Global Business Mobility visa routes
Transfer key personnel from your international offices to your UK operations. Five specialised visa routes designed for multinational organisations.
- 5
- Visa routes
- 9 years
- Maximum duration
- No ISC
- Immigration Skills Charge exemption
- ILR
- Settlement path — Senior or Specialist Worker
What Global Business Mobility is
The GBM route enables multinational companies to transfer employees from their overseas operations to their UK entities. It is designed to facilitate international business growth and knowledge transfer.
Multinational focus
Designed for established multinational organisations with linked entities across borders through ownership or control.
No Immigration Skills Charge
GBM routes are exempt from the ISC, which makes transfers more cost-effective than standard work visas.
Five routes
The routes accommodate different business scenarios, from first UK expansion to long-term specialist transfers.
The five routes
Each route answers a different transfer scenario. The right one depends on the employee's service with the overseas entity, the salary on offer and how long they need to be in the UK.
Senior or Specialist Worker
For experienced employees with specialist knowledge or senior management positions essential to your UK operations. Maximum stay 9 years, with a path to ILR after 5 years. Requires 12 months prior employment and a minimum salary of £42,400 or the going rate.
Learn moreGraduate Trainee
For recent graduates on a structured training programme to develop skills for senior roles within your organisation. Maximum stay 12 months, minimum salary £23,100. Must have graduated within the last 2 years, and can switch to Senior or Specialist Worker.
Learn moreUK Expansion Worker
For overseas businesses establishing their first UK operations, allowing senior staff to set up and manage a new branch. Maximum stay 24 months, minimum salary £48,500. No prior UK employment required, and holders can switch to other GBM routes.
Learn moreSecondment Worker
For employees seconded to UK entities under contracts to fulfil specific projects or service agreements. Maximum stay 5 years, minimum salary £42,400. Requires a valid service contract and 12 months prior employment, with the overseas employer continuing payment.
Learn moreService Supplier
For workers providing services to UK clients under international trade agreements covering Mode 4 commitments. Maximum stay 12 months, with no minimum salary requirement. The contract must be covered by a UK trade agreement.
Learn moreRoute comparison at a glance
Maximum duration and minimum salary across all five routes.
- Senior or Specialist Worker
- 9 years · £42,400
- Graduate Trainee
- 12 months · £23,100
- UK Expansion Worker
- 24 months · £48,500
- Secondment Worker
- 5 years · £42,400
- Service Supplier
- 12 months · no minimum
Prior employment with the overseas entity differs by route: 12 months for Senior or Specialist Worker and Secondment Worker, current employment for Graduate Trainee, none for UK Expansion Worker, and varying requirements for Service Supplier. All five routes allow family dependants.
Only one route leads to settlement
What you need in place
The requirements that apply before a Certificate of Sponsorship can be assigned.
Linked overseas entity
A corporate connection through ownership or control between the UK employer and the overseas business — parent, subsidiary, sister company or common ownership. Evidence of the relationship is required.
GBM sponsor licence
A Global Business Mobility sponsor licence. Existing Skilled Worker sponsors must apply to add the GBM route to their licence.
Certificate of Sponsorship
A CoS assigned to the employee against the correct route, with the job details the application will be assessed on.
Prior employment
Service with the linked overseas business as required by the route — 12 months for Senior or Specialist Worker and Secondment Worker.
Salary
The minimum salary for the route, or the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher. Service Supplier has no minimum.
Ongoing sponsor duties
Accurate records of sponsored employees, reporting changes within 10 working days, right to work evidence, HR systems and cooperation with Home Office compliance visits.
Why employers use it
Where GBM works better than sponsoring a transfer as a new hire.
- No Immigration Skills Charge, which makes GBM more economical than Skilled Worker sponsorship.
- A process designed for established multinational corporate structures.
- Senior and Specialist Workers can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 5 years of continuous residence.
- Dependants — spouse and children under 18 — can accompany workers with full work and study rights in the UK.
- Multiple routes accommodate different scenarios, from startup expansion to long-term transfers.
- Specialist knowledge and skills move to where your UK operations' success depends on them.
How it works
The step-by-step journey to transferring employees to the UK.
- 1Step 1
Obtain a sponsor licence
Apply for a Global Business Mobility sponsor licence if you do not already hold one, evidencing the link to the overseas entity.
- 2Step 2
Assign a CoS
Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship to the employee you wish to transfer, on the route that fits their circumstances.
- 3Step 3
Employee application
The employee submits the visa application with the required documentation and fees, and books biometrics.
- 4Step 4
Start working
Once approved, the employee can travel to the UK and commence employment.
- 1Step 1
Obtain a sponsor licence
Apply for a Global Business Mobility sponsor licence if you do not already hold one, evidencing the link to the overseas entity.
- 2Step 2
Assign a CoS
Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship to the employee you wish to transfer, on the route that fits their circumstances.
- 3Step 3
Employee application
The employee submits the visa application with the required documentation and fees, and books biometrics.
- 4Step 4
Start working
Once approved, the employee can travel to the UK and commence employment.
Standard processing is typically 3 weeks for applications made outside the UK. Priority and super priority services are available at additional cost, at 5 working days or 24 hours respectively, though times vary with case complexity and Home Office workload.
Related
Other routes worth checking
Sponsor licence
The licence your UK entity needs before it can assign a Certificate of Sponsorship on any GBM route.
Read moreSkilled Worker visa
For recruiting new employees rather than transferring existing ones, with a direct route to settlement.
Read moreImmigration compliance
Meeting the record-keeping and reporting duties that come with holding a sponsor licence.
Read moreReady when you are
Ready to move forward?
Book a consultation with an IAA-regulated adviser and get a clear, honest assessment of your options — including what we would not recommend.