Which Global Business Mobility Route Applies?

The correct route depends on why the worker is coming to the UK and the commercial relationship between the overseas business and the UK organisation.

The five routes are designed for different forms of international business mobility rather than providing one general transfer visa.

The Home Office currently recognises the Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier and Secondment Worker routes.

The appropriate route should be identified before the Certificate of Sponsorship is assigned because the sponsorship and worker requirements differ between them.

The Five Global Business Mobility Routes

Which Route Fits Your Business?

Global Business Mobility Sponsor Licence

Most Global Business Mobility routes require the relevant UK organisation to hold a sponsor licence covering the particular GBM route.

The sponsor licence requirements depend on the route and the relationship between the overseas and UK businesses.

For Senior or Specialist Worker and Graduate Trainee sponsorship, the sponsor and overseas business must generally be linked through common ownership or control, or through a qualifying joint venture where permitted.

UK Expansion Worker sponsorship has additional requirements because the route is intended for an overseas business establishing a UK operation.

Where the organisation does not yet hold the required licence, see our Sponsor Licence Applications page.

Senior or Specialist Worker

The Senior or Specialist Worker route is designed for established employees of an overseas business who are being transferred temporarily to a linked UK organisation.

The worker will normally need to have worked for the overseas business before the transfer unless a relevant exemption applies.

The role must meet the applicable skill and salary requirements and the UK sponsor must assign an appropriate Certificate of Sponsorship.

This route is particularly relevant to multinational groups transferring managers, executives and specialist personnel to UK operations.

Graduate Trainee

The Graduate Trainee route is narrower and is designed for structured international graduate training programmes.

The worker must be participating in a graduate training programme leading towards a senior management or specialist position and must undertake a UK placement as part of that programme.

The route should not be used simply because the individual is a recent graduate. The employer should be able to demonstrate the existence and structure of the qualifying training programme.

UK Expansion Worker

The UK Expansion Worker route allows an overseas business that has not yet begun trading in the UK to send senior managers or specialist employees to establish a UK branch or subsidiary.

The route has additional sponsor requirements because the UK operation is still being established.

It is therefore important to consider the ownership structure, overseas trading history, proposed UK presence, personnel and business plan before making the sponsor licence application.

See our UK Expansion Worker service for detailed advice on this route.

Service Supplier

The Service Supplier route applies where an overseas business or eligible self-employed professional is providing services in the UK under a contract covered by a qualifying international trade agreement.

The worker must satisfy the applicable employment or professional experience requirements and the service itself must fall within the relevant trade agreement provisions.

This route is therefore driven not only by the worker’s role but also by the underlying commercial contract and international agreement.

Current GOV.UK guidance states that an employed Service Supplier will generally need to have worked for the overseas employer for at least 12 months before applying, while an eligible self-employed professional must generally have at least 12 months’ relevant professional experience. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Secondment Worker

The Secondment Worker route is designed for employees of overseas businesses being seconded to the UK as part of a qualifying high-value contract or investment.

The route is not a general secondment visa. The underlying commercial arrangement must meet the specific requirements of the Immigration Rules and sponsor guidance.

Businesses should therefore review the contract, investment arrangement and sponsorship structure before relying on this route.

Overseas Employment Requirement

Several GBM routes require the worker to have worked for the overseas business for a specified period before being sponsored.

The exact requirement depends on the particular route and, in some cases, the worker’s salary or other circumstances.

Employers should therefore confirm the worker’s overseas employment history before assigning the Certificate of Sponsorship.

Payroll records, employment documentation and other evidence may become relevant if the Home Office examines whether the overseas work requirement has been satisfied.

Skill Level

Global Business Mobility routes have route-specific skill requirements.

The sponsored job must fall within an occupation eligible for the relevant GBM route and the job duties should correspond with the occupation code used.

The employer should therefore assess the substance of the role rather than relying solely on the employee’s job title.

Salary Requirements

The Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee and UK Expansion Worker routes contain specific salary requirements, including route-specific general thresholds and occupation going rates.

The applicable threshold should be checked against the particular route and occupation code at the time sponsorship is proposed.

Employers should not apply Skilled Worker salary figures automatically to GBM cases because these are separate immigration routes with their own salary rules.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Before the worker can apply under a Global Business Mobility route, the sponsor must assign an appropriate Certificate of Sponsorship.

The CoS records the route, role, occupation code, salary, work location, assignment dates and other sponsorship information.

The information entered should be consistent with the commercial and employment arrangements.

See our Certificates of Sponsorship service for advice on CoS assignment and sponsorship records.

Immigration Skills Charge

The Immigration Skills Charge can apply to some Global Business Mobility sponsorship, particularly Senior or Specialist Worker cases, subject to the applicable rules and exemptions.

The employer should therefore consider the sponsorship charges before finalising the international assignment.

These costs are separate from the Certificate of Sponsorship fee and the worker’s immigration application costs.

Global Business Mobility Is Temporary

This is an important distinction from the Skilled Worker route, which can lead to settlement where the applicable requirements are met.

A business deciding between GBM and Skilled Worker sponsorship should therefore consider the expected length and purpose of the UK assignment as well as the immigration requirements.

See our Skilled Worker Sponsorship page where long-term UK employment may be contemplated.

How Long Can a Worker Stay?

The maximum period permitted in the UK depends on the particular Global Business Mobility route.

Some routes also operate overall maximum periods across previous periods of permission under Global Business Mobility or predecessor routes.

The planned duration of the assignment should therefore be considered before sponsorship, particularly where the employee has previously worked in the UK under another intra-company or business mobility route.

Can Dependants Come to the UK?

Eligible partners and children may generally be able to accompany or join a Global Business Mobility worker, subject to the requirements applying to dependants.

The dependant applications are separate immigration applications and the family members must satisfy the relevant requirements.

Changing From Global Business Mobility to Skilled Worker

A business may initially require an employee in the UK for a temporary assignment and later decide that the role should become longer term.

Where the immigration rules permit, it may be appropriate to consider switching from a Global Business Mobility route to Skilled Worker sponsorship.

The Skilled Worker role, salary, occupation and worker requirements must then be assessed independently. Holding GBM permission does not itself establish eligibility for Skilled Worker status.

Our Skilled Worker Sponsorship service deals with long-term employer sponsorship.

Corporate Transactions & International Mobility

Global Business Mobility arrangements often sit alongside corporate restructuring, acquisitions, investments and international expansion.

Changes to ownership or control can affect whether businesses remain linked for sponsorship purposes and whether an existing sponsor licence remains appropriate.

Businesses should therefore consider immigration consequences as part of the wider transaction rather than only after workers have been transferred.

Global Business Mobility & Sponsor Compliance

GBM sponsors remain subject to the Home Office’s continuing sponsor duties.

This includes reporting relevant changes, retaining required records, monitoring sponsored workers and ensuring that the employment or assignment remains consistent with the sponsorship.

The Home Office can take compliance action where the sponsor fails to meet its duties.

See our Sponsor Licence Compliance page for ongoing sponsor duties and internal compliance reviews.

If enforcement action has already begun, see our Sponsor Licence Suspension & Revocation service.

How We Assist With Global Business Mobility

1. Route Selection

We assess the commercial purpose of the UK assignment and identify the Global Business Mobility route that may apply.

2. Corporate Structure Review

We consider the relationship between the overseas business and UK organisation and whether the sponsorship structure satisfies the relevant requirements.

3. Sponsor Licence

We advise on obtaining or extending the appropriate sponsor licence permission for the relevant GBM route.

4. Worker Eligibility

We review overseas employment, role, occupation code, salary and route-specific eligibility.

5. Certificate of Sponsorship

We advise on CoS preparation and assignment for the proposed UK assignment.

6. Immigration Application & Ongoing Compliance

We can advise on the worker’s immigration application and the employer’s continuing sponsorship responsibilities after arrival.

What is Global Business Mobility?

Global Business Mobility is a group of sponsored UK immigration routes for overseas businesses that need to send workers to the UK temporarily for specified commercial purposes.

What are the five Global Business Mobility routes?

They are Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier and Secondment Worker.

What replaced the Intra-Company Transfer visa?

The Senior or Specialist Worker route within Global Business Mobility replaced the former Intra-Company Transfer route.

Does a business need a sponsor licence?

Yes. The relevant UK organisation will generally need to be authorised to sponsor workers under the particular Global Business Mobility route being used.

Can Global Business Mobility lead to settlement?

The Global Business Mobility routes are temporary routes and do not themselves provide a direct route to settlement.

What route should an international group use to transfer a senior employee?

The Senior or Specialist Worker route may be appropriate where an existing employee of an overseas business is being assigned to a linked UK entity and the relevant requirements are met.

Which route is used to establish a new UK branch?

The UK Expansion Worker route is designed for overseas businesses sending senior or specialist employees to establish a UK branch or subsidiary where the business has not yet begun trading in the UK.

Can a consultant use the Service Supplier route?

Potentially, where the individual and underlying service contract satisfy the requirements of the Service Supplier route and the service is covered by an applicable international trade agreement.

Can a GBM worker switch to Skilled Worker?

Potentially, where the immigration rules permit switching and the worker, job and sponsor independently satisfy the Skilled Worker requirements.

Can dependants accompany a Global Business Mobility worker?

Eligible partners and children may generally apply as dependants, subject to the requirements applying to the particular applications.

Official Global Business Mobility Guidance

The Home Office’s principal employer guidance is Sponsor a Global Business Mobility Worker.

The current Home Office caseworker guidance is available in the Global Business Mobility routes caseworker guidance.

The wider Home Office sponsor guidance collection contains the general sponsorship requirements applying to licensed employers.