Global Business Mobility Visa Routes: Requirements, Costs and Eligibility in 2026
What is Global Business Mobility?
- There are 5 visas available in the GBM category. We can help you select the right one(s) to apply for: Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier and Secondment Worker.
- Your business does not already need to be trading in the UK to use these routes.
Can my business use the Global Business Mobility routes?
Your business is likely eligible if:
- You have a genuine link to a UK entity. i.e. an established branch, a new UK office being set up, or contract with a UK client that meets the Home Office’s criteria.
- The employee has worked for your overseas business for 12+ months (waived for high earners on some routes).
- You can meet the route's salary threshold. £52,500 or the going rate, whichever is higher (lower for Graduate Trainee).
- Your UK entity holds, or can obtain, a Sponsor Licence (not required for Service Supplier route).
- You can issue a valid Certificate of Sponsorship confirming the role, salary, and eligibility criteria.
This route may not be right for you if:
- You need the person in the UK indefinitely, not just for a capped, time-limited assignment. For example if your ultimate goal is UK settlement (ILR) for the employee, the GBM route won't get them there directly.
- You want to hire someone new, rather than transfer an existing member of your overseas team.
- You want to avoid the ongoing compliance obligations that come with holding a Sponsor Licence.
What you’ll need to apply via the GBM route
Link to UK entity
For Senior/Specialist visas and Graduate Trainee visas, you will need to prove you have an existing branch in the UK with a trading history.
For Expansion Worker visas you will need to show you have a credible plan to trade in the UK.
For Service Supplier and Secondment visas you will need to show a contract with a UK client that meets the Home Office’s criteria.
Valid types of contract
For Service Supplier visas this means a contract to provide services to a UK client that falls under an international trade agreement the UK has signed.
For Secondment visas this means either a “high value contract or investment” between your overseas business and UK entity which the secondment is tied to delivering. (Typically a joint venture, a major supply agreement, or an investment deal.)
Employee criteria
Employees must be at least 18 years old and hold over £1,270 in personal savings (unless sponsor certifies maintenance).
Typically they must have worked for your overseas business for over 12 months. This can be waived on the Senior/Specialist visa for salaries over £73,900.
Service Suppliers must have over 12 months experience in the role. Graduate Trainee visas only require 3 months working for your overseas entity.
Salary thresholds
Senior / Specialist Worker and Expansion Worker: £48,500/year or the going rate, whichever is higher.
Graduate Trainee: £25,410/year, or 70% of the going rate (100% for healthcare/education roles).
Service Supplier. No fixed salary figure as eligibility is based on contract and role classification.
Secondment Worker: No fixed threshold — must meet National Minimum Wage and be tied to the registered high-value contract.
GBM Sponsor Licence
All GBM visas require your UK entity to get a Sponsor License from the Home Office (more info here).
In cases where the UK entity doesn’t have a trading history in the UK - a requirement for a Sponsor License -(e.g. you are just setting it up) then Expansion Worker visa allows you to show you have a credible plan to trade in the UK and still be granted a Sponsor License.
Certificate(s) of Sponsorship (CoS)
You will need to produce a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for each role on the Home Office’s Sponsorship Management System (SMS).
You’ll have to confirm key details about the applicant, the role the person will be undertaking and their salary. You will also have to attest that the role meets the eligibility criteria for the specific visa route.
Duration of Stay
Each type of visa has a maximum stay length. Most are 12 months, and can be renewed up to 5 year cumulative total.
Senior/Specialist visas can last for up to 5 years (or 9 if salary is above £73,900).
Step-by-Step Application Process
Work with our advisors to identify the most suitable GBM visa route for your business. We assess your eligibility, UK expansion plans, and long-term goals to recommend the best option.
You will need to check that the UK entity holds the right sponsor licence. It must also show its link to the overseas business. We would suggest confirming this before any dates are promised to the employee.
Have your passport, Certificate of Sponsorship, and financial documents ready. Applications missing required documents within 10 days of the start date will be automatically rejected.
The UK sponsor assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship for the role. It sets out the job, the salary, and the occupation code.
Before applying, ensure your sponsor is approved for the UK Expansion Worker route. Then complete your visa application online or at a visa centre and pay the required fee.
The employee applies online from outside the UK or switches inside the UK if already here on an eligible route. They then pay the fee and health surcharge.
Wait for a decision - processing typically takes 8 weeks in the UK or 3 weeks outside the UK. Priority services are available: £500 (5 working days) or £1,000 (next working day).
The applicant uses the UK Immigration ID Check app where eligible. Otherwise, they attend a visa application centre for fingerprints and a photograph.
Once your visa is approved, collect it and move to the UK to begin business operations. Set up payroll, HR processes, and compliance measures before your first employee starts work.
You will upload the evidence of salary, overseas service, and the role. It is worth labelling each document clearly so the caseworker can match it.
Processing usually takes about three weeks from outside the UK. A priority service is available for a faster decision when you need one.
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Cost Breakdown
In-country applications: £885 (up to 3 years) / £1,725 (over 3 years | | Graduate Trainee | £319 per application | | Service Supplier | £319 per application | | UK Expansion Worker | £319 per application | | Secondment Worker | £319 per application | | Priority Service (optional)
Decision usually within 5 working days (Priority) / by the next working day (Super Priority) | £500 (Priority) / £1,000 (Super Priority) |
In our clients' own words.
“After our ILR rejection, AY&J pursued our case through Administrative Review and Judicial Review. The team was open, honest, knowledgeable and attentive to every detail. They kept us informed at every stage, supported us throughout an extremely difficult journey and helped us regain confidence in our case.”
AY&J Solicitors have helped me navigate the red tape that post-Brexit has caused. They've given me a much better understanding of how the new points-based immigration system works. I would like to personally recommend AY&J solicitors over other law firms, as past experience with clients has clearly shown the level of service that was provided. The firm has given clear guidance from the get-go and followed my instructions to the letter. From obtaining a Sponsorship License to welcoming new employees into the UK, this firm truly does it all. The clear and frequent communications between myself and the firm solicitors have only made things run smoothly, not to mention the reasonable pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility and salary
The Global Business Mobility Visa offers five routes for foreign businesses wishing to establish a presence or relocate workers in the UK:
- Senior or Specialist visa workers for unique company demands.
- Graduate Trainee Visa holders for structured training programmes.
- Secondment visa workers for high-value UK projects or investments.
- Service Supplier Visa holders providing services under UK trade agreements.
- UK Expansion Worker Visa holders to set up UK operations.
Note:
The Global Business Mobility routes replace older visas like Intra-Company Transfer, with updates for UK Expansion and Secondment Workers. Senior/Specialist Workers, Graduate Trainees, and Secondment Workers need a UK Sponsor Licence link, while UK Expansion Workers do not. Service Suppliers require no group linka
Eligibility and salary
The minimum salary threshold is £52,500 per year or the occupation’s “going rate,” whichever is higher, to qualify for most Global Business Mobility Visa routes, ensuring alignment with UK labour standards. This figure is updated in July 2025 in alignment with rules and is valid across all categories, such as the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa.
About the route
Now part of the Global Business Mobility Visa categories, the ICT visa lets global companies transfer staff to the UK without proving a local labour shortage, supporting fast and flexible relocation under the Global Business Mobility framework while also aligning with Global Business Mobility Visa requirements.
About the route
The Global Business Mobility (GBM) route lets overseas businesses send sponsored workers to the UK for expansion and other business activities through five tailored visa types.
GBM Success Stories
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