Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa Name	Senior or Specialist Worker visa
Stay Duration	Up to 5 years per grant
Maximum Total Stay	5–9 years depending on salary
Application Cost	£819 to £1,865 per person
Healthcare Surcharge	Usually £1,035 per year
Financial Requirement	At least £1,270 in personal savings
Minimum Salary Requirement	At least £52,500 or going rate
Application Timing	Up to 3 months before work
Decision Processing Time	3 weeks outside UK; 8 inside
Work Rights	Sponsored job and voluntary work permitted
Study Rights	Permitted
Travel Facility	Multiple entries permitted
Public Funds Access	Not permitted
Permanent Settlement / PR	Not permitted
Citizenship Path	Not stated in the source
Family Sponsorship	Eligible partner and children permitted
Visa Record Format	Digital record or application confirmation

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Purpose and Overview

The Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility route) allows overseas employees to come to or stay in the UK to perform an eligible job at their employer’s UK branch.

This visa replaces the Intra-company Transfer visa, previously known as the Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long-term Staff visa.

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Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for this visa, you must meet the following criteria:

• Sponsorship: Hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number from a Home Office-approved sponsor. Applications must be submitted within 3 months of receiving the CoS.
• Overseas Employment Duration:
  • Earning under £73,900/year: Must have worked for your employer outside the UK for at least 12 months.
  • Earning £73,900/year or more: No minimum prior employment duration required.
• Eligible Occupation: The job must match an eligible 4-digit occupation code on the Global Business Mobility occupation list.
• Salary Threshold: You must be paid at least £52,500 per year or the job's occupation-specific "going rate", whichever is higher.

Exemptions & Special Rules

• Pre-6 April 2011 Visa Holders: If you have continuously been in the UK since before 6 April 2011 on a Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long-term Staff, Intra-company Transfer, or Senior or Specialist Worker visa:
  • You are exempt from the £52,500 minimum salary (you must still receive the job's going rate).
  • There is no maximum stay limit as long as your employer sponsors you.
• Removed Occupation Codes: Codes 3411 (Artists), 3412 (Authors/translators), 3413 (Actors/entertainers), 3414 (Dancers/choreographers), and 3422 (Designers) have been removed. Existing holders in these codes may extend only to stay in the exact same job.

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Length of Stay and Maximum Limits

Each grant of leave is valid for whichever is shorter:

• The time given on the Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days.
• 5 years.

Maximum Cumulative Stay

Time spent on any Global Business Mobility or predecessor Intra-company visa counts toward a maximum total stay:

• Salary below £73,900/year: Maximum of 5 years in any 6-year period.
• Salary £73,900/year or more: Maximum of 9 years in any 10-year period.

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Fees and Financial Requirements

Application Fees

Application Type	Duration: Up to 3 Years	Duration: More than 3 Years
Applying from outside the UK	£819 per person	£1,618 per person
Applying inside the UK (Extend, switch, update)	£943 per person	£1,865 per person

Additional Costs

• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): Usually £1,035 per person per year.
• Personal Savings (Maintenance): At least £1,270 held in your bank account for 28 consecutive days (ending within 31 days of applying), unless:
  • You have held a valid UK visa for 12 months or longer, or
  • Your sponsor certifies maintenance on your CoS (under "Additional data").

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Visa Conditions and Permitted Activities

You Can:

• Work for your sponsor in the role specified on your CoS.
• Study (an ATAS certificate may be required for sensitive research at PhD level or higher).
• Bring eligible dependants.
• Travel abroad and re-enter the UK.
• Undertake unpaid voluntary work for a registered charity, voluntary body, associated fundraising body, or statutory body.
• Work an additional paid job up to 20 hours/week (only if you previously held an Intra-company Transfer or Tier 2 ICT visa, and the work is in the same occupation code/level or on the Shortage Occupation List).

You Cannot:

• Access public funds, state benefits, or the State Pension.
• Change jobs without updating your visa.
• Take a second job (unless eligible under historical ICT rules).
• Apply for permanent settlement / Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

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Dependants (Partner and Children)

Eligible family members can apply to accompany or join you:

• Eligible Partners: Married, civil partners, or unmarried partners who have lived together for at least 2 years (or have a 2-year relationship commitment if living together was not possible).
• Eligible Children: Children under 18 (or over 18 if currently in the UK as your dependant). Children 16 or over must be financially supported by you and not leading an independent life.

Dependant Maintenance Funds

• Partner: £285
• First child: £315
• Each additional child: £200 (Held for 28 consecutive days unless exempt due to 12 months' UK residence or sponsor certification).

Dependant Conditions

Dependants can study and work (except as a professional sportsperson or sports coach), but cannot access public funds. UK-born children do not automatically acquire British citizenship and must be granted dependant leave to travel.

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Documents Required

• Valid passport or travel document proving identity/nationality.
• Certificate of Sponsorship reference number, employer name, and sponsor licence number.
• Job title, occupation code, and annual salary.
• Evidence of personal savings (e.g., bank statements), if required.
• Proof of relationship for accompanying dependants.
• Tuberculosis (TB) test results (if applying from a listed country).
• Evidence of overseas employment for at least 12 months (payslips, bank statements, employer letter) if earning under £73,900.
• Certified translations for any non-English/Welsh documents.

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How to Apply

Applications must be completed online:

• Apply from outside the UK
• Extend your stay inside the UK
• Switch from another visa inside the UK
• Update your visa if your occupation code changes

Identity Verification

Applicants must either scan their identity documents using the UK Immigration: ID Check app or attend a biometric appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) or UKVCAS service point.

Processing Times

• Outside the UK: Usually within 3 weeks.
• Inside the UK: Usually within 8 weeks.
• Faster decision priority services may be available for an extra fee.

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Important Warnings & Restrictions

• In-Country Travel Restriction: If applying from inside the UK (to extend, switch, or update), you must not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man while your application is pending. Leaving this area automatically withdraws your application.
• Ineligible Switching Routes: You cannot switch to this visa inside the UK if you hold a Visit visa, Short-term Student visa, Parent of a Child Student visa, Seasonal Worker visa, Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa, or are on immigration bail / leave outside the rules.
• Student Switching Conditions: Student visa holders may only switch if they have completed their course, have a job starting after the course ends, or have studied full-time toward a PhD for at least 24 months.