Global Business Mobility visa

This route replaces the previous Intra-Company Transfer route which closed to new applicants on 11 April 2022. This route is aimed at senior managers and specialist employees who will be undertaking a temporary work assignment in the UK.

The worker will need to be working for an overseas company which is linked by common ownership or control with the UK company holding a Sponsor Licence – this link must be approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) before applying under this category. The individual must be working for the overseas company for at least 12 months unless they are a ‘high earner’ i.e. those earning at least £73,900 or above per annum.

The individual must score a total of 60 points – the Certificate of Sponsorship must confirm the job they will be sponsored for and the role must be eligible for sponsorship under Appendix Skilled Occupation. The individual must be paid a salary of at least £48,500 or the going-rate for the occupation, which is higher.

The maximum time allowed in the Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker route will be 5 years in any 6 year period. If the individual will be paid at least £73,900 or above per annum the maximum time allowed will be 9 years in any 10 year period. Individuals are not required to satisfy the English language requirement. This route does not lead to settlement however individuals may be permitted to switch to a visa category that does lead to settlement should they meet the criteria.

This route replaces the previous Intra-Company Graduate Trainee visa which closed to new applicants on 11 April 2022. This route is aimed at workers who are being transferred to the UK by their overseas employer as part of a structured graduate training programme which will eventually lead to a managerial or specialist role within the organisation. As with the Senior or Specialist Worker visa, the overseas company must be linked by common ownership or control to the UK company and this must be approved by UKVI, either at the time the licence was approved or at a later date.

Individuals must have been working for the overseas company for at least 3 months prior to date of application. The individual must score a total of 60 points – the Certificate of Sponsorship must confirm the job they will be sponsored for and the role must be eligible under Appendix Skilled Occupation. The individual must be paid a salary of at least £25,410 or at least 70% of the going-rate for the occupation, which is higher.

Individuals are not required to satisfy the English language requirement. Successful applicants will be issued with a 12-month visa.

This route replaces the previous Sole Representative of an Overseas Business Visa which closed to new applicants on 11 April 2022. This route is aimed at senior managers or specialist employees who will be assigned to the UK on a temporary basis to undertake work related to the expansion of the overseas business in the UK.

This route can only be used when the UK business has not yet started trading – if the business is already trading then the individual should use the ‘Senior or Specialist Worker visa’ – see above.

The individual must score a total of 60 points – the Certificate of Sponsorship must confirm the job they will be sponsored for and the role must be eligible for sponsorship under Appendix Skilled Occupation. The individual must be paid a salary of at least £48,500 or the going-rate for the occupation, which is higher. The individual must be working for the overseas company for at least 12 months unless they are a ‘high earner’ or an individual with permanent residence in Australian, or a Japanese or Australian national working for a company based in either of the respective countries.

The UK sponsor must be authorised by the Home Office to sponsor a UK Expansion Worker and must be listed as A-rated on the Home Office’s register of licenced sponsors. Alternatively, the applicant must hold the role of authorising officer on the Sponsor’s Licence and have a ‘provisional rating’ on the Home Office’s register of licenced sponsors. We await further guidance from UKVI on exactly how Sponsors obtain a ‘provisional rating’.

One fundamental difference to the Sole Representative of an Overseas Business visa is that this category does not lead to settlement, however, individuals may switch to other immigration categories should the specific criteria be met.

This route replaces the contractual service supplier and independent professional professionals in the Temporary Worker – International Agreement route. This route is aimed at overseas workers who will be undertaking temporary work assignments in the UK who are either a contractual service supplier employed by an overseas service provider, or a self-employed independent professional based overseas, and are required to undertake an assignment in the UK to provide services covered by one of the UK’s international trade agreement.

UK Sponsors must have the contract with an overseas service provider registered and approved by the Home Office before sponsoring an individual under this route. Individuals must score a total of 40 points – the UK Sponsor must be approved by the Home Office to sponsor a ‘Service Supplier’ and the Certificate of Sponsorship must confirm the job is at an eligible skill level required for sponsorship under this category. Note for this category there is no requirement to meet a minimum salary or going rate for the relevant occupation.

Individuals are not required to satisfy the English language requirement but they must meet the ‘Nationality’ requirement for this particular category.

This is a new category introduced for individuals that will be temporary seconded to the UK by their overseas employer as part of a high value contract or investment.

Individuals must demonstrate they have been working for the overseas employer for a cumulative period of at least 12 months. The contract between the UK Sponsor and the overseas company must be approved by the Home Office before sponsorship under this route can take place.

Individuals must score a total of 40 points –the Certificate of Sponsorship must confirm the job is at an eligible skill level required for sponsorship under this category. As like the Service Supplier Visa, there is no requirement to meet a minimum salary or going rate for the relevant occupation.

Individuals are not required to satisfy the English language requirement. Successful applicants will be issued with a 12-month visa.