will entail the following:

Our work visa solicitors will assess your eligibility for ILR as a sole representative by considering all your personal circumstances, including any absences from the UK and any adverse immigration or personal history.
Our work visa solicitors will advise you on the weaknesses and strengths of your ILR application as a sole representative of an overseas business.
Our work visa solicitors will advise you on the relevant documents to be submitted in support of your ILR application.
Our work visa solicitors will assess your documents to ensure they meet the requirements of the Home Office UKVI immigration Rules.
Our work visa solicitors will complete and submit the online application form for ILR as a sole representative, gathering all relevant information from you.
Our work visa solicitors will help you pay the ILR application fee and book an appointment with the application centre for biometric enrolment.
Our work visa solicitors will provide you with templates of certain documents, e.g. a letter from your employer to be submitted in support of your ILR application.
Our work visa solicitors will prepare a detailed cover letter to introduce and support your ILR application.
Our work visa solicitors will upload all relevant supporting documents online before you attend your biometrics enrolment appointment.
Our work visa solicitors will liaise with the Home Office UKVI for a timely decision on your ILR application and carry out all the follow-up work until a decision is received from the Home Office UKVI on your ILR application.

How Can We Help With ILR as a representative of an overseas business?

Our specialist team of work visa solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representation for your ILR application on a fixed-fee basis. Our fixed fee for your ILR application as a representative of an overseas business covers all our work until the Home Office UKVI decides on your application. The casework to be carried out by our work visa solicitors about your ILR application will entail the following:

Advice on requirements: Our work visa solicitors will advise you on the requirements for your Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) as a representative of an overseas business.

Advice on documents: Our work visa solicitors will prepare and email you a comprehensive list of supporting documents for your ILR application.

Assessment of documents: Our work visa solicitors will assess your supporting documents to ensure that all the documents you provide in support of your ILR application as a representative of an overseas business comply with the requirements of the relevant immigration rules and UKVI Guidance relating to the representative of an overseas business visa ILR.

Completing the application form: Our work visa solicitors will complete the relevant application form for your ILR application.

Super Priority Service: Where possible, our work visa solicitors will submit your online ILR application through Super Priority Service to receive a faster decision as a representative of an overseas business.

Booking an appointment with the application centre: After submitting your ILR application as a representative of an overseas business online, our team of work visa solicitors will book an appointment with the application centre to enrol your biometrics.

Preparing a detailed cover letter: Our specialist team of work visa solicitors will prepare a detailed cover letter in support of your ILR application, explaining how all the legal requirements are met for its approval.

Uploading documents online: Before the biometrics enrolment date, our work visa solicitors will upload all required supporting documents for your ILR application.

Follow-up work: Our work visa solicitors will carry out all the follow-up work until the Home Office UKVI decides on your ILR application as a representative of an overseas business.

Specialist Immigration Solicitors for ILR as a Representative of an Overseas Business

Our work visa solicitors are specialists in Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) applications for representatives of overseas businesses. As one of the best UK work visa solicitors, we have an excellent track record of helping clients successfully obtain ILR. Our highly experienced and fully qualified UK work visa solicitors can provide fast, friendly, reliable, and fixed-fee immigration advice and legal representation for your Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application as a representative of an overseas business.

The high quality of UK visa and immigration legal services provided by our best team of immigration lawyers is self-evident from the 5-star Google Reviews rating by 99% of our clients. Our London-based immigration solicitors are available 7 days a week, 365 days a year, offering unwavering dedication and exceptional legal support for a wide range of UK visa and immigration cases. Our team of highly regarded immigration solicitors brings together more than 6 decades of collective, specialised expertise in successfully handling UK visa and immigration applications.

Meet Our Team of Immigration Solicitors in London

At Premium Solicitors, our strength lies in the expertise, dedication, and unwavering commitment of our work visa solicitors in London. We understand that immigration matters are life-changing events, and our team is here to guide you through every step of the ILR application process with professionalism and care.

Our team comprises a diverse group of work visa solicitors, each bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge. We are united by a shared goal: to deliver the highest level of legal support and advocacy tailored to your immigration needs.