Global Business Mobility Visa Solicitors in London
The Global Business Mobility (GBM) visa is a group of five sponsored UK work routes for overseas businesses that need to send staff to the UK for a temporary assignment.
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The five routes are the Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier and Secondment Worker visas. They are set out in the Immigration Rules Appendix Global Business Mobility routes.
None of the GBM routes lead to settlement (indefinite leave to remain). They are designed for temporary moves within a corporate group or under a commercial contract. If you want to stay in the UK long term, a route such as the Skilled Worker visa may suit you better.
At Adam Bernard Solicitors, our immigration team advises both employers and employees on choosing the right GBM route, getting the sponsorship right, and making an application that holds up to Home Office scrutiny.
Call 0207 100 2525 or book a free consultation.
The 5 Global Business Mobility Routes Compared
| Route | Who it is for | Minimum salary (2026) | Overseas employment needed | Maximum stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Senior or Specialist Worker | Senior managers or specialists moving to a UK branch of their employer | £52,500 or the going rate, whichever is higher | 12 months (waived if paid £73,900+) | 5 years in any 6 (9 years in 10 if paid £73,900+) |
Graduate Trainee | Graduates on a structured training programme leading to a senior or specialist role | £27,300 or 70% of the going rate | 3 months | 12 months |
UK Expansion Worker | Senior staff setting up a UK branch of an overseas business that is not yet trading in the UK | £52,500 or the going rate | 12 months (exemptions apply) | 2 years |
Service Supplier | Contractual service suppliers and self-employed professionals delivering a contract covered by a UK trade agreement | Set by the role | 12 months | 6 or 12 months, depending on the trade agreement |
Secondment Worker | Staff of an overseas business with a high-value contract (at least £50 million) with a UK business | Set by the role | Required (see GOV.UK) | 2 years |
Sources: the GOV.UK pages for the Senior or Specialist Worker visa, Graduate Trainee visa, UK Expansion Worker visa, Service Supplier visa and Secondment Worker visa.
Across all GBM routes, you can normally spend no more than 5 years in any 6-year period in the UK. The exception is high earners on the Senior or Specialist Worker route.
| Route | Who it is for | Minimum salary (2026) | Overseas employment needed | Maximum stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Senior or Specialist Worker | Senior managers or specialists moving to a UK branch of their employer | £52,500 or the going rate, whichever is higher | 12 months (waived if paid £73,900+) | 5 years in any 6 (9 years in 10 if paid £73,900+) |
Graduate Trainee | Graduates on a structured training programme leading to a senior or specialist role | £27,300 or 70% of the going rate | 3 months | 12 months |
UK Expansion Worker | Senior staff setting up a UK branch of an overseas business that is not yet trading in the UK | £52,500 or the going rate | 12 months (exemptions apply) | 2 years |
Service Supplier | Contractual service suppliers and self-employed professionals delivering a contract covered by a UK trade agreement | Set by the role | 12 months | 6 or 12 months, depending on the trade agreement |
Secondment Worker | Staff of an overseas business with a high-value contract (at least £50 million) with a UK business | Set by the role | Required (see GOV.UK) | 2 years |
Requirements Common to Every GBM Route
Every GBM applicant needs a Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK employer that holds a valid sponsor licence for the relevant GBM route. Beyond that, the routes share these core requirements:
- Sponsorship: a valid Certificate of Sponsorship, assigned by a licensed sponsor. You must apply within 3 months of receiving it.
- Eligible occupation: the job must appear on the list of eligible occupations under its 4-digit occupation code.
- A link between the businesses: for most routes, the overseas employer and the UK sponsor must be linked by common ownership or control, or by a joint venture. Service Supplier and Secondment are the exceptions, because they are based on a contract.
- Maintenance: £1,270 in personal savings, held for 28 consecutive days. This does not apply if your sponsor certifies maintenance, or if you have held UK permission for 12 months or more.
Employers that don’t yet hold a licence should start with a sponsor licence application, because no Certificate of Sponsorship can be issued without one.
Global Business Mobility Visa Fees (2026)
Government and international organisation workers can stay up to 2 years. Private servants can stay up to 5 years in total.
| Category | Maximum per grant | Maximum total stay |
|---|---|---|
| Overseas government or international organisation worker | 2 years, or CoS period + up to 14 days (whichever is shorter) | 2 years |
| Private servant in a diplomatic or international organisation household | 2 years, or CoS period + up to 14 days (whichever is shorter) | 5 years |
If your job ends early, the Home Office may cut your visa short and give you 60 days to leave, unless less than 60 days remain.
Government and international organisation workers can stay up to 2 years. Private servants can stay up to 5 years in total.
| Category | Maximum per grant | Maximum total stay |
|---|---|---|
| Overseas government or international organisation worker | 2 years, or CoS period + up to 14 days (whichever is shorter) | 2 years |
| Private servant in a diplomatic or international organisation household | 2 years, or CoS period + up to 14 days (whichever is shorter) | 5 years |
If your job ends early, the Home Office may cut your visa short and give you 60 days to leave, unless less than 60 days remain.
Which GBM Route Is Right for Your Business?
The right route depends on whether the UK entity already trades, how the overseas and UK businesses are connected, and the seniority and pay of the worker.
- The UK entity is not trading yet → UK Expansion Worker
- An established UK branch needs a senior manager or specialist → Senior or Specialist Worker
- A graduate is rotating through a training programme → Graduate Trainee
- An unconnected overseas supplier is delivering a trade-agreement contract → Service Supplier
- An overseas business has a contract with a UK business worth £50 million or more → Secondment Worker
Can GBM Visa Holders Bring Family or Settle?
Partners and children can usually join a GBM visa holder as dependants. Time spent on a GBM visa does not count towards settlement. If permanent residence is the goal, you may later be able to switch to the Skilled Worker route from inside the UK. Our guide on switching visa categories inside the UK explains when this is possible.
Can GBM Visa Holders Bring Family or Settle?
- Mapping your group structure to the correct GBM route
- Sponsor licence applications and adding GBM routes to an existing licence
- Checking occupation codes and going rates before a Certificate of Sponsorship is assigned
- Preparing the worker’s visa and dependant applications
- Ongoing sponsor compliance, and representation if your licence is threatened (see our sponsor licence revocation page)
Call 0207 100 2525 (24/7) or book a free consultation in person at High Holborn or Upton Park, or by Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp or Skype
FAQs
What is a Global Business Mobility visa?
Did the GBM visa replace the Intra-Company Transfer visa?
Does a Global Business Mobility visa lead to ILR?
How long does a GBM visa decision take?
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