Secondment Worker Visa UK for High-Value Business Assignments
The Secondment Worker Visa UK is designed for an overseas employee who is temporarily assigned to a UK organisation under a qualifying high-value contract or investment. To qualify, the applicant must have:
- Completed the required overseas employment period,
- Hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship
- Be assigned to an eligible occupation.
Since 8 April 2026, the overseas work requirement is six months rather than 12 months. The route is temporary, does not lead directly to settlement, and normally permits an initial stay of up to 12 months, subject to the Certificate of Sponsorship and overall route limits.
Who Is Eligible for a UK Secondment Worker Visa?
A UK Secondment Worker applicant must be:
- Aged 18 or over and already work for the overseas business connected to the approved secondment arrangement
- Be currently employed by the overseas business involved in the registered contract;
- Have worked outside the UK for that business for a cumulative period of at least six months;
- Receive a valid Secondment Worker Certificate of Sponsorship from an authorised UK sponsor;
- Carry out a genuine UK role in an eligible SOC 2020 occupation code; and
- Meet the financial requirement unless an exemption or sponsor-certified maintenance applies.
The job must genuinely exist and must not be created mainly to facilitate immigration. The applicant must also intend to undertake the sponsored role and comply with the conditions attached to the visa.
How a Qualifying Secondment and Overseas Contract Work
The qualifying secondment is the feature that distinguishes this route from other sponsored work visas.
- The UK sponsor must have a contract for goods or investment with the applicant’s overseas employer, and that contract must be registered with the Home Office before the worker is sponsored.
- Current sponsor guidance requires the contract to be worth at least £10 million per year and no less than £50 million overall.
- If the contract lasts under five years, it must therefore be worth at least £50 million; if it lasts five years or more, the annual value must be at least £10 million.
The worker can only be sponsored to perform duties connected with the registered contract. A Certificate of Sponsorship cannot properly be assigned for an unapproved new contract, a sham role, third-party labour hire, or an ongoing routine service outside the permitted secondment arrangement.
Secondment Worker Sponsor Licence and Certificate of Sponsorship
The UK organisation receiving the worker acts as the Secondment Worker visa sponsor. It must be authorised by the Home Office for this route and will normally need an A-rated sponsor licence. The relevant qualifying contract with the overseas business must also have been registered with the Home Office.
The sponsor assigns an electronic Secondment Worker Certificate of Sponsorship, which must identify the worker, sponsored role, proposed start date and registered contract on which the individual will work. The visa application must normally be made within three months of the CoS being assigned.
- Temporary Worker sponsor licence fee: £611
- Secondment Worker CoS assignment fee: £55
- The sponsor must pay the CoS fee itself.
The Immigration Skills Charge is not applicable to the Secondment Worker route.
For further information, see Axis Solicitors’ Certificate of Sponsorship UK guide.
Eligible Occupations and Secondment Worker SOC Codes
A Secondment Worker must be sponsored for an eligible occupation. Under the current Immigration Rules, the role normally needs to fall within a SOC 2020 occupation code listed in the relevant tables of Appendix Skilled Occupations.
The sponsor must choose the occupation code that genuinely reflects the worker’s duties. UKVI may examine:
- the duties and responsibilities of the job;
- whether the sponsor genuinely requires the position;
- the applicant’s skills, qualifications and experience;
- whether a different SOC code more accurately describes the role; and
- the sponsor’s immigration compliance history.
Using an inappropriate occupation code simply because it qualifies for sponsorship can create problems for the application.
Axis Solicitors’ SOC Codes guide for UK sponsors provides further information on how occupation codes are used across sponsored immigration routes.
Six-Month Overseas Employment Requirement from April 2026
One of the most important current Secondment Worker visa eligibility rules concerns prior overseas employment.
For applications submitted on or after 8 April 2026, a Secondment Worker must normally have worked outside the UK for the overseas business for a cumulative period of at least six months. The applicant must remain employed by that overseas business when applying. The six months can be accumulated during a continuous period of employment, subject to the permitted absence provisions in the Immigration Rules.
Applicants do not routinely have to submit overseas employment evidence with every application, but UKVI can request it. Evidence may include payslips, bank statements or other records showing employment and payment.
A Secondment Worker applying from inside the UK to extend permission with the same sponsor does not have to meet the overseas work requirement again.
Secondment Worker Visa Solicitors for Workers and Sponsors
A successful secondment depends on more than the applicant alone. The overseas employer, UK sponsor, registered contract, sponsored role and supporting evidence must fit together under the Immigration Rules.
Axis Solicitors can advise workers and businesses on UK Business Immigration, Secondment Worker eligibility, sponsor licensing, Certificate of Sponsorship requirements and application preparation. We can also review whether a proposed commercial arrangement is suitable for this route before a worker relies on it in a visa application.
Where the UK organisation does not yet hold the appropriate permission to sponsor Secondment Workers, our UK Sponsor Licence service can assist with the licensing and compliance process. Axis also provides guidance on sponsorship duties and Home Office requirements for employers.
How to Apply for a Secondment Worker Visa
The Secondment Worker visa application should be prepared only after both the worker and sponsorship arrangements have been checked.
- Check that the overseas employer and UK sponsor have an eligible Home Office-registered high-value contract.
- Check the six-month overseas employment requirement, age, occupation and financial position.
- The authorised UK sponsor assigns a valid CoS identifying the worker, role and registered contract.
- Complete the appropriate application, pay the visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge, and provide the required evidence.
- The applicant will use the UK Immigration: ID Check app or attend the relevant biometric appointment, depending on their circumstances.
Cost and Processing Time
The current Secondment Worker visa cost for the main applicant is £340. Each eligible dependant making an application also pays the applicable visa fee. Applicants usually also pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, currently £1,035 per year for an adult applicant.
The usual Secondment Worker visa processing time is:
- around 3 weeks for an application made outside the UK;
- around 8 weeks for an application made inside the UK.
An applicant can generally apply up to three months before the sponsored employment start date shown on the Certificate of Sponsorship. Faster decision services may be available in some cases.
How Long Can a Secondment Worker Stay in the UK?
A Secondment Worker is normally granted permission for the shortest applicable period under the Immigration Rules. This can include up to 12 months after the sponsored job start date or the period stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days.
The visa can potentially be extended for another 12 months. However:
- The maximum continuous stay as a Secondment Worker is two years;
- The worker must still be working for the same UK sponsor when extending;
- The worker must continue working on the same registered contract; and
- Previous permission under relevant GBM and legacy Intra-Company routes can affect the wider five-years-in-six maximum.
An extension application must be made before the existing permission expires.
Can You Switch to a Secondment Worker Visa?
A person already in the UK may be able to make a Secondment Worker visa switching application if all route requirements are satisfied. However, switching is prohibited for certain categories.
You cannot normally switch from permission as a:
- Visitor;
- Short-term Student;
- Parent of a Child Student;
- Seasonal Worker;
- Domestic Worker in a Private Household;
- person on immigration bail; or
- person granted permission outside the Immigration Rules.
Student visa holders are also subject to specific course-completion or PhD requirements before switching. Applicants who cannot switch from within the UK will generally need to leave the UK and apply from overseas.
Can Secondment Workers Bring Dependants?
Eligible partners and dependent children can apply to accompany or join a Secondment Worker. Each dependant makes a separate application and must satisfy the applicable relationship, age, dependency and suitability requirements.
Where the maintenance requirement applies, the additional amounts are:
- £285 for a partner;
- £315 for the first dependent child;
- £200 for each additional dependent child.
These amounts are required in addition to the main applicant’s £1,270 unless maintenance is appropriately certified or another exemption applies.
Dependants can generally work, including self-employment, except as professional sportspersons or sports coaches, and they can study subject to applicable ATAS requirements.
What Can a Secondment Worker Do in the UK?
A successful UK Secondment Worker can:
- work in the sponsored job stated on the CoS;
- undertake permitted study;
- undertake qualifying voluntary work;
- bring eligible dependants; and
- travel outside and return to the UK while permission remains valid.
A Secondment Worker cannot normally take a second job, access most public funds or settle permanently under this route. A change to a different occupation code requires an immigration update application and a new Certificate of Sponsorship.
What are Important Secondment Worker Visa Requirements?
Overseas Employment Requirement
- Be currently employed by the qualifying overseas business.
- Complete at least six months’ qualifying overseas work.
- Retain employment evidence in case UKVI requests it.
UK Sponsorship Requirement
- Obtain sponsorship from an authorised UK organisation.
- Ensure the sponsor holds the correct route permission.
- Receive a valid Certificate of Sponsorship before applying.
High-Value Contract Requirement
- The sponsor must register the qualifying contract.
- The contract must meet Home Office value rules.
- The sponsored assignment must relate to that contract.
Eligible Job Requirement
- The role must use an eligible SOC code.
- The duties must accurately match that occupation.
- The position must be genuine and necessary.
Financial and Immigration Requirements
- Meet the £1,270 maintenance requirement where applicable.
- Satisfy identity, suitability and immigration requirements.
- Provide TB or ATAS evidence where required.
Secondment Worker Visa Documents to Submit
1. Identity and Sponsorship Documents
- Provide a valid passport or qualifying travel document.
- Include the Secondment Worker CoS reference number.
- Provide the sponsor name and licence number.
2. Overseas Employment Evidence
- Keep payslips covering the qualifying employment period.
- Retain relevant bank or building society statements.
- Prepare employer confirmation if UKVI requests evidence.
3. UK Role and Occupation Details
- Provide the sponsored job title and occupation code.
- Ensure duties correspond with the selected SOC code.
- Confirm the role relates to the registered contract.
4. Financial and Additional Evidence
- Provide maintenance evidence where the exemption does not apply.
- Supply a TB certificate where the rules require one.
- Obtain an ATAS certificate where the sponsored research requires it.
5. Dependant and Translation Documents
- Provide relationship evidence for accompanying eligible dependants.
- Submit supporting dependency evidence where it is required.
- Provide certified translations for non-English or Welsh documents.
