文章来源：上海移民律师网

海外公司首席代表（Representatives of overseas business）签证是指非英国公司指派高管赴英设立代表处或分公司所需获得的签证。

        一、海外公司驻英代表签证申请条件：
        - 申请人必须受雇于一家总部在英国以外的公司，并工作6个月以上；
        - 必须确保在不使用英国国家福利的前提下，能够维持你及你的陪伴人员在英国的生活；
        - 作为海外公司驻英国首席代表，你必须是该公司的高级职员（但是不能是公司的大股东）并且有意在英国建立此公司的分部；
        - 此分部可以是海外公司的英国代表处，或是全资子公司但一定要和母公司经营相同类型的业务；
        - 总公司在英国不能有其他的任何代表处或是分公司；
        - 你必须能够全权对于公司的英国业务做出决定；
        - 你有基本的英语沟通能力，达到移民局的相应要求。
        首次获得签证的期限是3年，之后可以续签两年。在英国居住满5年后，你可以申请英国的永久居留。在你持此签证在英国期间，需全职为此海外公司工作，并且你不能够自己创业或是代表其他任何一家公司。英国首席代表签证对年薪的要求是4万英镑以上。
         二、英国法律对代表处的定义
　　外国公司在英国从事有关业务，须设立自己的机构，此机构可以是子公司，也可以是分支机构，分支机构又分为分公司和代表处。如果公司在英国设立分支机构，并仅将其作为公司的一部分辅助公司在英国开展业务，而不是单独对外，则根据英国法律规定此分支机构可以注册为代表处（注：本文中“公司”非经特别说明，均指“母公司”）。另根据英国法律规定，下列三类企业在英分支机构必须以代表处方式注册：
　　英国之外的无限责任公司；
　　北爱及直布罗陀地区的企业；
　　没有在北爱地区设立分公司的外国有限责任公司，如其在英分支机构业务不足以成立分公司而仅能满足代表处要求。
　　三、如何注册代表处
　　在英国境内设立的代表处必须在成立后1个月内到英国公司登记处注册登记，并提交填写完毕的“691号表格”以及公司章程等基本文件、注册费等。
　　四、“691号表格”要求披露的有关信息
　　公司全称；
　　公司注册国；
　　代表处在英国境内的地址；
　　公司董事简历；
　　公司秘书（或其他类似职务人员）名字及其住址；
　　代表处日常事务联系人员姓名及住址，该人必须是英国居民；
　　代表处在英开办时间。
　　五、需提交的公司有关文件要求
　　代表处须在规定时间内向公司注册处提交诸如公司章程、公司备忘录等能够说明公司基本情况的文件，这些文件必须是公司所在国官方语言写成，非英文的还要附带证明准确的英文译本，且这些文件必须经过下列人员之一证明：
　　国内监管这些文件的政府部门有关官员；
　　公证机构；
　　公司不负责宣誓事务的官员宣誓证明。
　　六、注册费用
　　标准注册费用为20英镑，注册时间约需7-10天；如加急办理，可当天拿到，费用为100英镑。
　　七、会计报表要求
　　如果公司所在国法律要求其公布经审计的会计报表，则代表处必须在该报表公布后3个月内向英国公司注册处提交此报表。如果公司所在国法律无此要求，则代表处必须在公司会计年度结束后的13个月内向英国公司注册处提交公司有关会计内容（SECTION 700 ACCOUNTS），此内容必须包括公司资产负债表和损益表，并附简单说明。　　上述会计报表不需特别证明，但必须提交英文文本，如需翻译，则英文译本需经证明其准确性。
　　八、注意事项
　　英国法律对公司名称有严格限制，既不能与英国已注册公司名称相同，也不能含敏感字眼。如有，则有关部门有权要求公司改名；如需保护本公司名称，可同时在英国注册一个隐性子公司，名字可为XXX英国有限公司；
　　代表处有地域限制，如在英国其他地区设立代表处，须另行登记注册；
　　“691号表格”项下任何内容的更改必须向英国公司登记处递交规定格式的更改函；
　　公司代表处必须在代表处用的信函稿纸上披露公司具体信息，如公司名称、电话、地址等；
　　如代表处用公司雇佣合同，要确认其是否符合英国法律；
　　公司标准合同是否在英国法律体系下有效。
　　是否需在英国（或欧盟）注册商标。
　　如代表处需单独从事具体业务活动，则必须立即登记为分公司或子公司。
　　如果公司在英国之外销售英国制造并可以退还增值税的商品，代表处可以在办理有关登记手续后代表公司办理退税业务。

 Representative of an Overseas Business visa

[Source: www.gov.uk]
 

1. Overview
You can apply to come to the UK as a representative of an overseas business if you’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland and you’re either:
the sole representative of an overseas company planning to set up a UK branch or a wholly owned subsidiary for an overseas parent company
an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation posted on a long-term assignment to the UK
You must also meet the other eligibility requirements.

2. Eligibility
To be eligible for this visa you must:
apply from outside the EEA
have enough money to support yourself without help from public funds
meet the English requirement
Sole Representatives
If you are coming to the UK as a sole representative you must:
be recruited and employed outside the UK by a company whose headquarters and principal place of business are outside the UK
have extensive related industry experience and knowledge
hold a senior position within the company (but not be a major shareholder) and have full authority to make decisions on its behalf
intend to establish the company’s first commercial presence in the UK, eg a registered branch or a wholly owned subsidiary
You may also be eligible if the company has a legal entity in the UK that doesn’t employ staff or transact business.
If your company has been working to establish a UK branch or subsidiary, but it is not yet set up, you can replace a previous sole representative.

3. Knowledge of English
You may need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply.
You can prove your knowledge of English by either:
passing an approved English language test     with at least CEFR level A1 in reading, writing, speaking and listening
having an academic qualification that was taught in English and is recognised by UK NARIC     as being equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree
You may be able to meet the English language requirement in other ways. Check the full visa guidance     for detailed information.

4. Documents you must provide
When you apply you’ll need to provide:
a current passport or other valid travel identification
a passport size colour photograph
evidence that you can support yourself and any dependants during your trip, eg bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months
details of where you’ll be staying during your stay
proof that you meet the English requirement
You’ll need to provide a certified translation of any documents that aren’t in English or Welsh.
You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

Sole representatives
When applying as a sole representative of an overseas company you’ll need to provide:

a full description of the parent company’s activities, including details of assets and accounts
a letter confirming the overseas company will establish a wholly-owned subsidiary or register a branch in the UK in the same business activity as the parent company
your job description, employment contract and salary details
a letter confirming you’re familiar with the company and have the power to take operational decisions
You should also provide evidence that you:
are directly employed by the parent company and aren’t acting as a sales agent (i.e. hired by a company to sell or distribute their products within the UK, but working for yourself and providing your services for a fee)
were recruited to the company outside of the UK, hold a senior position and are able to make decisions on its behalf and have the authority to establish and operate a registered branch
will be working full time for the company for the duration of your stay and won’t carry out any other work
are not a majority shareholder in the company

5. Family members
Your family members (‘dependants’) can come with you when you come to the UK on this visa. Your family members must have a visa if they’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

A ‘dependant’ is any of the following:

your husband, wife or partner
your child under 18

6.How long it will take
You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before you travel to the UK.
You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.
Check the guide processing times     to find out how long getting a visa might take in your country.

7.Fees
A Representative of an Overseas Business visa costs £278.

8.How long you can stay
You can come to the UK for an initial period of 3 years.
You may be able to extend your visa for another 2 years.
After you’ve been in the UK for 5 years, you can apply for permission to settle permanently in the UK    .

9.What you can and can’t do
You can:
work for your employer, full time
bring your family (‘dependants’) with you to the UK
extend your visa multiple times
apply to settle in the UK after you’ve been here for 5 years
stay in the UK if your company’s circumstances change and you’ve been here for more than 2 years (eg if they appoint a superior in the UK)
You can’t:
work for yourself or any other business
stay in the UK if the sole representative arrangement is ended by your employer
switch to this visa from any other visa category
get public funds