What is a Senior or Specialist Worker Visa?
The Senior or Specialist Worker visa is for senior managers and specialist employees undertaking a temporary assignment with a UK business linked to their overseas employer.
It replaced the former Intra-company Transfer route and forms part of the Global Business Mobility Visa framework.The standard salary threshold is £52,500 or the occupation’s going rate, whichever is higher. The route is temporary, has cumulative maximum-stay limits and does not lead directly to settlement.
Who Can Apply for a Senior or Specialist Worker Visa?
The Senior or Specialist Worker visa is for an existing employee of an overseas business undertaking a temporary assignment with a linked UK organisation as a senior manager or specialist employee.
Applicants must generally:
- Be aged 18 or over and already work within the sponsor group.
- Be assigned to a genuine UK role eligible under an appropriate SOC 2020 code.
- Work for a UK sponsor authorised to use the Senior or Specialist Worker route.
- Have a qualifying link between the UK sponsor and overseas employer.
- Meet the applicable salary and overseas employment requirements.
The business relationship will normally be based on common ownership or control or an accepted joint venture arrangement. Applicants earning below £73,900 normally need at least 12 months’ qualifying overseas employment, while high earners at or above this level have no minimum overseas employment period.
How Senior or Specialist Worker Visa Solicitors Can Help
A Senior or Specialist Worker application involves more than completing an online form. The sponsor, UK role, overseas employment, corporate relationship, occupation code, salary and supporting evidence must all comply with the Immigration Rules. Axis Solicitors can advise both the UK sponsor and worker before the Certificate of Sponsorship is assigned.
Our business immigration team can assist with:
- Eligibility and sponsorship position reviews
- UK and overseas business relationship checks
- SOC 2020 code and salary assessments
- CoS and supporting document reviews
- Applications, dependants, extensions and updates
This approach can help identify issues before submission that may affect the application or sponsor compliance. We can also explain the situation when another route may better suit your plans.
Senior or Specialist Worker Sponsor Licence and Business Relationship
The UK company cannot sponsor an overseas employee on this route simply because the businesses cooperate commercially. The UK organisation must hold the appropriate sponsor permission and establish the required relationship with the overseas employer.
For Senior or Specialist Workers, the Home Office accepts a qualifying link based principally on common ownership or control or an eligible joint venture agreement. Common ownership or control can include arrangements where one business controls the other's board, holds more than half its voting rights, both businesses have a qualifying common parent, or one entity operates as a branch or representative office of the other.
Where a joint venture is relied upon, sponsors may need to demonstrate that the venture is genuinely operational and that the employee will work as part of that venture. An informal agreement to cooperate is not normally sufficient.
Axis can review the corporate structure and supporting evidence before sponsorship is used.
Certificate of Sponsorship for a Senior or Specialist Worker
A Certificate of Sponsorship, or CoS, is an electronic sponsorship record assigned by the licensed UK employer. It is not a paper certificate.
The CoS should accurately record the proposed job, occupation code, salary, working arrangements and assignment dates. The applicant uses the unique CoS reference number when completing the visa application.
For this route, the applicant must generally submit the visa application within three months of the CoS being assigned. The proposed employment start date and information on the CoS must also comply with the sponsorship rules.
Incorrect salary figures, an unsuitable occupation code or inconsistencies between the CoS and supporting evidence can create unnecessary immigration and sponsor-compliance risks.
For a detailed explanation of sponsorship records, see our Certificate of Sponsorship guidance.
Is the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa the Former Intra-Company Transfer Visa?
Yes. The Senior or Specialist Worker visa replaced the Intra-company Transfer visa, which was previously known as the Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long-term Staff route.
The current route retains the central purpose of transferring established employees within an international business structure, but eligibility should be assessed under the rules applying to the Senior or Specialist Worker route rather than relying on historic ICT requirements.
Former Intra-company Transfer permission can remain important when calculating:
- cumulative time spent in the UK;
- transitional occupation-code arrangements;
- maximum-stay limits; and
- certain historic immigration conditions.
Businesses transferring employees who previously held ICT permission should therefore review the worker’s complete UK immigration history before assigning a new CoS.
Senior or Specialist Worker Eligible Occupations and SOC Codes
The applicant must be sponsored in an occupation eligible for the Senior or Specialist Worker route.
Every sponsored role is assigned a four-digit SOC 2020 occupation code. Selecting the code should be based on the substantive duties, responsibilities, experience and skill level of the position rather than choosing the code whose title most closely resembles the employee’s internal job title.
The occupation code matters because it determines:
- whether the job is eligible for this route;
- the applicable going rate;
- whether the duties are consistent with the sponsored role; and
- whether a later change in duties could require a visa update.
Using an inappropriate SOC code can result in further Home Office scrutiny and may affect both the worker’s application and the sponsor’s compliance position.
Certain historic occupation codes removed from current eligibility remain subject to limited transitional arrangements for qualifying former Intra-company Transfer workers.
Senior or Specialist Worker Visa Salary Requirements
The salary calculation is one of the most important parts of a Senior or Specialist Worker application.
The worker must normally receive whichever is higher:
- £52,500 per year, or
- 100% of the going rate for the relevant occupation code.
Going rates are normally expressed using a standard working week and must be adjusted where the sponsored worker has different contractual hours.
Example Salary Calculation
| Salary test | Example |
|---|---|
| General threshold | £52,500 |
| Example occupation going rate | £60,000 at 37.5 hours |
| Sponsored weekly hours | 40 |
| Pro-rated going rate | £60,000 × 40 ÷ 37.5 = £64,000 |
| Minimum salary required in example | £64,000 |
Because £64,000 is higher than £52,500, the example employee would need to be paid at least £64,000.
Working Hours
For the general salary threshold, salary attributable to more than 48 hours per week is normally disregarded, subject to the detailed rules for irregular working patterns.
The occupation going-rate calculation is different. The full sponsored weekly hours are relevant when the going rate is pro-rated. This distinction can cause applications to fail if salary is tested only against the headline £52,500 figure.
What Pay Can Count?
The Immigration Rules determine which guaranteed salary and allowances may be taken into account. Bonuses, overtime, benefits in kind, immigration costs and reimbursed business expenses should not simply be added to the qualifying salary.
Salary should therefore be assessed before the CoS is assigned, particularly where the remuneration package contains allowances or non-cash benefits.
Overseas Employment Requirement
Existing employment with the overseas organisation is fundamental to this route.
A worker earning less than £73,900 a year normally needs at least 12 months’ qualifying employment outside the UK for the sponsor group. This is a cumulative requirement under the detailed Immigration Rules, rather than a simple assumption that every applicant must have spent the immediately preceding 12 calendar months continuously overseas.
The applicant should remain within the qualifying sponsor-group employment relationship from the beginning of the relevant qualifying period, subject to specific permitted breaks recognised by the rules.
Evidence may include:
- payslips;
- bank statements showing salary payments;
- employer letters;
- employment records; and
- evidence connecting the overseas employer with the UK sponsor.
High Earners
A worker earning £73,900 or more does not have to complete a minimum overseas employment period. The worker must, however, still be an existing employee within the relevant sponsor group and satisfy the other immigration requirements.
Senior or Specialist Worker Visa Cost
Visa costs should be separated between expenses paid by the applicant and sponsorship costs incurred by the employer.
| No | Type of Fee | Application Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Outside UK, up to 3 years | £819 |
| 02 | Outside UK, more than 3 years | £1,618 |
| 03 | Inside UK, up to 3 years | £943 |
| 04 | Inside UK, more than 3 years | £1,865 |
| 05 | Immigration Health Surcharge | Usually £1,035 per year |
Each dependant generally pays their own application fee and applicable Immigration Health Surcharge.
Sponsor Costs
Employers should separately consider sponsorship costs.
A Worker Certificate of Sponsorship currently costs £525. The sponsor must pay this fee and must not pass the prohibited sponsorship cost to the sponsored worker. An Immigration Skills Charge may also apply when sponsoring a Senior or Specialist Worker.
Current ISC rates include:
| No | Sponsor size | First 12 months | Each additional 6 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Small or charitable sponsor | £480 | £240 |
| 02 | Medium or large sponsor | £1,320 | £660 |
Exemptions apply in specified circumstances, so the charge should be checked against the worker’s occupation, immigration position and assignment before the CoS is issued.
Sponsor licence costs should also be considered where the organisation does not already hold the appropriate licence.
Senior or Specialist Worker Visa Duration and Maximum Stay
Permission is normally granted for the shortest relevant period under the rules, including the assignment period shown on the CoS and applicable route limits. Senior or Specialist Worker can normally remain for up to five years at a time, subject to the CoS end date and cumulative maximum-stay rules.
| No | Worker | Maximum cumulative stay |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Salary below £73,900 | 5 years in any 6-year period |
| 02 | Salary £73,900 or above | 9 years in any 10-year period |
Time spent on specified previous Global Business Mobility or Intra-company routes can count towards this cumulative limit. This means previous UK assignments should be reviewed before a new CoS is issued.
A limited historic exception can apply to certain employees who have continuously held qualifying Intra-company permissions dating back to before 6 April 2011.
Senior or Specialist Worker Visa Dependants
An eligible partner and children can normally apply as dependants of a Senior or Specialist Worker.
A dependant partner may include a spouse, civil partner or qualifying unmarried partner. Eligible children are generally those under 18, although an older child may qualify where they already hold dependant permission and continue to meet the rules.
Each family member submits their own application and normally receives permission ending on the same date as the main worker. Additional maintenance requirements are currently:
- £285 for a partner;
- £315 for the first child; and
- £200 for each additional child.
Dependants can generally work in the UK, except as a professional sportsperson or sports coach, and can study subject to applicable requirements. They cannot normally access most public funds.
For family-specific advice, see our Dependant Visa UK guide.
Switching to a Senior or Specialist Worker Visa
Some applicants already in the UK can switch into the Senior or Specialist Worker route, provided they meet the full eligibility requirements. Switching is generally not permitted from immigration categories including:
- Visitor;
- Short-term Student;
- Parent of a Child Student;
- Seasonal Worker;
- Domestic Worker in a Private Household; or
- permission outside the Immigration Rules.
Students are subject to additional conditions concerning completion of their sponsored course or qualifying PhD study before switching.
A person who cannot switch from inside the UK may need to leave the country and apply for entry clearance from overseas. The application must be submitted before the applicant’s existing immigration permission expires.
Changing Jobs on a Senior or Specialist Worker Visa
The Senior or Specialist Worker route does not provide unrestricted job mobility.
A worker must apply to update their visa if the new job falls under a different occupation code. The new position must meet the route’s eligibility requirements and the worker will need a new Certificate of Sponsorship.
GOV.UK states that the worker must have the same employer or be employed by an organisation owned by that employer when using the job-change provisions.
An application can normally be made up to three months before the new job starts. The worker can continue in their existing sponsored job while the application is pending if they applied before their current visa expired.
Does the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa Lead to ILR?
No. The Senior or Specialist Worker visa does not itself provide a direct route to Indefinite Leave to Remain. It is designed for temporary assignments within an international business group. GOV.UK expressly states that holders cannot apply for settlement on the basis of this route.
If permanent UK residence becomes a priority, the worker may need to switch into a settlement route for which they qualify, such as the Skilled Worker Visa.
The qualifying period for settlement should be assessed carefully because time spent on the Senior or Specialist Worker route does not simply become Skilled Worker qualifying residence after switching.
See our Indefinite Leave to Remain service for settlement advice
Senior or Specialist Worker Visa Application Process
A successful application requires coordination between the worker and sponsoring organisation so that the visa application, CoS and supporting evidence remain consistent.
- Confirm overseas employment, the proposed UK assignment, occupation code, salary and relevant immigration history.
- Check the UK sponsor’s permission and its qualifying relationship with the overseas employer.
- The sponsor issues a CoS with accurate details of the role, salary, occupation code and assignment.
- Gather the required identity, employment, financial, sponsorship and dependant evidence where applicable.
- Complete the application and pay the relevant visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.
- Use the UK Immigration: ID Check app or attend a visa application centre where required.
- If approved, receive confirmation of immigration permission and details of how to evidence UK status.
Applications can normally be submitted up to three months before the UK employment start date stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship, so early preparation can help prevent avoidable delays.
Senior or Specialist Worker Visa Requirements
Sponsorship and Genuine Role
- Hold a valid CoS from an authorised Senior or Specialist Worker sponsor.
- The sponsored UK position must be a genuine role meeting the route requirements.
- The role must comply with restrictions on supplying sponsored workers to third parties.
Overseas Employment Requirement
- Be employed by the sponsor or a qualifying business within the sponsor group.
- Workers earning below £73,900 normally need 12 months’ qualifying overseas employment.
- The qualifying period may be cumulative, subject to continuity and permitted-break rules.
Eligible Job and Occupation Code
- The proposed UK job must be eligible under the Senior or Specialist Worker route.
- The SOC 2020 code must reflect the worker’s actual duties, not simply their job title.
- Transitional occupation rules may apply to some former Intra-company Transfer workers.
Salary Requirement
- Earn at least £52,500 or the relevant occupation going rate, whichever is higher.
- The going rate must be adjusted according to contractual hours and the applicable SOC code.
- Only salary and remuneration permitted by the Immigration Rules can count.
Financial Requirement
- Applicants normally need at least £1,270 in maintenance funds.
- Funds must generally be held for 28 consecutive days before the application.
- Evidence may not be required after 12 months in the UK or where maintenance is certified.
Senior or Specialist Worker Visa Documents
Identity and Immigration Evidence
- Valid passport or other accepted identity and nationality document.
- Current UK immigration evidence where the applicant is applying from inside the UK.
- Previous immigration information where relevant to maximum-stay or transitional provisions.
Sponsorship and UK Role
- Certificate of Sponsorship reference number and sponsor details.
- Evidence confirming the job title, annual salary and correct SOC 2020 occupation code.
- Supporting information where necessary to demonstrate that the sponsored position is genuine.
Overseas Employment
- Payslips or equivalent payroll records showing qualifying employment.
- Bank or building-society statements supporting salary payments where required.
- Employer documentation connecting the worker to the qualifying overseas business.
Financial and Family Evidence
- Bank evidence showing required maintenance funds where the exemption does not apply.
- Marriage, civil partnership, birth or other appropriate relationship evidence for dependants.
- Evidence of additional dependant maintenance funds where required.
Additional Supporting Evidence
- Tuberculosis test certificate where the applicant is subject to the TB requirement.
- ATAS certificate where applicable to sensitive PhD-level research.
- Certified English or Welsh translations of documents issued in another language.