Global Business Mobility Visa
The Global Business Mobility (GBM) route allows overseas businesses to temporarily send employees to the UK for specific business purposes. There are five different Global Business Mobility visa categories:
UK Expansion Worker
The UK Expansion Worker visa is designed for senior managers and specialist employees who are being assigned to the UK to establish a branch or subsidiary of an overseas business that has not yet started trading in the UK.
To qualify, the applicant must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship, work in an eligible occupation and normally have worked for the overseas business for at least 12 months. The salary must normally be at least £52,500 per year or the applicable going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher. Exceptions to the overseas employment requirement apply in certain circumstances.
The visa is initially granted for up to 12 months and can be extended for a further 12 months. The maximum period permitted under the UK Expansion Worker route is 2 years.
Partners and dependent children can normally apply to accompany the main applicant to the UK.
Senior or Specialist Worker
The Senior or Specialist Worker visa is for senior managers and specialist employees who are temporarily assigned to work for a UK business linked to their overseas employer. This route is generally used where the overseas business already has an established trading presence in the UK.
Applicants must have an eligible job and normally be paid at least £52,500 per year or the applicable going rate, whichever is higher.
Graduate Trainee
The Graduate Trainee visa is for employees undertaking a structured graduate training programme leading to a managerial or specialist position within an international business.
The applicant must normally have worked for the overseas employer for at least 3 months immediately before applying. The minimum salary is currently £27,300 per year or 70% of the applicable going rate, whichever is higher.
Service Supplier
The Service Supplier visa is for overseas workers who are either employees of an overseas service provider or self-employed independent professionals coming to the UK temporarily to provide services covered by one of the UK’s international trade agreements.
The applicant must be sponsored by a UK organisation that has an eligible contract with the overseas service provider.
Secondment Worker
The Secondment Worker visa is for overseas employees who are temporarily transferred to the UK to work for a UK organisation as part of an eligible high-value contract or investment.
The applicant must normally have worked for the overseas employer for at least 6 months before coming to the UK and must be sponsored by the relevant UK organisation.
All Global Business Mobility routes are temporary immigration routes and do not lead directly to Indefinite Leave to Remain. Partners and dependent children can normally accompany the main applicant, subject to meeting the relevant requirements.
Westland Mark Immigration Specialists assist overseas businesses and their employees with Global Business Mobility Sponsor Licences, Certificates of Sponsorship and visa applications.
