Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker Visa: Overseas Employment Criteria

To qualify for an initial Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker Visa, applicants must currently be employed by an overseas enterprise that maintains a formal contract with their prospective UK sponsor. This contract must be registered with the Home Office by the sponsoring entity. Additionally, the applicant must have completed at least 12 months of cumulative employment outside the United Kingdom with the overseas company.

This 12-month employment period can be accumulated over time, provided the applicant has been engaged continuously with the overseas employer either inside or outside the UK prior to the visa application date. Permissible breaks from employment include statutory maternity, paternity, parental or adoption leave, sick leave, approved humanitarian assignments, or participation in lawful industrial actions.

For those seeking an extension to continue working under the same UK sponsor, this overseas employment requirement does not apply.

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) – Essential for the Secondment Worker Route

A valid Certificate of Sponsorship is a mandatory requirement for securing a Secondment Worker Visa under the Global Business Mobility route. This certificate must be issued by a UK-based employer authorised by the Home Office to sponsor Secondment Workers.

Sponsors must hold an A-rated status on the Home Office’s register of licensed sponsors—unless the applicant was previously granted Secondment Worker permission and is applying to continue employment with the same sponsor.

Furthermore, the sponsor must have an officially registered contract with the overseas company employing the applicant, and the role in the UK must be in direct connection with this contract.

The Certificate of Sponsorship must:

• Be issued no more than three months prior to the visa application date.

• Contain the applicant’s full name, job title, and salary.

• Confirm the applicant’s current employment with an overseas company that has a registered contract with the UK sponsor, and that they have completed 12 months of work outside the UK for that business (unless applying for a visa extension).

• Include a start date within three months of the application.

• Not have been previously used in any visa application (granted or refused), nor withdrawn or cancelled.

Genuine Employment Requirement for Secondment Workers

Applicants must be undertaking a legitimate job role for which they are being sponsored. The Home Office will assess whether the employment genuinely exists and is not fabricated or designed solely for visa acquisition purposes.

Any indication that the role involves occupying a position with a third-party organisation—one that is not the licensed sponsor—or undertaking routine contract work for an unauthorised third party may result in a visa refusal.

Skill Level Requirement for Secondment Worker Visa Applicants

The position for which an applicant is being sponsored must meet the minimum required skill level, equivalent to RQF Level 6 (comparable to graduate-level roles). Although a formal degree is not mandatory, the duties of the role must align with this skill level.

Eligible occupations for this visa category are outlined in the Home Office’s Appendix Skilled Occupations. Each approved job has an associated SOC 2020 code, which must be reflected accurately on the Certificate of Sponsorship.

Incorrect selection of occupation codes, or insufficient justification for the chosen code, can lead to a refusal. The Home Office will examine:

• The employer’s need for the role.

• Whether the applicant’s qualifications and experience match the job.

• The sponsor’s past compliance with UK immigration rules.

Salary Requirement for the Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker Route

Unlike other sponsored visa categories, this pathway does not impose a general minimum salary threshold or a requirement to meet the occupation-specific ‘going rate’. Employers are not obliged to meet a fixed salary benchmark when sponsoring Secondment Workers under this route.

Immigration Skills Charge Exemption

Employers sponsoring workers under the Secondment Worker Visa scheme are not required to pay the Immigration Skills Charge, offering financial relief compared to other sponsored work visa routes.

Financial Maintenance Requirement for Applicants

Unless exempt, applicants must demonstrate access to at least £1,270 in personal savings. These funds must have been held continuously for a minimum of 28 days, with the end date falling within 31 days before the visa application is submitted.

Exemptions from this financial requirement apply if:

• The UK sponsor agrees to cover the applicant’s accommodation and maintenance for the first month of employment, confirming this in the Certificate of Sponsorship.
  
  
• The applicant is applying from within the UK and has already held valid immigration permission for at least 12 consecutive months.

Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker Visa: English Language Proficiency Criteria

Applicants pursuing the Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker Visa are not required to meet any English language proficiency standards as part of their visa application process.

Switching to the Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker Visa from Within the UK

Individuals currently residing in the UK under a different visa category may transition into the Secondment Worker Visa route, provided their current or most recent immigration status does not fall under the following classifications: Visitor, Short-term Student, Parent of a Child Student, Seasonal Worker, Domestic Worker in a Private Household, or anyone residing outside the formal Immigration Rules.

Validity Period of the Global Business Mobility – Secondment Worker Visa

Upon a successful application, the Secondment Worker Visa will be granted for a duration of either 12 months from the employment start date listed on your Certificate of Sponsorship, or for the period stated on your Certificate of Sponsorship plus an additional 14 days whichever is shorter.

Visa holders may apply for a one-time extension of up to another 12 months, with the maximum permitted stay capped at 2 years under this specific visa category.

Total Permissible Stay Under the Global Business Mobility Routes

The cumulative time limit for staying in the UK under any of the Global Business Mobility visa pathways is five years within any rolling six-year period.

When assessing this limit, the Home Office considers all time previously spent under Global Business Mobility routes as well as prior stays under Intra-Company Transfer visas.

Conditions of Stay Under the Secondment Worker Visa

Secondment Worker Visa holders are allowed to work exclusively for their sponsoring employer in the role specified on their Certificate of Sponsorship. Additionally, they may engage in educational courses or voluntary work. However, recipients of this visa are not entitled to access public funds.

Pathways to Permanent Residency

The Secondment Worker Visa does not offer a direct route to UK settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain). Nevertheless, visa holders may become eligible to switch into a settlement-qualifying immigration route, such as the Skilled Worker route or a combination of the Start-up and Innovator routes, provided they meet all relevant eligibility requirements.

Furthermore, it may be possible to qualify for settlement based on Long Residence in the UK. Comprehensive information about settlement-eligible pathways is available on our official platform.

Family Members and Dependants

Holders of the Secondment Worker Visa may be accompanied or joined by their dependants, including a spouse or partner over 18 years of age and children under 18, provided they meet the necessary dependency criteria.

Global Business Mobility Sponsorship Requirements for UK Employers

The Global Business Mobility visa categories are open to businesses of all sizes, as long as they maintain an active commercial presence outside the United Kingdom and have an established qualifying relationship with a UK-based business entity.

To obtain a Global Business Mobility Sponsor Licence, the UK company that intends to host overseas workers must:

• Maintain an operational base in the UK;

• Have a legitimate partnership or contractual link with an overseas organisation from which the secondees will be deployed;

• Assign qualified personnel to manage and oversee sponsor licence responsibilities;

• Implement robust systems and compliance protocols to fulfill sponsor obligations.

For the Secondment Worker route specifically, the UK business must possess a valid and active contract with the overseas company, with a minimum annual value of £10 million, and a total contract value of at least £50 million over its lifespan.

How Link And Day Lawyers Can Support You

At Link And Day Lawyers, our team of seasoned immigration barristers delivers comprehensive support to employers and skilled professionals across diverse sectors and organisations of all sizes. We specialise in assisting both UK-based and international companies in securing lawful and efficient entry for overseas personnel who are being seconded to the UK under high-value commercial contracts or strategic investments.

Our business immigration experts are adept at helping UK employers acquire the appropriate sponsor licence, maintain top-tier compliance ratings, and effectively manage ongoing sponsor responsibilities in line with Home Office regulations.

Renowned for our approachable and client-focused ethos, Link And Day Lawyers is committed to delivering clear, strategic, and dependable immigration advice. Our goal is to support both employers and employees through a professional, responsive, and personable legal service tailored to meet your unique needs.