OfI Fast Track Referral for a UK Expansion Worker Sponsor Licence

Businesses that are receiving ongoing support from the Office for Investment (OfI) may be able to get a faster decision on their UK Expansion Worker sponsor licence from the Home Office. If accepted, processing time may take around 10 working days (versus 8 weeks standard).

To be eligible, businesses must:

  1. be receiving ongoing support from the OfI
  2. operate in one of the eight sectorsopens www.gov.uk in a new tab identified as a priority under the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy
  3. meet at least one of the following growth criteria:
    1. Has received at least £1 million venture capital or institutional investment
    2. Has committed at least £2 million capital investment for UK expansion
    3. Is part of a government-recognised, high-growth programme (for example, the Global Entrepreneur Programme)

Applications referred by OfI to Home Office for fast-tracking that are later identified by the Home Office as complex will not be processed within 10 working days and will be subject to standard timelines. Further information on service standards can be found here: Worker and temporary worker customer service standards.opens eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com in a new tab

Note that any business or individual seeking support will be subject to due diligence checks including assessment against the UK’s existing sanction regimesopens www.gov.uk in a new tab. You will also need to provide a:

  • breakdown of UK setup costs that is genuine, well planned and plausible
  • month-by-month breakdown covering the first 12 months of operational costs related to UK expansion
  • forecast and rationale for future revenue in the UK

These will be authenticated and assessed against past business performance and market benchmarks to ensure plausibility before referrals are made to the Home Office.

Email globaltalenthub@officeforinvestment.gov.uk, copying your OfI Account Manager, to express your interest in a fast-track referral.

Further information on priority Home Office services is available here: Pre-licence priority service guidance - GOV.UKopens eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com in a new tab.

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