Business Visa

About the Global Business Mobility Visas

The Global Business Mobility visas are a combined category of five sponsored work routes for overseas businesses looking to establish, develop, or support UK-based operations. These visas replace, iterate, and expand on previous UK business visas, allowing non-UK organisations to deploy certain personnel to the UK on a temporary basis. The main purpose of the scheme is to make it easier for organisations outside the UK to do business here.

Sub-categories

• Senior or Specialist Worker Visa
• Graduate Trainee Visa
• UK Expansion Worker Visa
• Service Supplier Visa
• Secondment Worker Visa

Senior or Specialist Worker Visa

This route replaces the previous Intra-Company Transfer route, closed on 11 April 2022. It is aimed at senior managers and specialist employees undertaking a temporary work assignment in the UK.

• Overseas company must be linked by ownership or control to the UK sponsor licence holder (approved by UKVI).
• Normally requires at least 12 months of overseas employment unless a high earner (£73,900+).
• Must score 60 points and hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for an eligible role.
• Salary must be at least £45,800 or the occupation going rate (whichever is higher).
• No English language requirement.
• Maximum stay: 5 years in any 6-year period.
• Does not lead to settlement (but switching may be possible if eligible).

Graduate Trainee Visa

For workers transferred to the UK as part of a structured graduate training programme leading to a managerial or specialist role within the organisation.

• Overseas and UK businesses must be linked (approved by UKVI).
• Must have worked for the sponsor outside the UK for at least 3 months before application.
• Must have a Certificate of Sponsorship for an eligible occupation.
• Minimum salary: £24,220 per year.
• No English language requirement.
• Visa length: 12 months.

UK Expansion Worker Visa

A UK Expansion Worker visa allows an individual to come to the UK to set up a branch of an overseas business that has not started trading in the UK yet.

• Applicant must already work for the overseas business as a senior manager or specialist employee.
• Requires a valid Certificate of Sponsorship.
• Normally requires 12 months of overseas employment unless exceptions apply (e.g., high earner £73,900+).
• Minimum salary: £45,800 or the going rate (whichever is higher).
• Initial stay: up to 12 months.
• Maximum stay: 2 years.

Service Supplier Visa

Allows employees of overseas companies or self-employed professionals to come to the UK and carry out services covered by a UK international trade agreement.

• Requires a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK registered sponsor authorised by the Home Office.
• Must be an overseas employee or a self-employed professional based overseas.
• Must provide services under a contract covered by an international trade agreement.
• Must have 12 months of overseas work for employer (or 12 months of experience if self-employed).
• Must work in an eligible job/occupation code and meet qualification/experience requirements.
• Stay allowed: 6 or 12 months, or CoS period + 14 days (whichever is shorter).

Secondment Worker Visa

The UK Secondment Worker Visa allows overseas businesses to transfer staff to work in a different company in the UK to fulfil a high-value contract.

• High-value contract must be approved by the Home Office.
• Must have worked for overseas employer for at least 12 months outside the UK.
• Requires a Certificate of Sponsorship and an eligible occupation.
• Stay allowed: 12 months from job start date or CoS period + 14 days (whichever is shorter).
• Extension possible by 12 months; maximum time on this route is 2 years.