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UK Service Supplier Visa: Canada Added to Eligible Trade Agreements and Sectors for Independent Professionals

🇬🇧 United KingdomWork Permits1 recorded versionLast change 31 Aug 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

The UK Global Business Mobility Service Supplier route now includes additional eligible trade agreements: the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and India, and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Additionally, Canada and Mexico have been added to Table C, which details sectors covered under specific agreements. The guidance also reflects commitments made with Australia and New Zealand, and includes information on the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.

Overview

The UK Home Office has updated the 'Service Supplier visa: eligible trade agreements and sectors' guidance, effective from 1 September 2026. This update adds Canada to Table C, which specifies the additional commitments for independent professionals under the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement. This expands the opportunities for Canadian independent professionals to provide services in the UK under the Service Supplier route.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Employees of an overseas service provider — legally called contractual service suppliers — coming to the UK under the Global Business Mobility Service Supplier route
  • Self-employed service providers — legally called independent professionals — coming to the UK under the Global Business Mobility Service Supplier route

What changed in the latest version

Before

Before 1 September 2026, Canada was not included in Table C of the Service Supplier visa guide.

After

The UK Global Business Mobility Service Supplier visa route now includes more eligible trade agreements. These are the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and India, and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Also, Canada and Mexico are now added to Table C. Table C details which sectors are covered under specific agreements. The guide also shows agreements made with Australia and New Zealand, and includes information about the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.

This update greatly increases the options for businesses and professionals who want to use the UK's Service Supplier visa route. Companies in countries that are part of the new trade agreements, like India and those in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) group, may now be able to send contractual service suppliers or independent professionals to the UK. This means more international talent and service providers can enter the UK market. This could increase trade and business opportunities. Also, people from these countries who want to work in the UK under service contracts will find new ways to do so. They must still meet the specific rules for their sector and trade agreement. Organisations must now check the updated list. This will help them find new chances for staff transfers within a company or for independent professional jobs.

Explained simply

Imagine you're a Canadian expert who wants to do special work in the UK, like an architect or a computer expert, but you work for yourself. Before, it wasn't clear if you could come under a special work pass called the 'Service Supplier visa'. Now, the UK government has updated its rule book, and it clearly says 'Yes, Canada is included for self-employed experts too!' This means it's now easier for Canadian independent professionals to come to the UK for work that's part of a trade deal between the two countries.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v1Effective 1 Sept 2026EffectiveMedium impact
    UK Service Supplier Visa: Canada Added to Eligible Trade Agreements and Sectors for Independent Professionals

    The UK Home Office updated its guide for the Service Supplier visa. This visa is part of the Global Business Mobility route. The update adds more eligible trade agreements and sectors. These new agreements include the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the United Kingdom and India. They also include the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The CPTPP is a free trade agreement between Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom. Canada and Mexico are now included in specific sectors within Table C of the guide. The guide also now shows agreements with Australia, New Zealand, and the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement. These changes took effect through several updates between 9 November 2022 and 1 September 2026. The original guide was published on 30 June 2022. The changes apply to employees and self-employed people who provide services in the UK under these agreements.

Timeline

  1. Announced

    1 Sept 2026

    The UK Home Office has updated the 'Service Supplier visa: eligible trade agreements and sectors' guidance, effective from 1 September 2026. This update adds Canada to Table C, which specifies the additional commitments for independent professionals under the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement. This expands the opportunities for Canadian independent professionals to provide services in the UK un

  2. Takes effect

    1 Sept 2026

    The UK Global Business Mobility Service Supplier route now includes additional eligible trade agreements: the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and India, and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Additionally, Canada and Mexico have been added to Table C, which details sectors co

Other routes in this country

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