Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker Visa: Overseas Employment Criteria

Applicants seeking a Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker Visa must satisfy specific overseas employment requirements, particularly if their annual salary is below £73,900 (based on a 48-hour work week). In such cases, the applicant must currently be employed by an overseas company that is connected to the UK sponsor through either common ownership, control, or an approved joint venture agreement. Additionally, they must have completed at least 12 months of employment outside the UK for that associated entity.

The required 12-month period may be accrued over a historical timeframe, provided the applicant has maintained continuous employment with the connected organisation, either within or outside the UK. Acceptable interruptions include statutory parental leave, sick leave, participation in humanitarian efforts with sponsor approval, or legally sanctioned industrial action.

Applicants earning £73,900 or above annually are not subject to the 12-month overseas employment requirement but must still be working for an organisation linked to the UK sponsor.

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Criteria for Senior or Specialist Worker Visa

To be eligible for a Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker Visa, a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) must be obtained from a UK employer licensed by the Home Office to sponsor this visa route. The sponsoring entity should hold an A-rated status on the official register of licensed sponsors unless the applicant is seeking to extend their stay with the same sponsor.

The Certificate of Sponsorship must meet the following conditions:

• Issued no more than 3 months prior to the visa application date;

• Include the applicant’s name, job role, salary, and start date (no later than 3 months after the application date);

• Confirm at least 12 months of overseas employment with the organisation (unless the salary is £73,900 or more);

• Not have been used in a previously approved or rejected application;

• Must not be withdrawn or cancelled.

Genuine Employment Requirement for Senior or Specialist Worker Visa

To successfully obtain this visa, applicants must demonstrate they are being sponsored for a legitimate and genuine job role. The Home Office will reject applications if there is reasonable suspicion the role is fictitious, artificially created, or primarily intended to facilitate immigration.

Moreover, it must be clear that the role is not designed for the applicant to be placed in temporary or permanent positions at third-party organisations or perform routine contractual services for entities other than the licensed sponsor.

Skill Level Criteria for the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa

The position being filled must meet or exceed the minimum skill level requirement set by the Home Office. Specifically, the job must be classified at RQF Level 6 (equivalent to a UK graduate-level role). Holding a formal degree is not mandatory, but the nature of the work should reflect graduate-level complexity.

The Home Office maintains an approved list of eligible occupations under Appendix Skilled Occupations, each associated with a SOC 2020 code. The sponsor must assign the correct occupation code to ensure compliance.

If the Home Office suspects that an inappropriate code has been selected, the application may be denied. They will evaluate whether:

• The employer has shown a genuine need for the job;

• The applicant possesses the relevant skills, qualifications, and experience;

• The sponsoring organisation has a consistent record of immigration compliance.

Salary Requirements for the Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker Visa

Salaries must meet both a general salary threshold and the prescribed “going rate” for the occupation, as outlined in the relevant SOC 2020 code.

General Salary Threshold

The minimum salary requirement is £48,500 per annum. Therefore, applicants must be paid the higher of:

• £48,500 per year; or

• 100% of the going rate for the relevant occupation code (pro-rated if applicable).

Only earnings based on the first 48 working hours per week are counted. If the applicant works variable weekly hours exceeding 48, only the average across a cycle (maximum 17 weeks) will be considered—provided it remains within the 48-hour weekly limit when averaged.

Going Rate Threshold

The Home Office lists going rates for eligible occupations in Appendix Skilled Occupations. Salaries are calculated based on a standard 37.5-hour work week and must be adjusted proportionally for different working hours. All weekly hours are considered when assessing compliance with the going rate, even if they exceed 48 hours.

Immigration Skills Charge Requirement

The sponsoring employer must pay the Immigration Skills Charge in full when assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship. This charge applies per sponsored worker and must be paid with each new CoS assignment.

Financial Maintenance Requirement

Unless exempt, applicants must demonstrate financial readiness by holding a minimum of £1,270 in personal savings for at least 28 consecutive days, ending within 31 days before the visa application date.

Exemptions include:

• Sponsors certifying maintenance support on the CoS, covering the applicant’s initial month in the UK;

• Applicants who have legally resided in the UK for 12 months or more under another visa category prior to the application.

English Language Requirement

There is no English language requirement for individuals applying for the Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker Visa.

Switching into the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa Route

Individuals currently residing in the UK under a different visa category may switch into this visa route, provided they were not last granted leave under any of the following categories:

• Visitor

• Short-term Student

• Parent of a Child Student

• Seasonal Worker

• Domestic Worker in a Private Household

• Any category outside the Immigration Rules

Visa Duration and Extension Options

If approved, the visa will be granted for the lesser of:

• The duration specified on the Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days; or

• A maximum of 5 years.

Applicants may apply for extensions or multiple visas under this route, within the permitted stay limits:

• Up to 5 years in any 6-year period for those earning below £73,900 per year;

• Up to 9 years in any 10-year period for those earning £73,900 or more annually.

Previous stays under Intra-Company routes are also included in this calculation. The former “cooling-off period” (which restricted re-entry for 12 months) no longer applies.

Terms and Conditions for Stay Under the Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker Visa

Individuals granted a Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker Visa are authorised to engage in employment exclusively with their sponsoring employer, as outlined in their Certificate of Sponsorship. In addition to fulfilling their professional duties, visa holders are permitted to pursue academic courses and participate in voluntary activities. However, they are strictly prohibited from accessing public funds during their stay.

Pathways to Settlement Through the Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker Route

This visa category does not provide a direct pathway to permanent settlement in the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, individuals residing in the UK under this visa may explore options to transition into immigration routes that do lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), such as the Skilled Worker visa or the Innovator Founder route. To make such a transition, applicants must fully meet the eligibility criteria of the new visa route.

Additionally, long-term residents may qualify for settlement under the Long Residence rule, provided they meet the requisite continuous residence conditions.

Accompanying Family Members: Eligibility of Dependants

Holders of the Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker Visa are eligible to be joined or accompanied by immediate family members. This includes a dependent partner aged 18 or above, as well as dependent children under the age of 18. Each dependant must meet specific eligibility requirements to secure a visa under this category.

Applying for a Global Business Mobility Sponsor Licence

The Global Business Mobility route is accessible to businesses of all sizes, provided they operate a trading entity outside the UK and maintain a recognised connection to a UK-based enterprise.

To obtain a sponsor licence under this category, the UK-based organisation receiving the overseas talent must:

• Have an established operational presence within the United Kingdom;

• Maintain a legitimate link with the overseas business dispatching the worker;

• Appoint qualified key personnel responsible for the administration of the sponsor licence;

• Implement robust compliance systems to fulfil all sponsor obligations.

The nature of the qualifying link between the UK and overseas business must correspond to the specific type of assignment being undertaken. For applicants under the Senior or Specialist Worker sub-route, the UK entity must demonstrate a formal connection with the sending overseas business. This relationship must be established through common ownership or control, or through a valid joint venture agreement.

How Link And Day Lawyers Can Support You

At Link And Day Lawyers, our accomplished immigration barristers bring a wealth of experience in guiding skilled professionals and corporate employers across diverse industries, regardless of company size. Whether you’re navigating complex visa routes or looking to align your career aspirations with UK immigration requirements, our expert team is here to ensure your plans are executed seamlessly and on schedule.

For businesses, we offer comprehensive support in securing and managing sponsor licences. From obtaining the appropriate sponsor licence to maintaining its top-tier status and fulfilling ongoing compliance duties, we provide end-to-end assistance designed to minimise risk and optimise efficiency.

What sets us apart is our approachable, client-focused ethos. We are committed to delivering strategic, transparent, and actionable immigration solutions. Our proactive and results-driven team consistently delivers high-calibre advice to professionals working with multinational corporations, combining legal excellence with an attentive, personalised approach.