The Global Business Mobility Visa for Senior or Specialist Workers provides a route for senior managers and specialist workers to come to the UK for temporary work assignments. It replaces the Intra-Company Transfer visa (Tier 2) and allows workers to come to their employer’s UK branch to work in an eligible job. Overseas workers applying in this category must be coming to the UK to work for or with a business that is linked to their overseas employer by common ownership.
If you want to recruit specialist or senior workers from a connected business overseas, you’ll need to ensure you have a sponsor licence and are ready to meet the rigorous requirements imposed by UK Visas and Immigration. Equally, professionals who wish to apply for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa will need to prepare a strong and compelling application that demonstrates compliance with all criteria.
Learn more about the Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker visa and find out how WH Solicitors could help you to secure entry clearance to the UK by reading this complete guide.
On 15 March 2022, the UK Government created three new visa categories under the points-based immigration system. These included the Global Business Mobility scheme, which has a separate category for Senior and Specialist workers.
The Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker Visa replaces the Intra-Company Transfer visa scheme.
To qualify for a Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker Visa, you must meet a number of requirements. The main criteria for a visa in this category include that:
To check if your job is eligible, visit the dedicated occupations page on the Government website.
In order to successfully apply for a Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker Visa, you will need to obtain a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the job you intend to do. This must have been issued by an employer that has been authorised by the Home Office to sponsor senior and specialist workers.
Sponsors in this category must be A-rated on the Home Office’s official register of sponsor licences. Certificates of sponsorship must be issued no longer than 3 months before the date of an application for a Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker Visa.
The Immigration Skills Charge is a charge applied for each foreign worker that a UK business or organisation wishes to employ. The charge must be paid every time an authorised organisation provides a valid Certificate of Sponsorship to an overseas worker.
Successful applicants for a Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker Visa will still need to comply with the conditions of their visa even after it has been approved. These include working only in the job described in their Certificate of Sponsorship and not accessing or using public funds such as benefits. They will be permitted to undertake study and voluntary work, and may even bring a qualifying partner and child dependents to the UK with them.
A Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker Visa last for a period of up to five years in any six-year period if you are paid less than £73,900 per year, or nine years in any ten-year period if you are paid £73,900 or more per year.
Whilst you are in the UK you will not be able to:
Migrants who already have leave to remain in the UK under another visa route may be able to extend their stay by switching into the Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker Visa scheme. This will not be possible if they do not meet the relevant work requirements, or if they were last granted permission to remain as a visitor, short-term student or parent of a child student, domestic worker within a private household, or as a seasonal worker.
Our expert business immigration solicitors have the experience required to help Senior and Specialist Worker Visa applicants to secure the approvals they need. We will help you to understand the requirements, provide clear and practical advice throughout the clearance process, and ensure you make an impressive and compelling case to UK Visa and Immigration officials.
We advise employers looking to obtain sponsor licences and assist senior and specialist workers as they apply for a visa under the Global Business Mobility route. For more information, help, and support, contact our team today by calling (+44) 01483 608 786 or by emailing contact@whsolicitors.co.uk.
Yes, all Global Business Mobility visa routes require sponsorship from a relevant licenced employer. This means that applicants must have a valid certificate of sponsorship from an employer who has received a Sponsorship Licence from the UK Home Office.
You can submit an application for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK (as listed in your certificate of sponsorship).
Once you’ve applied, it could take up to three weeks for a decision to be made if you’re outside the UK, or up to eight weeks if you’re inside the UK. The team at WH Solicitors always strives to submit the strongest applications, which could help you to get a more timely decision.
Once your visa has been approved, you will be able to stay in the UK for the time period stated on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, or for five years – whichever is shorter.
Yes – if you continue to satisfy the relevant requirements, you can apply to extend your visa up to the maximum total stay.
The maximum total stay for a Senior and Specialist Worker visa is five years in any six-year period if you’re paid less than £73,900 per year, or nine years in any 10 year period if you’re paid £73,900 or more per year.
The contents of this webpage are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended to constitute legal advice. All information is correct as of the date of publication, and any individual or organisation should be careful to seek qualified advice from a specialist immigration lawyer before acting on any of the topics referenced by this content.
