Global Mobility Visa UK

The Senior or Specialist worker route is for overseas-based employees that are intended to be temporarily transferred to a UK branch of a company which is linked to their overseas employer company.

The eligibility criteria for the senior or specialist worker route are that the applicant:

• Must have been working for the overseas company for at least 12 months prior to submitting an application. If they make a minimum of £73,900 per year, they don’t need to have worked for a year.
• Must have a UK sponsor for an eligible job meeting the minimum skill level and a salary threshold of at least £42,400 per year or the ‘going rate for the particular job, whichever is higher.
• A valid certificate of sponsorship from the UK branch of the overseas parent company with a valid certificate of sponsorship the employer needs a sponsor licence from the Home Office.

Applicants with a Senior or Specialist worker visa can stay in the UK for five years after the start date of their job, or 14 days after the end date of the job specified in the certificate of sponsorship.

The Service Supplier route permits contractual service suppliers employed by overseas service providers, or self-employed independent professionals based overseas, to work on temporary assignments in the UK providing services covered by a UK international trade agreement.

The eligibility criteria for the Service Supplier visa route:

• Work as or for an overseas service provider that provides services to their UK sponsor and the applicant must have worked in that capacity outside the UK for a cumulative period of 12 months
• Have an eligible job at the minimum skill level or a university degree or equivalent level technical qualification and experience
• Hold a certificate of sponsorship issued by an employer with the appropriate sponsor license and who has a Home Office registered contract
• Meet the nationality requirement

The Secondment Worker visa route is for overseas workers working on temporary assignments in the UK for a high-value contract or investment by their overseas employer.

The eligibility criteria for the Secondment Worker are:

• Work for an overseas business with a Home Office registered contract with their UK sponsor, for the business outside the UK for a cumulative period of at least 12 months
• Be sponsored for an eligible job
• Have a certificate of sponsorship issued by an employer with Home Office authority to sponsor a secondment worker who has a Home Office registered contract.

With a global business mobility visa, you are legally allowed to do the following activities while in the UK:

• Work for your UK sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship.
• Study
• Bring your partner and dependent children with you, if they’re eligible.
• Do voluntary work and unpaid work.
• Travel abroad freely and return to the UK.

Per the immigration rules, the following activities are not permitted on the UK expansion worker visa:

• Apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension
• Change jobs, unless you are eligible
• Hold a second job
• Apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’)

The global mobility visa has been quite confusing for UK business owners and visa applicants. To overcome these challenges, we advise you to contact us to support your application.

Total Law is a qualified team of immigration lawyers that are experts in the global mobility routes so we can provide support on any requirements or questions. Our immigration team is able to advise you on sponsorship obligations, UK business, job skill level requirements and plenty more!

Call us today to get started on your visa application. We are available to speak seven days a week and can be reached by phone or by using the online chat function to speak with one of our client care agents.