Senior or Specialist Worker Visa

Senior or Specialist Worker Visa

The Senior or Specialist Worker Visa is a sub-route under the Global Business Mobility framework, designed for multinational businesses that need to transfer senior managers or specialist employees to a linked UK entity.

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What is a UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa?
The Senior or Specialist Worker Visa is a temporary work visa under the Global Business Mobility (GBM) framework, designed for established employees being transferred from an overseas business to a linked UK branch, subsidiary, or parent company on a temporary assignment.
Part of the Global Business Mobility Framework

The Senior or Specialist Worker route sits within the GBM framework, which replaced the former Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) visa in April 2022. It is designed for workers who hold a senior management position or possess specialist skills, knowledge, or experience that are essential to the UK operation.

To qualify, the role must be at or above RQF Level 6, listed in the relevant Appendix to the Immigration Rules, and meet a minimum salary of £52,500 per year or the going rate for the occupation code, whichever is higher. Workers who wish to remain in the UK long-term may be able to switch into the Skilled Worker route if they meet the requirements at that point.

This route does not lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain. It is a temporary assignment route, with a maximum cumulative stay of five years in any six-year period.

UK Immigration · Global Business Mobility route information

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Why Choose Our UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa Services?

Our expert corporate immigration team offers comprehensive guidance through the UK Global Business Mobility Senior or Specialist Worker visa route. We ensure seamless execution by validating your intra-company transfer eligibility, managing Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) requirements, and verifying that candidate roles meet the required high-value skill and salary thresholds flawlessly. We simplify complex Home Office regulations, handle meticulous document review, and guide your senior personnel smoothly, keeping your global executive mobility efficient and completely stress-free.
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What is the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa? ⌃

A Global Business Mobility route allowing overseas businesses to transfer senior managers or specialist employees to a linked UK entity on a temporary basis. It replaced the Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) visa in April 2022.

Who can apply? ⌃

Employees of an overseas business who are being transferred to a linked UK entity, provided they have worked for the overseas employer for at least 12 months and the role meets the required skill level and salary threshold.

What salary is required? ⌃

From 22 July 2025, the minimum salary is £52,500 per year or the going rate for the occupation code, whichever is higher. Only guaranteed basic pay and fixed allowances count towards this figure.

How long can I stay? ⌃

The visa can be granted for up to five years. The maximum cumulative stay across all Global Business Mobility routes is five years in any six-year period.

Can I extend my visa? ⌃

Yes. You can apply to extend from within the UK, provided you continue to work for the same sponsor in the same or a similar role and have not reached the cumulative time limit.

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Senior or Specialist Worker Visa Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, both the sponsoring UK entity and the individual applicant must meet the Home Office requirements set out below.

01

Sponsorship Requirements

The UK sponsoring entity must verify corporate linkage, activate a current registration status, and handle individual sponsorship assignments appropriately.

  • Valid Sponsor Licence: The UK entity must hold a valid Global Business Mobility sponsor licence with the Senior or Specialist Worker rating before a Certificate of Sponsorship can be assigned.
  • Certificate of Sponsorship: A valid CoS must be assigned to the applicant before the visa application is submitted. The CoS must accurately record the job title, occupation code, salary, and assignment start date.
  • Corporate Linkage: The applicant must be employed by an overseas entity linked to the UK sponsor by common ownership or control — for example, a parent company, subsidiary, or branch relationship. The sponsor must be able to evidence this through group structure documentation.
  • Immigration Skills Charge: The sponsoring employer must have paid the Immigration Skills Charge in full before the CoS is assigned. The standard rate is £1,000 per year for medium or large sponsors, and £364 per year for small sponsors and charities.
02

Role and Salary Requirements

The professional position must hit national occupation metrics, and the baseline corporate salary package must satisfy mandated parameters.

  • Eligible Occupation: The role must be listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules at or above RQF Level 6. The occupation code assigned on the CoS determines which going rate applies.
  • Salary Threshold: From 22 July 2025, the applicant must be paid at least £52,500 per year or the going rate for the occupation code, whichever is higher.
  • Guaranteed Pay Only: Only guaranteed basic pay and fixed allowances count towards the salary threshold. Variable pay, bonuses, and overtime cannot be included.
  • Genuine Role: The Home Office must be satisfied that the role is genuine, that the applicant has the skills required, and that the assignment is not a disguised arrangement to supply labour to a third party.
  • No Third-Party Working: The role must be carried out at the UK sponsor's own operations. Sponsoring a worker to undertake contract work or an ongoing routine service for another business is not permitted under this route.
03

Employment History

The individual applicant must substantiate prior service logs within the wider international organization structure.

  • 12-Month Requirement: The applicant must generally have been employed by the overseas entity outside the UK for at least 12 continuous months immediately before the date of application.
  • High Earner Exemption: Where the applicant will be paid £73,900 or more per year, the 12-month prior employment requirement does not apply. The applicant must still be an employee of the sponsoring overseas entity at the time of application.
  • Evidence Required: Employment history is typically evidenced through payslips, employment contracts, and a letter from the overseas employer confirming the employment dates and role.
04

Financial and Other Personal Requirements

The candidate must cross clear personal thresholds including required personal liquid assets and mandatory medical screenings.

  • Maintenance Funds: The applicant must demonstrate at least £1,270 held for a consecutive 28-day period ending no more than 31 days before the application date, unless the sponsoring employer certifies maintenance on the CoS.
  • Tuberculosis Test: Applicants from countries listed by the Home Office as requiring a TB test must provide a certificate from an approved clinic before applying.
  • No English Language Requirement: Unlike the Skilled Worker route, there is no English language requirement for the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa.
  • Application Timing: The application can be submitted up to three months before the start date listed on the Certificate of Sponsorship.
05

Length of Stay and Conditions

The placement timing limits, structural parameters, and boundary conditions for localized long-term integration.

  • Grant Period: Leave is granted for whichever is shorter — the period stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days, or five years.
  • Maximum Cumulative Stay: The maximum cumulative stay across all Global Business Mobility routes is generally five years in any six-year period. Once this limit is reached, the applicant must spend a period outside the UK before applying again under a GBM route.
  • Permitted Work: The visa holder may only work for the sponsoring employer in the role specified on the CoS. Taking on supplementary employment outside the sponsored role is not permitted.
  • No Settlement Pathway: This route does not lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain. Time spent on GBM routes does not count towards the qualifying period for settlement. Applicants wishing to remain in the UK long-term may apply to switch into the Skilled Worker route if they meet the requirements.
Final Note: Meeting all these requirements and submitting proper evidence will significantly increase your chances of a successful UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa application.
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Our experienced professionals provide end-to-end guidance, ensuring a smooth, compliant, and successful application journey.

01 — Eligibility Check
Eligibility Check

Eligibility Check

We assess the corporate structure, the applicant's employment history, role, and salary package against the current requirements for the Senior or Specialist Worker route before any application or CoS assignment is made.

02 — Document Review
Document Review

Document Review

We review all supporting documentation — including corporate linkage evidence, employment contracts, payslips, and job descriptions — to ensure the application meets Home Office standards before submission.

03 — Application Submission
Application Submission

Application Submission

We prepare and submit the visa application, ensuring the Certificate of Sponsorship details are accurate and that all supporting evidence is complete and correctly presented.

04 — Approval Assistance
Approval Assistance

Approval Assistance

Following a grant of leave, we advise on the conditions of the visa, reporting obligations for the sponsoring employer, extension applications, and options for switching into a route that leads to settlement.