ECAA Visa

In practice, this refers at present to nationals of Romania and Bulgaria.

Applying for a UK visa for immigration under this route allows candidates to live and work in the UK by starting a business of any size in any sector.

If you do not qualify for this UK visa service, you may be able to qualify under one of the other UK business visas for immigration available.

At Global Visas, our immigration consultants can offer immigration lawyer expertise and can help you to pursue the right route for your needs from the range of British visas and work permits available.

As a specialist UK immigration consultancy, we can manage every aspect of your relocation to the UK, from advice on making an application to a range of services to assist you upon your arrival.

ECAA Visa Benefits

One of the main benefits of this service for immigration to UK is that unlike several of the other UK business visa services, no investment is required.

Unlike British business immigration services such as the Entrepreneur visa, the Innovator visa and the investor visa, candidates applying under this route do not need to create jobs in the United Kingdom nor invest sums of money in the county's economy.

Like the points based Highly Skilled Migrant Programme, or HSMP, this route offers complete freedom of choice in the area and extent of the business created, however, it does not require a points based assessment in order to qualify.

Holders of European Economic Area visas do not require a UK work permit visa, however, they must not engage in business activity or employment outside their business and must work full time in running the enterprise.

ECAA Visa Duration

The initial grant for this type of visa service covers a period of two years. This period may be extended by up to three more years if it can be demonstrated that the business has progressed in line with projections in the original business plan and that the following criteria are met.

• Applicants must have been successful in supporting themselves and any dependants during the first two years without recourse to public finds.
• Applicants must be actively involved in the day-to-day running and promotion of the business.
• The business in question must still be in existence with sufficient funds to continue trading.

If a UK visa extension application is successful, then after a total of five years a candidate may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK (ILR), often referred to as permanent residence. Beyond this, subject to meeting the criteria for British naturalization, candidates may opt to naturalise as a UK citizen.
Visa Eligibility

In order to immigrate to the UK under this scheme, applicants will need to satisfy the following criteria: 

• Applicants must be a citizen of Bulgaria or Romania
• Applicants must work solely in the business described in their business plan. It is permissible to trade as a limited company, a partnership or as an individual. In the case of limited companies, applicants must have a controlling interest in the business.
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate sufficient funds to support themselves and any dependents in Great Britain until the business becomes profitable.
• Applicants must be able to present and implement a viable business plan and a projected balance sheet detailing profit and loss expectations, assets, stock and expenses, as well as evidence of their relevant qualifications and work experience.

Dependants

With the exception of the temporary business visitor visa service, often referred to as a UK travel visa or tourist visa, UK 

business class

 visas are intended as potential routes to settlement and allow for spouse immigration and dependant immigration.

EC Association Agreement Visa 

applications

 are no exception and candidates entering the country in this way may apply to become permanent residents if their business proposal is carried out successfully. Family immigration is therefore permitted and your spouse or unmarried partner and dependant children may join you in the country.

Your spouse or unmarried partner may seek and undertake any lawful employment in the same way provided by a marriage visa or De Facto visa, often described as an unmarried partner visa, and your dependents will be afforded the same rights to 

education

 and healthcare as British citizens. Find out further information on our Science and Engineering page.