Appendix Global Business Mobility

Global Business Mobility is an immigration route for workers based outside the UK to work in the UK temporarily as a senior or specialist worker, graduate trainee, UK expansion worker, service supplier, or secondment worker. This route has replaced the Intra-Company Transfer visa, Temporary Worker under International Agreements visa, and Representative of an Overseas Business visa. Global Business Mobility Route opened on 11 April 2022. Any overseas business looking to temporarily send their team member to the UK for an assignment or to establish a commercial presence in the UK can now take the Global Business Mobility Route.

All the routes require a company to hold a sponsorship licence before the worker can apply under the relevant category.

Global Business Mobility has five different categories, and none allows for settlement in the UK.

Five different categories of workers in the new Global Business Mobility Route and their eligibility requirements

Senior or specialist workers

UK Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist workers category is for those overseas workers in senior roles or specialist employees in an overseas company. Senior or specialist workers visa has replaced Intra-Company transfer visa.  

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• They need to receive a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from the UK employer,
• They need to have worked for their employer outside the UK,
• Their job must be on the list of eligible occupations in the UK,
• They must be paid the minimum eligible salary required for that particular job role. The minimum wage to be paid is at least £42,400 per year or the 'going rate' for that specific job role – whichever is higher. However, each occupation code has its annual going rate.
• They must be awarded 60 points based on the followings:

1. Sponsorship -20 points
2. Job at an appropriate skill level – 20 points
3. Salary at required level – 20 points

• If they have been in the UK for less than 12 months or applying for entry clearance, they need to have at least £1,270 to meet the financial requirement, or the sponsor must certify on the certificate of sponsorship that they will manage the accommodation and maintenance of the applicant up to the end of the first month of their employment up to a maximum amount of £1,270.

Graduate Trainee 

UK Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee route is for those overseas workers who are on graduate training courses leading to senior management or specialist position and are required to do a work placement in the UK. The Graduate Trainee route has replaced the Intra-Company transfer-graduate trainee route.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• They receive a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from the UK employer,
• They have worked outside the UK for their overseas employer for three months immediately before the date of application,
• Their job must be on the list of eligible occupations,
• They must be paid the minimum eligible salary, at least £23,100 or 70% of the 'going rate' for that particular job role – whichever is higher. However, each occupation code has it's own going annual rate.
• They must be awarded 60 points based on the followings:

1. Sponsorship – 20 points
2. Job at an appropriate skill level – 20 points
3. Salary at required level – 20 points

• If they have been in the UK for less than 12 months or applying for entry clearance, they need to have at least £1,270 to meet the financial requirement, or the sponsor must certify on the certificate of sponsorship that they will manage the accommodation and maintenance of the applicant up to the end of the first month of their employment up to a maximum amount of £1,270.

UK Expansion worker 

UK Global Business Mobility – The expansion Worker category is for those overseas workers assigned to the UK to undertake work related to a business's expansion to the UK. Only such businesses which have not yet started trading in the UK can assign their employee to the UK under a UK Expansion worker category.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• They receive a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from the UK employer,
• They have worked outside the UK for their overseas employer,
• Their job must be on the list of eligible occupations,
• They must be paid the minimum eligible salary of at least £42,400 per year or the 'going rate' for that particular job role – whichever is higher. However, each occupation code has it's own going annual rate.
• They must be awarded 60 points based on the followings:

1. Sponsorship – 20 points
2. Job at an appropriate skill level – 20 points
3. Salary at required level – 20 points

• If they have been in the UK for less than 12 months or are applying for entry clearance, they need at least £1,270 to meet the financial requirement

UK Service Supplier 

UK Global Business Mobility – Service Supplier category is for those overseas workers who are either contractual service providers employed by an overseas service provider, or they can be self-employed independent business professionals based outside the UK, and they need to be in the UK to provide services covered by one of the UK's international trade agreements.    

Eligibility

Applicants must  meet the following eligibility requirements:

• They must be either an employee of a business overseas or a self-employed service provider based overseas.
• They must provide contractual service under a contract covered by one of the UK's international trade agreements.
• They must be providing a service to a UK business that is an approved sponsor by the Home Office.
• They must either do an eligible job or prove they have relevant qualifications and professional experience.
• They must have received a 'Certificate of Sponsorship' from the UK sponsor with information about the work they will be doing in the UK.
• They must have worked for their current employer for at least 12 months outside the UK, or if they are self-employed service providers, they have at least 12 months of professional experience in the same sector in which they will provide service.
• They must be awarded 40 points based on the followings:

1. Sponsorship – 20 points
2. Job at an appropriate skill level as employed by an overseas business or self-employed service provider overseas – 20 points

• If they have been in the UK for less than 12 months or applying for entry clearance, they need to have at least £1,270 to meet the financial requirement, or the sponsor must certify on the certificate of sponsorship that they will manage the accommodation and maintenance of the applicant up to the end of the first month of their employment up to a maximum amount of £1,270.

UK Secondment Worker

UK Global Mobility- The secondment Worker category is for those overseas workers who are being seconded to the UK as part of a high-value contract or investment by their employer overseas.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• They receive a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from the UK employer with full details of the job role offered,
• They have worked for an overseas employer for 12 months,
• Their job is on the list of eligible occupations,
• They are an existing employee of a business overseas that has a high-value contract with the UK sponsor,
• They must be awarded 40 points based on the followings:

1. Sponsorship – 20 points
2. Job at an appropriate skill level – 20 points

• If they have been in the UK for less than 12 months or applying for entry clearance, they need to have at least £1,270 to meet the financial requirement, or the sponsor must certify on the certificate of sponsorship that they will manage the accommodation and maintenance of the applicant up to the end of the first month of their employment up to a maximum amount of £1,270.