If you are an overseas business looking to send staff to the UK to fulfil roles that cannot be undertaken by resident workers, one of the Global Business Mobility Visa routes may be suited to your purpose.
The Global Business Mobility (GBM) Visa was introduced in April 2022 by the UK government in a bid to bring multiple routes together under a single banner. These changes aim to remove inconsistency and improve the utility of the routes.
GBM Visa UK allows you to enter the UK for work purposes, such as opening a representative office of a foreign company, taking work internships, etc. Once your visa expires, you may extend the Visa or switch into another category, as it is not a path towards settlement. If you need permanent residence, switch to a different immigration category.
The 5 routes gathered under the Global Business Mobility (GBM) banner are:
- Senior or Specialist Worker visa – this visa has replaced the Intra-company Transfer visa and it’s for senior employees and specialist employees who wish to temporarily work in the UK at their employer’s branch.
- Graduate Trainee visa route – this visa route allows overseas workers to be transferred by their employer to fulfill a work placement in the UK as part of their graduate training programme.
- UK Expansion Worker visa – this visa route is suitable for senior employees and specialist employees who are transferred to the UK by their employers for the expansion of an overseas business.
- Service Supplier visa – this visa applies to service providers who wish to undertake temporary work in the UK and provide services under the UK’s international trade commitments.
- Secondment Worker visa – this applies to overseas workers who are temporarily seconded to the UK.
While each route to this visa category will have specific requirements, there are some general eligibility criteria and requirements that are applicable to all routes.
To receive a Global Business Mobility Visa UK, the company must obtain the Sponsor Licence, which provides candidates with the appropriate Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)