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Global Business Mobility visas
Five routes for overseas businesses moving people into the UK temporarily - transfers, trainees, expansion teams, service suppliers and secondees. We act for the business and the worker, and we start by confirming which of the five routes actually fits.
Written by Georgette Thomas, Principal Solicitor · Last reviewed 12 July 2026
At a glance
Home Office fee
Varies by sub-category
Sub-categories
Senior/Specialist, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier, Secondment
Length of grant
Up to 5 years for Senior or Specialist
Sponsor licence
Held by the UK receiving entity
Home Office fees and thresholds change - check gov.uk for the current figures. We confirm them in writing when we quote you.
The five routes
- Senior or Specialist Worker - transfers within a group, the old intra-company transfer.
- Graduate Trainee - a structured graduate programme leading to a senior role.
- UK Expansion Worker - setting up a UK presence, the old sole representative route.
- Service Supplier - contractual service suppliers working for an overseas provider.
- Secondment Worker - secondments tied to a high-value contract or investment.
The requirements
All five routes sit inside the points-based system. The mandatory points come from a certificate of sponsorship and a job at the required skill and salary level under the occupation codes. On top of that sit the non-points tests: the role must be genuine, funds must be available, tuberculosis testing applies for some countries and each route caps the length of the assignment.
For the business, that means a sponsor licence covering the right route before anyone can be assigned a certificate - we handle the licence work alongside the visa applications.
The limits to plan around
- None of the Global Business Mobility routes leads to settlement.
- Each route has a maximum total stay, and some cannot be extended from inside the UK.
- Family can join as dependants under the points-based system, provided they qualify.
If the assignment is likely to become permanent, it is often better to plan for Skilled Worker from the start - it costs more in salary thresholds but it leads somewhere. We set the options out side by side so the business can decide.
What it costs
| Service | Our fixed fee |
|---|---|
Worker application package The visa application for the assigned worker, including dependants | £1,296–£2,700 + VAT |
Sponsorship services - employer Licence applications, certificates, maintenance and compliance | £81–£2,952 + VAT |
Business consultation We confirm the right route before you spend anything else | from £50 + VAT |
How to apply on the Global Business Mobility route
Global Business Mobility questions
A set of five visa categories for overseas businesses moving staff to the UK: Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier and Secondment Worker. Each has different eligibility rules and time limits.
It depends on the role and the reason. Senior or Specialist Worker covers most experienced intra-company transfers. UK Expansion Worker is for setting up a new UK branch. We match the right sub-category to your circumstances before you apply.
Yes, the UK entity must hold or obtain a sponsor licence in the relevant category before it can assign certificates of sponsorship to overseas staff. For UK Expansion Worker this can be a provisional licence granted with the branch.
None of the Global Business Mobility routes lead directly to indefinite leave to remain. Long-term staff should plan a switch to Skilled Worker once eligible, which does lead to settlement after five years.
Up to five years in any six-year period, with individual grants normally of up to five years. It is a temporary transfer route, not a settlement route.
Each sub-category has its own thresholds and going rates. Senior or Specialist Worker is the highest paid. Rates are updated by the Home Office periodically - we check the current figures for the specific occupation code before you apply.
Yes, partners and children can apply as dependants in all Global Business Mobility categories. They can work in the UK without needing their own sponsorship.
Moving staff into the UK?
Book a business consultation, from £50 + VAT. We will confirm which Global Business Mobility route fits, what the sponsor needs and how long the assignment can run.