Global Business Mobility Pathways

The five new visas under the UK Global Business Mobility route are:

The Senior or Specialist Worker Visa and Graduate Trainee Visa cater to companies that already have an established presence in the UK.

Whilst the Expansion Worker Visa and Service Supplier Visa are aimed at companies with no established UK presence. However, there is a precondition to having a ‘footprint’ in the UK.

The Secondment Worker Visa is for both kinds of firms, with and without a presence in the UK.

Here is a brief description of the Global Business Mobility Pathways:

1. Expansion Worker Visa

  • To establish a UK presence (this visa has replaced the UK Representative of an Overseas Business visa).
  • The worker must be either a senior manager or a specialist employee in that overseas company.
  • The applicant must be assigned to the UK to undertake work that is related to expanding the overseas business in the UK.
  • The main applicant can be accompanied by a partner and children (under 18 years) to the UK on this visa.

The eligibility for the UK Expansion Worker Visa is as follows:

  • Have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from the UK employer,
  • Have worked for their employer outside the UK,
  • Do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations,
  • The applicant must be paid at least £42,400 per year or the ‘going rate’ for that particular job role – whichever is higher.

2. Service Supplier Visa

  • With regards to UK trade agreements (this visa has replaced the UK T5 International Agreement routes).
  • The worker must either be a contractual service supplier employed by an overseas service provider, or a self-employed independent professional based overseas.
  • The worker also needs to undertake an assignment in the UK to provide services covered by one of the UK’s international trade agreements.
  • The main applicant can be accompanied by a partner and children (under 18 years) to the UK on this visa.

The eligibility for the UK Service Supplier Visa is as follows:

  • Be an employee of an overseas business, or a self-employed service provider based overseas.
  • Be providing a service under a contract that is covered by a valid international trade agreement.
  • Be providing a service to a UK business that has been approved as a sponsor by the Home Office.
  • Do an eligible job – or prove the applicant has relevant qualifications and professional experience.
  • Have a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ from the UK sponsor with information about the work they will be doing in the UK.
  • Have worked for their employer for at least 12 months outside the UK, or have at least 12 months of professional experience if the applicant is a self-employed service provider.

3. Senior or Specialist Worker Visa

  • To meet specific business needs (this visa replaced the UK Intra-Company Transfer visa).
  • The worker must be a senior manager or specialist employee in that overseas company.
  • On this particular visa, an employee must be assigned to a UK business, which is linked to their overseas employer.
  • The main applicant can be accompanied by a partner/children (under 18 years) to the UK on this visa.

The eligibility for the UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa is as follows:

  • Have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from the UK employer.
  • Have worked for an overseas employer.
  • Do a job that is on the list of eligible occupations.
  • The applicant must be paid at least £42,400 or the ‘going rate’ for that particular job role – whichever is higher.

4. Graduate Trainee Visa

  • As a part of a training program (this visa has replaced the UK Intra-Company Graduate Trainee visa)
  • The applicant must be on a graduate training course leading to a senior management or specialist position and is required to do a work placement in the UK.
  • The main applicant can be accompanied by a partner and children (if any, under 18 years of age) to the UK on this visa.

The eligibility for the UK Graduate Trainee Visa is as follows:

  • An applicant must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from the UK employer.
  • An applicant must have worked for an overseas employer, for a period of 3 months, immediately before the applicant applies for this visa.
  • An applicant must do a job that is on the list of eligible occupations.
  • The applicant must be paid at least £23,100 or 70% of the ‘going rate’ for that particular job role – whichever is higher.

5. Secondment Worker Visa

  • For UK firms in high-value contracts or investments.
  • The employee must be seconded to the UK as part of a high-value contract or investment by their overseas employer.
  • This means, an applicant can apply for this visa if their overseas employer is transferring them to the UK to do an eligible job for a different organisation.
  • The main applicant can be accompanied by a partner and children (under 18 years) to the UK on this visa.

The eligibility for the UK Secondment Worker Visa is as follows:

  • Have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from the UK employer with full details of the job role offered.
  • Have worked for an overseas employer, for a period of 12 months.
  • Do a job that is on the list of eligible occupations.
  • Be an existing employee of an overseas organisation that has a high-value contract with the UK sponsor.