This guide is maintained as a current resource for July 2026 and covers only the laws of England and Wales. Information is for general guidance, not legal advice. Consult a qualified solicitor for advice specific to your situation.
Detailed guide to UK Global Business Mobility visa rules, covering eligibility criteria, the five GBM routes, sponsorship requirements, temporary work conditions, application process, rights, compliance obligations and common issues for employers and overseas workers.
The Global Business Mobility (GBM) visa category provides a legal framework for overseas businesses to transfer or send employees to the United Kingdom temporarily under defined work assignments. These visa routes form part of the UK's broader points‑based immigration system and are designed to facilitate international business operations that cannot be performed by settled workers in the UK. Each GBM route has specific eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, rights and restrictions that applicants, employers and solicitors should understand before applying.
Overview of Global Business Mobility Routes
There are five main Global Business Mobility sub‑routes, each established under Appendix Global Business Mobility of the UK Immigration Rules. All are temporary and do not lead to settlement (indefinite leave to remain) in the UK. A dependent partner and dependent children may be eligible to accompany or join the main applicant where permitted by the individual route.
1. Senior or Specialist Worker
This route replaces previous Intra‑Company Transfer (ICT) provisions and applies to senior managers or specialist employees being assigned to a UK business linked to their employer overseas. Applicants under this route must:
- Be aged 18 or over and have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship issued by a UK sponsor;
- Undertake a temporary work assignment in a role that meets the required skill‑level and is on the eligible occupations list;
- Fulfil relevant work history requirements with the overseas employer.
This category is used for high‑level business transfers and is not regarded as a route to settlement.
2. Graduate Trainee
The Graduate Trainee route is for individuals on structured graduate training programmes that include a work placement in the UK as part of progression towards senior management or specialist roles overseas. Key aspects of this route are:
- A valid Certificate of Sponsorship;
- The trainee must be aged 18 or over;
- Work in the UK as part of a planned programme of training.
This route also does not lead to settlement.
3. UK Expansion Worker
Designed for overseas companies establishing a UK presence that has not yet started trading, this route allows senior or specialist employees to enter the UK to set up operations. To qualify:
- The company must not already be trading in the UK;
- The worker must hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship and meet work‑history conditions (e.g. minimum time serving the overseas entity);
- The job must be on the eligible occupations list and meet salary and skill thresholds.
This category supports business expansion but does not grant settlement rights.
4. Service Supplier
The Service Supplier route allows overseas workers to enter the UK to provide services under international trade agreements. It applies to:
- Contractual service suppliers employed by an overseas provider; and
- Self‑employed professionals based overseas providing services covered by the UK's trade commitments.
A Certificate of Sponsorship is required, along with appropriate evidence that the services are covered by an eligible trade agreement.
5. Secondment Worker
Secondment Workers are employees sent to the UK by their overseas employer to fulfil high‑value contracts or investment work. To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a current employee of an overseas organisation with a high‑value contractual relationship with a UK sponsor;
- Have a Certificate of Sponsorship;
- Undertake work in an eligible occupation for the duration of the contract.
As with the other GBM routes, the visa is temporary and does not provide a settlement pathway.
Core Eligibility Criteria
Although requirements vary by route, the core eligibility conditions for all GBM visas generally include:
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
A valid Certificate of Sponsorship issued by a Home Office‑licensed sponsor must be submitted with the visa application. The CoS details the job, employer and assignment in the UK and must have been issued no more than three months before the application.
Age and Identity
All applicants must be aged 18 or over on the date of application. They must provide a valid passport or travel document that satisfies UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) of their identity and nationality.
Immigration Documentation and Biometrics
Applicants must pay the relevant visa fees and Immigration Health Charge, provide biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) when required, and submit all supporting documents as part of their online application.
Work History and Role Requirements
Most GBM routes require applicants to have served with their overseas employer for a specified period. For example, Senior or Specialist Workers usually need at least 12 months' experience with the employer unless they meet certain high‑earner criteria. The job in the UK must be consistent with the category requirements and meet required skill and salary levels where applicable.
Rights and Conditions of Leave
Temporary Stay Only
Global Business Mobility visas are intended for temporary assignments. None of the GBM categories provide a direct route to settlement or indefinite leave to remain in the UK. Individuals must either return to their home country or apply for another visa category that leads to settlement if eligible.
Dependants
Eligible partners and dependent children may apply to come to or remain in the UK alongside the main applicant, provided they meet the relevant immigration conditions for dependants. Specific evidence of relationship and maintenance arrangements is required.
Compliance with UKVI Conditions
Visa holders must comply with all conditions attached to their permission, including working only in roles specified by the CoS and reporting changes in circumstances to UKVI. Breach of visa conditions can lead to curtailment of leave or refusal of future applications.
Application Process
Online Submission
Applications for Global Business Mobility visas are made online through the UKVI portal. Applicants need to complete the designated Global Business Mobility visa form appropriate to their location (inside or outside the UK) and pay the relevant application and Immigration Health Surcharge fees.
Supporting Documents
Typical supporting documents include the Certificate of Sponsorship reference, passport/travel documents, proof of employment with the overseas employer, evidence of work history where required, and any additional route‑specific evidence (such as contract details for Secondment Workers or trade agreement documentation for Service Suppliers).
Processing Times and Electronic Visas
Successful applicants receive an eVisa (digital immigration status record), which they can access via their UKVI account. Decisions on entry clearance or permission to stay are made based on the completeness and accuracy of the application and compliance with immigration rules.
Potential Risks and Common Issues
Refusal and Rights of Challenge
Applications may be refused if eligibility criteria are not met, documents are incomplete, or suitability requirements (such as compliance with UK immigration law) are not satisfied. Refusal letters will specify whether the applicant has a right of appeal, administrative review, or must pursue a judicial review depending on the grounds of refusal.
Misclassification of Route
Choosing the incorrect GBM route or misunderstanding eligibility requirements can lead to refusal. For example, workers intended for subsidiary expansion must not already be in a trading UK subsidiary if applying on the UK Expansion Worker route; otherwise, a Senior or Specialist Worker application is appropriate.
Common Questions from our Readers
Can GBM visa holders switch to other work visas in the UK?
Generally, GBM visas are temporary and do not directly lead to settlement. However, holders can explore switching to other routes, such as the Skilled Worker visa, provided they meet the eligibility criteria of the new route. Migration law complexities mean personalised legal advice is often needed in switch cases.
Are family members automatically eligible?
Dependants can apply, but eligibility depends on meeting specific requirements, including relationship evidence and financial maintenance conditions. Each dependant must make a separate application with supporting documentation.
Is there a minimum salary for GBM visas?
Some sub‑routes, such as Senior or Specialist Workers and UK Expansion Workers, require minimum salaries or skill levels for the sponsored role, and these must align with immigration rules; other routes, such as Service Supplier, focus more on the nature of the service under trade agreements rather than a fixed salary threshold.
Key Takeaways
The Global Business Mobility visa framework enables multinational enterprises to transfer and place overseas employees in the UK temporarily under clearly defined sub‑routes. Each category-Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier, and Secondment Worker-has distinct eligibility and documentation requirements. All routes are temporary, do not lead to settlement by themselves, and require compliance with UK immigration law. Applicants must secure a sponsorship licence, obtain a valid Certificate of Sponsorship, complete an online application with appropriate documentation, and adhere to UKVI conditions throughout the period of leave.
