Lower costs and less red tape make UK expansion visas worth a look for Canadian firms, says immigration lawyer
Canadian employers rethinking their reliance on the U.S. amid the escalating trade war should look hard at the United Kingdom, where expansion visas cost less and carry less bureaucracy than American equivalents, according to a London immigration lawyer.
Sunny Sandhu, head of legal operations at AY&J Solicitors in London, says the U.S. would normally be the obvious first move for Canadian businesses. But tensions between the two countries are "a bit crazy," he says, and U.S. visas "cost a hell of a lot of money."
The UK, by contrast, remains open to foreign business despite tighter immigration rules, Sandhu says. "Even though it sounds like we're trying to keep people out, we are still very hungry for businesses, people who can contribute to the economy."
The trade-off is paperwork. The Home Office – the UK government department responsible for immigration – now demands clean accounts, a focused business plan and salaries that clear rising thresholds.
Two UK expansion visa routes for Canadian businesses
For companies with no UK presence, the main option is the UK Expansion Worker visa. It allows a senior manager or specialist employee of an overseas business to come to the UK to set up a branch that has not yet started trading, according to UK government guidance.
"It needs to be completely fresh, but they need to say to the Home Office, right, we're looking to expand to the UK," Sandhu says.
He says applicants should have traded in Canada for 12 months to three years. "They want to see that you're coming here to, yes, expand your business, but also be a big contributor to the UK economy."
Companies already trading in the UK can instead use the Senior or Specialist Worker visa to move existing staff between entities. "It's a really straightforward route for companies to say, right, I've got a worker in Canada who works for our entity in Canada," Sandhu says.
Stays can last up to nine years for workers paid £73,900 or more, according to UK government guidance. Sandhu notes the route has no English language requirement but no path to settlement.
Salary thresholds keep climbing
"Salary is generally the biggest threshold that steps in people's way," Sandhu says.
The general salary threshold for new Skilled Worker visa applications rose to £41,700 on July 22, 2025, up from £38,700 set in April 2024, according to guidance published by NHS Employers. UK expansion workers face a higher bar: at least £52,500 a year or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher, according to UK government guidance.
The expansion route also limits risk, he says. "You get given two years to play the field. And if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. But you're not in X amount of debt from it."
