What Is a Global Business Mobility Visa?
A Global Business Mobility visa allows eligible overseas workers to undertake temporary UK assignments through five sponsored routes. Your business activity determines the appropriate category, while your role, employment history and sponsorship determine whether you qualify.
These routes do not directly lead to settlement. Our UK business immigration solicitors can help you compare your options, understand the relevant requirements and prepare an application that reflects your proposed assignment and longer-term plans.
Global Business Mobility Visa Requirements & Rules
The UK Global Business Mobility visa framework supports overseas organisations with specific UK business needs. It can suit an established international group transferring employees, a business opening its first UK operation or a company delivering services under an eligible agreement.
Depending on your circumstances, it can help you:
- Transfer existing employees to a linked UK organisation.
- Arrange a placement within a graduate training programme.
- Establish a branch or subsidiary before UK trading begins.
- Send workers to fulfil qualifying contracts or secondments.
Overseas businesses must establish the relevant commercial connection. UK sponsors manage sponsorship and compliance. Individual workers must meet their chosen route’s requirements. An eligibility assessment brings these three parts together before you commit to an application.
What are the Five Global Business Mobility Visa Routes?
Each category addresses a different business situation. Start with the purpose of the UK assignment, then check the worker’s eligibility and the sponsor’s position. A suitable job title alone does not establish eligibility.
- Senior or Specialist Worker
- Transfer a senior manager or specialist.
- Join an established, linked UK business.
- Meet the relevant occupation and salary rules.
- Graduate Trainee
- Complete a structured graduate training placement.
- Prepare for a managerial or specialist role.
- Apply from outside the UK.
- UK Expansion Worker
- Help establish a new UK operation.
- Join before the business starts UK trading.
- Demonstrate credible expansion plans.
- Service Supplier
- Deliver services under a qualifying contract.
- Meet the relevant trade agreement conditions.
- Qualify as an employee or independent professional.
- Secondment Worker
- Undertake an assignment with another UK organisation.
- Support an approved high-value commercial arrangement.
- Meet the overseas employment requirement.
Compare the main conditions below before selecting your route.
Which GBM Route is Appropriate for Your Business?
Use your business situation to narrow the options of the global business mobility routes. The comparison summarises standard requirements; exceptions and previous UK immigration permission can affect eligibility.
Following are the Global Business Mobility salary requirements and other rules for each route:
| No | Route | Assignment Purpose | Overseas Work Normally Required | Annual Salary Requirement | Maximum Stay* | Sponsor Arrangement | Direct Settlement? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Senior or Specialist Worker | Transfer senior or specialist staff | 12 months; high-earner exception | £52,500 or full going rate, whichever is higher | Five years per grant; cumulative limits apply | Linked UK organisation | No |
| 02 | Graduate Trainee | Structured graduate placement | Three continuous months immediately before applying | £27,300 or applicable going rate, whichever is higher | 12 months | Linked UK organisation with qualifying training programme | No |
| 03 | UK Expansion Worker | Establish UK operations before trading | 12 months; specified exceptions | £52,500 or full going rate, whichever is higher | Two years | Qualifying UK footprint linked to overseas business | No |
| 04 | Service Supplier | Deliver services covered by a trade agreement | Normally 12 months’ employment or relevant self-employment | No GBM salary threshold; applicable employment law applies | Usually six or 12 months per assignment | Licensed UK recipient of qualifying services | No |
| 05 | Secondment Worker | Fulfil an approved high-value arrangement | Six months | No GBM salary threshold; applicable employment law applies | Two years per secondment | Licensed UK organisation with approved contract | No |
Permission can be shorter because of sponsorship dates or cumulative limits.
How Your Business Situation Determines the Route
- Already trading in the UK? Consider Senior or Specialist Worker for an eligible internal transfer, or Graduate Trainee for a structured training placement.
- Establishing your first UK operation? Consider UK Expansion Worker before UK trading starts.
- Delivering services to a UK client? Check Service Supplier eligibility, including the applicable trade agreement.
- Sending employees under a substantial commercial arrangement? Assess Secondment Worker eligibility and contract approval.
Senior or Specialist Worker Visa
Senior or specialist worker visa route supports temporary transfers of senior managers or specialist employees to a qualifying linked UK organisation.
Eligibility and Salary
You need an eligible occupation and a valid Certificate of Sponsorship. Normally, you must have worked overseas for the sponsor group for at least 12 months. That minimum period does not apply to qualifying high earners.
The standard salary requirement is £52,500 or the full going rate, whichever is higher. The high-earner threshold is £73,900.
Duration and Conditions
A grant can cover up to five years. The usual cumulative limit is five years in six, increasing to nine years in ten for qualifying high earners. Relevant previous GBM and intra-company permission counts.
Eligible dependants can apply. There is no direct settlement entitlement; limited transitional exceptions apply to some longstanding intra-company workers.
Applicant and Sponsor Fees
Applicant fees depend on location and duration. The sponsor pays the Worker CoS fee and any applicable Immigration Skills Charge. See the dated fee tables below.
Graduate Trainee Visa
Use this route for a UK placement within a structured graduate programme leading to a managerial or specialist position.
Eligibility and Salary
You must have worked outside the UK for the sponsor group for three continuous months immediately before applying.
Pay must normally meet £27,300 or 70% of the occupation’s going rate, whichever is higher. Certain healthcare and education occupations require the full going rate.
Duration and Conditions
Permission lasts up to 12 months. You cannot switch into this route or extend it from inside the UK. A further application must be made overseas and meet the requirements again.
Eligible dependants can apply, but the route does not directly lead to settlement.
Applicant and Sponsor Fees
The applicant pays the relevant application fee and healthcare surcharge. The sponsor pays Temporary Worker sponsorship charges; no Immigration Skills Charge applies.
UK Expansion Worker Visa
This route allows senior managers or specialists to establish a UK operation for an overseas business that has not started trading here.
Eligibility and Salary
Normally, you need 12 months’ overseas employment. Exceptions cover qualifying high earners and specified Japanese and Australian applicants.
Salary must meet £52,500 or the full going rate, whichever is higher.
Business and Sponsor Requirements
The business needs a qualifying UK footprint, an eligible ownership connection and credible plans to establish UK trading within two years. Normally, three years of overseas trading must be evidenced, although exceptions apply.
Prepare registration or premises evidence, trading records, finances and an expansion plan. Incorporation alone does not establish eligibility.
Duration and Conditions
Permission normally starts with up to 12 months and can extend to two years overall. Eligible dependants may apply. There is no direct settlement route. If UK trading has already begun, assess another category instead.
Applicant and Sponsor Fees
Temporary Worker licence and CoS charges apply. There is no Immigration Skills Charge. The sponsor cannot certify maintenance; applicants must meet the applicable financial evidence rules.
Service Supplier Visa
This category covers overseas employees and eligible independent professionals supplying services under a qualifying UK trade agreement.
Eligibility and Financial Requirements
The UK recipient must hold the appropriate licence and have an approved qualifying contract. Nationality, sector and contractual conditions matter.
Employees normally need 12 months’ overseas employment. Independent professionals need relevant prior work in the same sector. You must meet either the eligible occupation requirement or the alternative qualification and experience criteria.
There is no general GBM salary threshold, but applicable UK employment law must be followed.
Duration and Conditions
Assignments usually allow six or 12 months, depending on the agreement. Extensions cannot bypass the applicable assignment or cumulative limits. Eligible dependants may apply; direct settlement is unavailable.
Applicant and Sponsor Fees
Applicant charges appear below. The sponsor pays Temporary Worker sponsorship fees, without an Immigration Skills Charge.
Secondment Worker Visa
This route covers eligible employees assigned to a UK organisation under an approved high-value contract with their overseas employer.
Eligibility and Contract Requirements
You normally need six months’ overseas employment, an eligible occupation and valid sponsorship.
The qualifying arrangement must meet the Home Office value test: at least £10 million annually and £50 million overall. Contracts shorter than five years must still reach £50 million.
Duration and Conditions
Permission normally lasts up to 12 months, extendable to two years for the secondment. Cumulative limits also apply. Eligible dependants can apply, but there is no direct settlement route.
Applicant and Sponsor Fees
Temporary Worker sponsorship charges apply. There is no Immigration Skills Charge or general GBM salary threshold, although lawful pay arrangements remain necessary.
Costs for a UK business mobility visa include the following.
Costs for a UK business mobility visa include the following.
Applicant Fees
| No | Application | Outside the UK | Inside the UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Senior or Specialist Worker: up to three years | £819 | £943 |
| 02 | Senior or Specialist Worker: over three years | £1,618 | £1,865 |
| 03 | Graduate Trainee | £340 | Main applicants cannot apply inside the UK |
| 04 | UK Expansion Worker | £340 | £340 |
| 05 | Service Supplier | £340 | £340 |
| 06 | Secondment Worker | £340 | £340 |
Each dependant makes a separate application and pays the applicable fee, according to the Home Office fee schedule
Healthcare surcharge: normally £1,035 annually for adults and £776 for applicants under 18. The total depends on permission length and charging rules. Overseas applications for permission of six months or less are exempt.
Sponsor Fees
| No | Sponsor Expense | Senior or Specialist Worker | Other Four GBM Routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Standalone licence: small/charitable sponsor | £611 | £611 |
| 02 | Standalone licence: medium/large sponsor | £1,682 | £611 |
| 03 | Certificate of Sponsorship | £525 | £55 |
| 04 | Immigration Skills Charge | Applies unless exempt | Not applicable |
Adding routes to an existing licence can involve different charges. Sponsors must pay their licence and certificate of sponsorship fees; prohibited recovery from workers can put the licence at risk.
Where payable, the Skills Charge is £480 for the first year and £240 per additional six months for small/charitable sponsors; otherwise £1,320 and £660 respectively. The sponsor pays it, and exemptions must be checked.
Financial Evidence and Required Documents
Maintenance amounts: Main applicants normally need £1,270 held for 28 consecutive days, ending within 31 days before applying. An applicable 12-month UK residence exemption may remove this requirement.
Eligible sponsors can certify maintenance on routes other than UK Expansion Worker. These savings are separate from application charges.
Common Application Documents
- Valid passport and CoS reference.
- Job title, occupation code, salary and sponsor details.
- Required maintenance evidence.
- Overseas employment records where applicable.
- TB certificate, translations and ATAS approval where required.
There is no GBM English-language requirement.
Evidence Specific to Your Route
| No | Route | Additional Evidence to Prepare |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | Senior or Specialist Worker | Overseas employment and qualifying business connection |
| 02 | Graduate Trainee | Training programme and continuous overseas employment |
| 03 | UK Expansion Worker | UK footprint, overseas trading and expansion finances |
| 04 | Service Supplier | Qualifying contract, trade coverage and relevant credentials |
| 05 | Secondment Worker | Approved contract and overseas employment |
Some business evidence belongs to the sponsor licence process rather than the worker’s application. We can identify who needs to provide each document.
Sponsor Compliance and Common Application Risks
A Global Business Mobility sponsor licence brings continuing responsibilities. Keep accurate worker, salary, attendance and right-to-work records. Report relevant worker changes normally within 10 working days, and organisational changes normally within 20 working days, unless a different deadline applies.
Sponsors must also maintain appropriate SMS access and comply with current account-security requirements. Failures can lead to suspension or revocation.
Common application risks include:
- Choosing a route that does not match the assignment.
- Using an outdated salary or incorrect occupation code.
- Providing weak evidence of the overseas business connection.
- Assigning sponsorship against an unapproved contract.
- Overlooking financial evidence, previous stays or sponsor breaches.
How Long Does a GBM Visa Application Take?
Global Business Mobility Visa processing time is usually three weeks outside the UK or eight weeks inside the UK, after the application, identity checks and supporting evidence are complete. Graduate Trainee main applications are overseas only. Sponsor licensing requires separate lead time.
Priority service costs £500 extra, usually targeting five working days; super priority costs £1,000, usually targeting the next working day. Availability varies and further checks can cause delays.
Restrictions, Extensions and Settlement Options
Work is generally limited to the sponsored assignment. Study and permitted voluntary work are allowed, but public funds and second jobs are generally restricted. Check the conditions attached to your permission.
Extensions depend on the route, continuing eligibility and remaining time allowance. Graduate Trainee permission cannot be extended.
Can You Switch from a GBM visa to a Skilled Worker Visa?
Potentially, if you meet the separate sponsorship, occupation, salary, English-language and switching requirements. Switching does not itself grant permanent residence.
Can a Global Business Mobility visa lead to settlement?
None of the five routes directly leads to indefinite leave to remain. GBM worker permission does not count towards the Skilled Worker route’s five-year qualifying period. However, lawful residence may count towards the separate long-residence route if all its conditions are met.
How to Apply for a Global Business Mobility Visa
Applying for a Global Business Mobility Visa involves choosing the correct route, checking eligibility, preparing the required evidence and submitting a compliant application to the Home Office. Details of the application process are given as:
1. Choose Your Route
- Match the category to the proposed UK assignment.
- Check whether the UK business has started trading.
- Establish whether you must apply from outside the UK.
2. Check Your Eligibility
- Review your occupation, salary and overseas employment history.
- Confirm that the sponsor holds the appropriate permission.
- Calculate how previous UK assignments affect your remaining allowance.
3. Prepare Your Documents
- Gather your passport, sponsorship details and supporting records.
- Check financial evidence and any required certified translations.
- Obtain a TB certificate or ATAS approval where applicable.
4. Review Your Application
- Check that your evidence matches the Certificate of Sponsorship.
- Normally apply within three months of its assignment.
- Apply no earlier than three months before the proposed start.
5. Submit and Prove Your Identity
- Complete the correct Home Office online application form.
- Pay the application fee and any healthcare surcharge.
- Use the identity app or attend an appointment as instructed.
Bringing Dependants on a Global Business Mobility Visa
Eligible partners and children can apply across all five routes. Each needs a separate application and relationship evidence.Maintenance requirements include:
- Partner: £285.
- First child: £315.
- Each additional child: £200.
Funds normally follow the 28-day holding rule, unless exempt. Children applying for the first time are normally under 18; older children need qualifying existing UK dependant visa permission. Parental and dependency requirements also apply.
How to Sponsor a GBM Worker in the UK?
1. Confirm the Sponsorship Route
- Identify the category matching your business and assignment.
- Check your organisation’s eligibility before applying for a licence.
- Establish the commercial connection required for that route.
2. Prepare the Business Evidence
- Document the qualifying ownership link or contractual arrangement.
- Prepare expansion evidence where the UK operation is new.
- Check that proposed roles meet the applicable immigration conditions.
3. Check Your Existing Licence
- Confirm which routes your current licence already covers.
- Apply to add the required category where necessary.
- Check your rating and available Certificate of Sponsorship allocation.
4. Assign Accurate Sponsorship
- Confirm the worker’s eligibility before assigning their certificate.
- Record the correct occupation, salary and assignment dates.
- Pay the required sponsorship charges and retain supporting evidence.
5. Maintain Ongoing Compliance
- Keep suitable HR systems and accurate worker records.
- Monitor attendance, immigration permission and changes in working arrangements.
- Report relevant changes and prepare for Home Office checks.
