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Table of Contents
What Is the Global Business Mobility Visa?
The Global Business Mobility visa consists of five sponsored work routes for international businesses that want to build, expand, or assist operations in the UK. The GBM visas improve and broaden upon previous UK work and business visas, aiming to temporarily enable non-UK companies to deploy specific employees to the UK.
Barriers The Global Business Mobility Visa Will Resolve
The Global Business Mobility Visa simplifies, reforms, and expands existing immigration pathways under the sponsorship system. One of the key changes resulting from this visa category is merging the Sole Representative Route and Intra-Company Transfers (ICT) Route into the new visa category. This is in addition to relaxing previous regulations, which restricted visas to a single representative. However, this new visa is expected to be advantageous for overseas companies looking to establish a presence in the U.K. or transfer trainers, senior, and specialised staff to the country.
Another significant change that will benefit many companies abroad and those based in the U.K. is the implementation of the new Secondment Worker Visa, falling under the Global Mobility visa.
For instance, the new system will better facilitate scenarios where a foreign business needs to send staff to oversee production with a contracted U.K.-based business.
The new Global Business Mobility visa allows overseas businesses to send employees to the U.K. for specific corporate purposes that a resident worker cannot fulfil. It also accommodates a variety of other scenarios, expanding opportunities for overseas businesses with or without an established presence in the U.K.
Business Mobility Visa Requirements
Employees seeking entry under the visa program must be sponsored by a U.K. business holding a valid sponsor license. They must prove the existence of a receiving business, a sending business, and a business relationship between them.
The Home Office has categorised the new immigration route into five categories:
- Senior or specialist workers fulfilling specific business needs
- Graduate trainees enrolled in a training program
- Secondment workers assigned to U.K. firms in high-value contracts or investments
- Service suppliers to the U.K. in line with U.K. trade agreements
- U.K. expansion workers are establishing a presence in the U.K.
Categories 1, 2, and 3 are aimed at firms with a current U.K. presence, while categories 2, 4, and 5 are geared toward businesses without a U.K. presence.
The eligibility of applicants will be determined based on the particular category they fall under and will be evaluated in consideration of the following factors:
- Sponsorship by the U.K. entity receiving the applicants
- Appropriate skill level for the role
- Meeting a specified salary threshold
- Minimum length of time the overseas firm has employed the applicant
- The understanding that assignments will be temporary, though the route can be flexible and may be switched to a more permanent status if needed.
Global Business Mobility Visa Routes
Five distinct global business mobility routes are associated with various temporary work assignments. Legend Consults helps its clients find the best route suitable to their needs. These routes are:
- Senior or Specialist Worker route
- Graduate Trainee route
- UK Expansion Worker route
- Service Supplier route
- Secondment Worker route
Each of these routes has different eligibility requirements, which include financial criteria and, if applicable, the necessity of providing a valid tuberculosis certificate. Below, we will examine the specific requirements for each route in detail.
Senior Or Specialist Worker Route
The Senior or Specialist Worker route is designed for senior managers and specialist employees transferred to a UK business linked to their overseas employer who intend to undertake a temporary assignment in the UK. This route replaced the Intra-Company Transfer route in April 2022.
To qualify for this specific route, applicants must:
- To work in the UK, you need to be employed by the sponsor group. You must have worked for that group outside the UK for at least 12 months. However, this requirement is waived if you work in the UK as a high earner and are paid a gross salary of £73,900 per year or more.
- Hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the job they are proposing to do. The Certificate should be issued by an employer authorised by the UK Home Office to sponsor a Senior or Specialist Worker. Also, ensure that any required Immigration Skills Charge has been paid in full.
- Sponsorship is required for a job at the appropriate skill level with a minimum annual salary of £42,400 until 11 April 2023, or £45,800 from 12 April 2023, or the ‘going rate’ for the job, whichever is higher.
If the application is successful, permission will be granted for either five years after the start date of the job set out in the Certificate of Sponsorship, 14 days after the end date of this job, or the date at which the applicant will have had cumulative permission on the Global Business Mobility and the Intra-Company routes totalling five years in any six years, or nine years in any ten years if applying as a high earner.
Graduate Trainee Route
The Graduate Trainee route is intended for international employees enrolled in a graduate training program aiming for a senior management or specialised position whose employer mandates to undergo a work placement in the UK. This route has replaced the Intra-Company Graduate Trainee route.
To qualify for this specific route, an applicant must:
- Be employed by the sponsor group at the time of application and have worked for that group outside the UK continuously for a minimum of 3 months before the application date.
- Possess a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the proposed job, issued by an employer authorised by the UK Home Office to sponsor a Graduate Trainee.
- Have sponsorship for an eligible job at or above an appropriate minimum skill level, with a salary of at least £23,100 per year until 11 April 2023 or £24,220 from 12 April 2023. The job should also have clearly defined progression toward a managerial or specialist role within the sponsoring organisation as part of a structured graduate training program.
If the application is successful, permission will be granted for one year after the job start date indicated in the Certificate of Sponsorship. Fourteen days after the job end date, or the date on which the applicant will have accumulated permission on the Global Business Mobility and the Intra-Company routes totalling five years in any six years, for whichever duration is the shortest.
UK Expansion Worker Route
The UK Expansion Worker route is designed for international workers who want to take on temporary assignments in the UK.
It has replaced the Representative of an Overseas Business route. This route can only be used if the business has not started trading in the UK yet. If the business already has an established presence in the UK, workers should apply under the Senior or Specialist Worker route.
To qualify for this route, an applicant must:
- Currently working for the sponsor group and working for that group outside the UK for at least 12 months unless they will be working in the UK as a high earner. An Australian national working for an Australian business or a Japanese national seeking to establish a UK branch or subsidiary under the UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
- They must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the job they are proposing to do. Issued by an employer authorised by the UK Home Office to sponsor a UK Expansion Worker.
- Have sponsorship for an eligible job at or above an appropriate minimum skill level. With a salary of at least £42,400 per year up until 11 April 2023 or £45,800 from 12 April 2023, or the ‘going rate’ for that job, whichever is higher.
If successful, permission will be granted for one year after the job’s start date set out in the Certificate of Sponsorship. Fourteen days after the end date of this job, the date by which the applicant will have had continuous permission as a UK Expansion Worker totalling two years. The date the applicant will have had cumulative permission on the Global Business Mobility routes totalling five years in any six years, whichever is the shortest.
Service Supplier Route
The Service Supplier route is designed for contractual suppliers employed by foreign service providers or self-employed independent professionals based overseas who wish to temporarily work in the UK to provide services covered by a UK international trade agreement. This route has replaced the contractual service supplier and independent professional provisions under the Temporary Work-International Agreement route.
To qualify for this specific route, an applicant must:
- Be currently working as an employee of an overseas service provider that will provide services to their UK sponsor and have worked in that role outside the UK for 12 months.
- Possess a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the proposed job. Issued by an employer authorised by the UK Home Office to sponsor a service supplier with a relevant home office registered contract with an overseas service provider for whom the applicant will work in the UK.
- Have sponsorship for an eligible job at or above an appropriate minimum skill level or possess a university degree or equivalent technical qualification and experience.
- Meet the nationality requirement for a Service Supplier.
Secondment Worker Route
The Secondment Worker route is designed for international workers who want to take on temporary assignments in the UK. This route is for workers being seconded to the UK as part of a high-value contract or investment by their overseas employer.
To qualify for this specific route, an applicant must:
- Currently work for an overseas business with a Home Office registered contract with their UK sponsor and have worked for that business outside the UK for at least 12 months.
- Have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the job they intend to do, issued by an employer authorised by the UK Home Office. to sponsor a Secondment Worker with a Home Office registered contract with an overseas business on which the applicant will work.
- Have sponsorship for an eligible job at or above an appropriate minimum skill level.
If approved, the applicant will have had continuous permission as a Secondment Worker, totalling 2 years. The date the applicant will have had cumulative permission on the Global Business Mobility and Intra-Company routes totalling 5 years in any 6-year period, whichever is the shortest.
Extending A Global Business Mobility Visa
The Global Business Mobility visa is intended for international workers taking on temporary work assignments in the UK. While extending this type of visa from within the UK is possible, the maximum duration allowed for each route should be observed.
It’s important to note that none of these visa routes provide a direct path to settlement in the UK. This includes the UK Expansion Worker route, which replaces the Representative of an Overseas Business visa.
Meeting the eligibility criteria is essential for international workers in the UK under a Global Business Mobility visa. If they wish to switch to a different immigration route that offers a path to settlement, such as the Skilled Worker route, they must also meet the eligibility criteria.
Global Business Mobility Visa Fees
The Global Business Mobility visa has various associated fees. For instance, the application fee for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa ranges from £719 to £1,636, and there are additional charges such as the healthcare surcharge and immigration skills charge. Thorough financial planning is crucial for those considering applying for this visa.
Here are the fee details for each category,
Senior or Specialist Worker visa: £719 to £1,636
Healthcare surcharge: £1,035 per year
Immigration skills charge: £1,000 per year
UK Expansion Worker visa: £298
Maintenance funds: £1,270 (to support yourself upon arrival)
Contact Legend Consults for more updated information on pricing and fee structure for the Global business mobility visa.
Can Dependants Come to The UK Under a Global Business Mobility Visa?
To enter the UK under the Global Business Mobility visa, applicants can be accompanied by their partner and any dependent children. However, the spouse or partner of the main visa holder must meet several eligibility criteria, including relationship and financial requirements. Additionally, any child applicant must also meet specific age and care criteria.
The Global Business Mobility Visa in the UK offers various work routes for different types of workers. It allows organisations to strengthen their global mobility program and expand their UK-based operations through the mobility of critical talent.
This article will explore the details of the Global Business Mobility visa, including eligibility criteria, length of stay in each subcategory, potential pathways to settlement, and dependents’ eligibility under this program.
For those interested in understanding how the UK’s approach compares to other countries, you can discover the UK’s business mobility visa options and see how they stack up against programs like Canada’s, providing a broader perspective on international business mobility strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
This visa is for individuals employed by an overseas business linked to a UK sponsor. It includes senior or specialist employees, graduate trainees, expansion workers, service providers, independent professionals, and secondment workers.
You can relocate to the UK to start a business if you have obtained permission from the Home Office under the UK’s Immigration Rules. This means meeting the specific eligibility criteria for the relevant visa.
The Global Business Mobility visa is a sponsored route with five subcategories. Applicants will need a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from a Home Office-approved employer authorised to sponsor that worker category.
Final Verdict
The Global Business Mobility Visa in the UK provides various work routes for international businesses, improving upon previous work and business visas. It introduces five sponsored work routes that aim to enable non-UK companies to deploy specific employees to the UK. The eligibility is determined based on factors such as sponsorship, skill level, salary threshold, and minimum length of employment. Each route has distinct eligibility requirements and aims to facilitate temporary work assignments.
