Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa: Overseas Work Experience Requirement

To qualify for a Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa, applicants must be actively engaged as, or employed by, an overseas service provider that will deliver services to the sponsoring entity in the UK. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate that they have completed a cumulative 12-month period of employment or self-employment with the overseas service provider outside the UK.

The 12 months of overseas work do not need to be consecutive but must be accumulated prior to the date of application. This requirement can be satisfied in one of the following ways:

• For employees: By showing continuous employment with the overseas service provider, whether inside or outside the UK, for at least 12 months prior to applying.

• For self-employed service providers: By proving consistent work within the same sector as the services intended for the UK sponsor, either inside or outside the UK, during the 12 months immediately preceding the application date.

Permitted Breaks in the 12-Month Period
Interruptions in the 12-month work period will only be accepted under certain conditions, including:

• Statutory maternity, paternity, parental, or shared parental leave
• Statutory adoption leave
• Periods of certified sickness
• Participation in humanitarian or environmental crisis work (with the consent of the sponsor group)
• Involvement in lawful industrial action

Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa: Contract Obligation

To qualify for the UK Service Supplier Visa under the Global Business Mobility route, it is essential that the UK-based sponsor maintains a valid contract with the overseas service provider. This contract must be formally registered with the Home Office, and your role as a Service Supplier must be directly linked to the services outlined within that agreement.

Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa: Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Requirement

To successfully secure a Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa, applicants must hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for the specific role they intend to undertake in the UK. The CoS must be issued by a UK-based employer that is fully authorised by the Home Office to sponsor Service Suppliers.

Your sponsoring employer must hold an A-rated status on the Home Office’s official register of licensed sponsors. An exception applies if you were previously granted permission as a Service Supplier and are applying to continue employment with the same sponsor.

A Certificate of Sponsorship must be issued within 3 months prior to the submission of your visa application to remain valid.

Essential Information Required on the Certificate of Sponsorship

The CoS must include all required details as set out by the Home Office, such as:

• Personal information including your full name, job title, and salary details.
• A statement confirming you have been employed as, or for, an overseas service provider outside the UK for a minimum of 12 cumulative months.
• A job start date that must be within 3 months of your visa application date.
• A confirmation that the Certificate of Sponsorship:
• Has not been used in any previous application (whether approved or refused).
• Has not been withdrawn by your sponsor or cancelled by the Home Office.

Genuine Job Requirement for the Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa

To secure approval for a Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa, applicants must convincingly demonstrate to the UK Home Office that their sponsorship relates to a genuine and legitimate job role. The position must be authentic, necessary, and directly connected to the sponsoring company.

If the Home Office finds credible evidence suggesting that the role is fictitious, misleading, or deliberately created solely to facilitate the visa application, the request for a visa will be refused. Authorities conduct a careful assessment to ensure that the employment opportunity is both legitimate and aligned with the requirements of the visa category.

Furthermore, applicants must confirm that they have not entered into any arrangement where they will, either temporarily or permanently, fill a position for a third party that is not their official sponsor. Similarly, carrying out contract work involving ongoing routine roles or the delivery of continuous services to an external third party is strictly prohibited under this visa route.

Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa: Job Skill Level Requirements

To be eligible for a Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa, the role for which you are sponsored must meet the minimum skill threshold set by the Home Office.

Option A: Job Skill Level

The position you are undertaking must be classified as skilled at RQF Level 6 or above (equivalent to graduate-level employment). While you are not required to hold a university degree, the role itself must be demonstrably equivalent to a graduate-level occupation.

The Home Office has issued an official list of eligible roles for the Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa. This list outlines the relevant occupation codes (SOC 2020), job descriptions, and associated job titles. All qualifying roles are detailed in Appendix Skilled Occupations.

If your job falls within one of these recognised occupation codes, you will generally satisfy the skill level requirement.

However, it is crucial that your sponsor selects the most appropriate occupation code. If the Home Office suspects that your sponsor has chosen an unsuitable or unrelated code, your visa application is at risk of refusal.

To determine whether the correct occupation code has been selected, the Home Office will assess:

• Whether there is a genuine business need for the role as described.

• Whether you possess the necessary skills, qualifications, and experience to perform the role.

• Your sponsor’s history of compliance with UK immigration laws.

Option B: Qualification Requirements

In certain circumstances, you must hold a university degree or an equivalent technical qualification to qualify for this visa route. Exceptions apply for specific service sectors, where alternative or no qualifications are required:

• Fashion and modelling: No formal qualification required.

• Chef de cuisine: Advanced technical qualification required.

• Entertainment services (excluding audio-visual services under the CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement): No qualification required.

• Management consulting and related services: University degree required (equivalent technical qualifications are not acceptable).

• Advertising or translation services: Relevant qualifications required.

• Technical testing and analysis: University degree or relevant technical qualification required.

You must also hold any professional licences, certifications, or registrations required under UK law or industry-specific regulations to deliver these services.

Professional Experience Requirement

Applicants must demonstrate relevant professional experience in their service sector:

• At least 3 years of professional experience.

• 6 years of experience for those providing chef de cuisine services under the CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership Agreement.

• 6 years of experience for self-employed overseas service providers.

Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa: Salary Requirement

Employers approved by the Home Office to sponsor workers under the Service Supplier route are not required to meet a general salary threshold or the “going rate” for the relevant occupation, as outlined in the SOC 2020 occupation codes.

Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa: Nationality Criteria

To be eligible for a Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa, applicants must meet specific nationality or residency requirements, depending on the nature of the services being delivered and the international agreements in place.

You may qualify if you fall under one of the following categories:

• A citizen of the country or territory where the overseas service provider is established.

   

• A permanent resident of a country or territory that has made a notification under Article XXVIII(k)(ii)(2) of the General Agreement on Trade in Services, provided that the service you intend to deliver is covered by the commitments outlined within that agreement and your employer is legally established in that country.
• A permanent resident of Switzerland, where your service provision falls under the Temporary Agreement on Services Mobility between Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
• A citizen of an EU Member State or another individual defined as a “natural person of a Party” under Article 512(k) of the United Kingdom–European Union Trade and Cooperation Agreement, where your service is included within the commitments under this trade arrangement.
• A national of a CARIFORUM State, if the service you are providing is covered by the contractual service supplier commitments in the CARIFORUM–United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement (provided the agreement has been brought into force or provisionally applied).
• A permanent resident of Australia, where your service provision is included under the commitments specified in the Free Trade Agreement between the United Kingdom and Australia.
• A permanent resident of New Zealand, if your services are covered under the Free Trade Agreement between the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

Immigration Skills Charge – Do Employers Need to Pay?

The Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) is a levy imposed on certain UK employers when they sponsor overseas workers under specific visa routes. However, businesses that are licensed by the Home Office to sponsor a Service Supplier are exempt from paying the Immigration Skills Charge.

This exemption is particularly beneficial for companies engaging contractors or professionals under the Service Supplier route, as it helps reduce overall recruitment costs while maintaining compliance with immigration regulations.

Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa: Financial Requirements

To qualify for the Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa, applicants are generally required to demonstrate that they have sufficient personal funds to support themselves during their stay in the UK.

Minimum Funds Requirement
Unless you qualify for an exemption, you must hold at least £1,270 in readily available cash savings. These funds must have been continuously available for a minimum of 28 consecutive days, with the final day of this 28-day period falling no more than 31 days prior to the date of your visa application.

Sponsor Maintenance Exemption
You will be exempt from meeting this personal financial requirement if your licensed sponsor commits to covering your living expenses during the first month of your employment in the UK. In such cases, your sponsor must confirm their ability and willingness to provide financial support of at least £1,270 on your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).

Applicants Already in the UK
If you are applying for an extension or permission to stay and have already been lawfully residing in the UK for 12 months or longer at the time of your application, you will automatically satisfy the financial requirement. Therefore, you will not be required to provide evidence of funds.

Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa: English Language Criteria

Applicants for the UK Service Supplier Visa, under the Global Business Mobility route, are not required to meet any formal English language requirement as part of the application process. This visa category focuses primarily on the applicant’s role, contractual arrangements, and the nature of the service being delivered in the UK, rather than linguistic proficiency.

Switching to the Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa Route

Individuals who are already residing in the UK under a valid immigration category may be eligible to extend their stay by transitioning to the Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa route. However, this option is not available to those who currently hold, or were most recently granted, permission to remain as a Visitor, Short-term Student, Parent of a Child Student, Seasonal Worker, Domestic Worker in a Private Household, or under any category outside the Immigration Rules.

Duration of a Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa

When a Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa application is successfully approved, the visa holder is typically granted permission to stay for a period defined by the duration specified on their Certificate of Sponsorship, plus an additional 14 days. However, this period cannot exceed the maximum single assignment limit, which is capped at either 6 months or 12 months the exact duration depending on the terms of the applicable UK international trade agreement. The visa validity will always be determined by whichever of these timeframes is shorter.

For expert guidance on obtaining a Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa, Link And Day Lawyers provide tailored immigration solutions designed to meet both corporate and individual needs.

Maximum Duration Allowed Under the Global Business Mobility Routes

Under the Global Business Mobility visa routes, the maximum permissible stay is 5 years within any rolling 6-year period. This time limit applies regardless of whether the stay is completed under a single visa category or across multiple subcategories within the route.

When determining an applicant’s total duration, the UK Home Office evaluates all previous periods of leave granted under the Global Business Mobility routes as well as any time spent under the former Intra-Company Transfer routes. These periods are combined to ensure applicants do not exceed the permitted limit.

Conditions of Stay on a Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa

Individuals holding a Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa are authorised to work exclusively for their licensed sponsor, strictly in the role specified on their Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). In addition to fulfilling their primary employment duties, visa holders are permitted to engage in approved courses of study and undertake voluntary or unpaid work during their stay. However, they are explicitly prohibited from accessing public funds or state benefits, as this visa category is designed solely for temporary business mobility and professional assignments.

Settlement via the Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa Route

The Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa does not, in itself, provide a direct pathway to permanent settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) in the UK. Nevertheless, individuals who enter the UK on this visa may later have the opportunity to transition into an alternative immigration category that does lead to settlement. Popular routes include the Skilled Worker visa or a combination of the Start-up visa followed by the Innovator visa, both of which can ultimately open the door to long-term residency.

To make such a switch, applicants must fully meet the eligibility criteria of the chosen immigration route, including demonstrating the necessary skills, investment, or employment requirements. Comprehensive details regarding all primary UK immigration routes—and whether they can lead to settlement—are readily available through our expert legal resources.

In addition, those who remain in the UK lawfully for a prolonged period may become eligible for settlement under the Long Residence provisions, provided they satisfy the continuous residence requirements and other associated conditions.

Dependants of Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa Holders

Holders of a Global Business Mobility – UK Service Supplier Visa have the option to bring their immediate family members to the United Kingdom during the course of their stay. Eligible dependants include a partner aged 18 or over and children under the age of 18 who rely on the main visa holder for financial support.

Global Business Mobility Sponsor Licence Applications

The Global Business Mobility (GBM) visa routes are designed to accommodate businesses of all sizes, provided they maintain an established trading presence outside the United Kingdom and hold a qualifying connection with a UK-based entity. These routes enable overseas companies to send skilled employees to the UK for specific work assignments, provided certain criteria are met.

To secure a Global Business Mobility sponsor licence, the UK entity receiving the overseas workers must demonstrate that it:

• Possesses a genuine and active trading presence within the UK;

• Maintains qualifying links with an overseas business intending to deploy workers;

• Appoints appropriate key personnel to manage and oversee the sponsor licence effectively; and

• Has robust HR systems and compliance measures in place to fulfil all sponsor licence responsibilities.

The nature of the qualifying link between the UK and overseas businesses will depend on the specific Global Business Mobility route under which the work assignment falls.

For example, when applying for a Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier Worker sponsor licence, the UK business must hold a valid contract with an overseas service provider for the delivery of services that are covered under a relevant UK trade agreement.

How Link And Day Lawyers Can support You 

Link And Day Lawyers provides expert guidance across the full spectrum of UK immigration services, offering tailored solutions to individuals, families, and businesses. With an in-depth understanding of complex immigration rules, the team delivers strategic advice to simplify even the most challenging applications. Their services encompass visa applications, settlement and citizenship guidance, as well as corporate immigration solutions for employers seeking to hire international talent.

Each case is approached with meticulous attention to detail, ensuring that every application is thoroughly prepared to meet the strict requirements of UK immigration authorities. Whether the need is for work visas, family visas, student routes, or sponsorship guidance, clients benefit from a personalised approach designed to secure the best possible outcome.

The firm also supports clients in navigating legal obstacles, including refusals or appeals, by providing clear, results-focused strategies. With a commitment to excellence, transparency, and efficiency, Link And Day Lawyers aims to reduce the stress and uncertainty of immigration processes while helping clients achieve their goals.

Through a combination of expert legal knowledge, careful planning, and exceptional client care, this team stands as a trusted partner for anyone seeking to live, work, study, or settle in the United Kingdom.

For trusted, professional assistance with your UK Business Visit Visa application, contact Link and Day Lawyers today on (+44)-7471-588460.