Senior or Specialist
Worker (GBM) visa
A key component of the UK’s Global Business Mobility visa options
The Senior or Specialist Worker visa forms part of the UK’s Global Business Mobility (GBM) immigration route for overseas businesses who need to temporarily send workers to the UK for a specific purpose that cannot be done by a settled worker. A Senior or Specialist Worker visa allows existing employees of an overseas business to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job at a UK branch of the business.
Eligibility
To qualify for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa, you must:
- Be an existing employee of an organisation that’s been approved by the Home Office as a sponsor.
- Have a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ (CoS) from your employer with information about the work you will do in the UK.
- Do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations.
- Be paid at least £48,500 or the ‘going rate’ for your job – whichever is higher.
note:
If your salary in the UK will be less than £73,900 a year you must have worked for your employer outside the UK for at least 12 months. You will need to provide evidence of this when you apply.
If you are earning £73,900 a year or more, there is no minimum time requirement.
Costs
When you apply for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa, you will need to have enough money to:
- Pay the visa application fee – The standard fee ranges from £719 to £1,636 depending on your circumstances.
- Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) – The IHS costs £1,035 per year, or £776 per year for under-18s.
- Support yourself in the UK – You will usually need to show that you have at least £1,270 in your bank account (unless you’re exempt). Your employer may be able to cover your costs during your first month in the UK, up to £1,270.
note:
The visa application fee and the IHS must also be paid for any accompanying dependants.
How to apply
You must apply online for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa.
As part of your application, you will need to prove your identity and provide your supporting documents. To do this, you will need to do one of the following:
- Attend an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) if you’re outside the UK.
- Attend an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point if you’re inside the UK.
- Use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document, if you are eligible.
Processing times
You can apply for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK (this date is listed on your CoS).
Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks if you’re outside the UK, or 8 weeks if you’re inside the UK.
You may be able to pay for a faster decision using the Home Office priority services.
How long you can stay
You can stay in the UK with a Senior or Specialist Worker visa for whichever is shorter of:
- The time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days
- 5 years
You can apply to extend your visa or apply for another one as many times as you like up to the maximum total stay. The maximum total stay allowed for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa is:
- 5 years in any 6 year period if you’re paid less than £73,900 a year.
- 9 years in any 10 year period if you’re paid £73,900 a year or more.
The maximum total stay includes all time spent in the UK on any of the Global Business Mobility routes, including the predecessor ICT routes.
Permitted Activites
With a Senior or Specialist Worker visa, you can:
- Work for your sponsor in the job described in your CoS
- Study
- Bring dependant family members with you, if they are eligible
- Do voluntary work
- Travel abroad and return to the UK.
You cannot:
- Access public funds
- Change jobs, unless you update your visa
- Have a second job
- Apply to settle permanently in the UK.
How can we help
Smith Stone Walters can offer expert advice and assistance with your Senior or Specialist Worker visa application. We have worked with multi-national businesses in a range of sectors to bring assignees from overseas to the UK under this route. To find out more about how we can help your business reach its global mobility goals, please contact us today.
Frequently asked questions
1) Your certificate of sponsorship reference number – your employer will give you this.
2) A valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality.
3) Your job title and annual salary.
4) Your job’s occupation code.
5) The name of your employer and their sponsor licence number – this will be on your certificate of sponsorship.
6) Evidence that you have enough personal savings to support yourself in the UK, for example bank statements (unless your certificate of sponsorship shows your employer can support you).
7) Proof of your relationship with your partner or children if they’re applying with you.
8) Your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a listed country.
A dependant partner or child is any of the following:
– Your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner.
– Your child under 18 – including if they were born in the UK during your stay.
– Your child over 18 if they’re currently in the UK as your dependant.
Separate applications must be made for each accompanying dependant. If their application is successful, your family members will be granted a visa which will usually expire on the same date as your visa.
Alternatively, Smith Stone Walters is on hand to answer any questions you may have. Our immigration experts can assess your eligibility for this visa and guide you through the entire application process. To find out how we can help, please contact us today.
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