About the visa
The Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility) allows senior managers or specialist employees of international companies to live and work in the UK branch of their overseas employer. It replaces the previous Intra-company Transfer (ICT) visa. The visa is designed for skilled professionals taking on long-term roles or assignments within the same organisation.
A partner and dependent children can apply to come to the UK on this route. The Senior or Specialist Worker route is not a route to settlement.
Eligibility & key rules
Applicants must score 60 points across three requirements:
- Sponsorship (20 points): You must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from an A-rated sponsor. You must currently work for the sponsor group and have worked outside the UK for at least 12 months cumulatively, unless you are a high earner above £73,900.
- Job at appropriate skill level (20 points): Your job must be in a SOC 2020 occupation code listed in Table 2 or Table 3 of Appendix Skilled Occupations.
- Salary at required level (20 points): You must earn at least £52,500 per year or 100% of the going rate for your occupation code — whichever is higher. Only the first 48 hours per week count toward the general salary threshold, but all hours count for the going rate check.
Additional requirements:
- Genuineness: You must genuinely intend to undertake the sponsored role.
- Financial requirement: At least £1,270 held for 28 consecutive days, unless you have been in the UK with valid permission for 12+ months or your sponsor certifies maintenance.
- Age: You must be aged 18 or over.
- TB test: Required if Appendix Tuberculosis applies.
Maximum stay
You can stay in the UK for up to 5 years per grant, or the time stated on your sponsorship certificate plus 14 days — whichever is shorter. The cumulative maximum stay is 5 years in any 6-year period if earning under £73,900, or 9 years in any 10-year period if earning £73,900 or more.
What you can and cannot do
Permitted
- Work for your sponsor in the job on your certificate of sponsorship
- Voluntary work (unpaid)
- Study (subject to ATAS condition)
- Bring your partner and children as dependants
- Travel abroad and return to the UK
Not permitted
- Access to public funds
- Change employers without updating your visa
- Take a second job (unless eligible under previous ICT routes)
- Apply for settlement (indefinite leave to remain) under this route
Fees, documents & process
Costs
- Up to 3 years: £769 (outside UK) / £885 (inside UK)
- Over 3 years: £1,519 (outside UK) / £1,751 (inside UK)
- Healthcare surcharge (IHS): £1,035 per year
- Maintenance funds: at least £1,270 unless your sponsor covers it
- Dependant funds: £285 (partner) + £315 (first child) + £200 (each additional child)
Required documents
- Certificate of Sponsorship reference number
- Valid passport or travel document
- Evidence of salary and job details
- Bank statements showing £1,270 held for 28 days (unless exempt)
- Relationship documents for dependants (if applicable)
- TB test results (if applicable)
Processing times
- From outside the UK: approximately 3 weeks
- From inside the UK: approximately 8 weeks
- Priority (£500, 5 working days) and super-priority (£1,000, next working day) services may be available
