Senior or Specialist Worker Visa: Intra-Company Transfer Solicitors in London
Transfer senior and specialist staff to your UK branch. SRA-regulated solicitors for sponsor licences, CoS and visas.
What is the Senior or Specialist Worker visa?
The Senior or Specialist Worker visa lets an overseas employee work temporarily for a UK branch or linked business of their employer. It’s a Global Business Mobility route. It replaced the Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) visa in April 2022 and is often still called the “ICT visa”.
This route covers temporary assignments. It doesn’t lead to settlement, so time spent on it doesn’t count towards Indefinite Leave to Remain. If your employee plans to stay in the UK long term, the Skilled Worker visa is usually the better route.
It’s one of five routes under Global Business Mobility. The others are Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Secondment Worker and Service Supplier.
Transferring staff to the USA instead? See our L-1 intra-company transfer visa page.
Senior or Specialist Worker visa requirements (2026)
To qualify, the employee needs a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed UK sponsor, a job on the eligible occupations list, and a salary of at least £52,500 or the going rate, whichever is higher.
| Requirement | What’s needed |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | The UK business must hold a Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker sponsor licence and be linked to the overseas employer by common ownership or control. |
| Certificate of Sponsorship | A valid Certificate of Sponsorship. Apply within 3 months of it being assigned. |
| Eligible occupation | The job’s 4-digit occupation code must be on the GBM eligible occupations list. |
| Salary | At least £52,500 a year or the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher. |
| Overseas employment | At least 12 months working for the employer outside the UK, unless paid £73,900 or more. |
| Maintenance | £1,270 held for 28 days, unless the sponsor certifies maintenance on the CoS or you’ve been in the UK for 12+ months. |
| English language | Not required. |
Source: GOV.UK: Senior or Specialist Worker visa eligibility
Pre-2011 transitional staff: employees in the UK since before 6 April 2011 on a Tier 2 (ICT) Long-term Staff or ICT visa have no minimum salary threshold. They must still be paid the going rate.
Removed occupation codes: codes 3411, 3412, 3413, 3414 and 3422 aren’t eligible for new applicants. Existing holders in these roles can extend in the same job.
How much does a Senior or Specialist Worker visa cost in 2026?
The visa fee is £819 (up to 3 years) or £1,618 (over 3 years) from outside the UK, plus the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 for each year.
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application, outside UK, up to 3 years | £819 |
| Application, outside UK, over 3 years | £1,618 |
| Application, inside UK (extend/switch/update), up to 3 years | £943 |
| Application, inside UK, over 3 years | £1,865 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (per year, per person) | £1,035 |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (employer) | £525 |
| Immigration Skills Charge (employer, per year) | £1,320 medium/large · £480 small/charitable |
Source: GOV.UK: how much it costs · GOV.UK: Immigration Skills Charge
Example: a 3-year assignment from overseas costs the employee £819 plus £3,105 IHS, which is £3,924 before dependants. The employer adds the CoS fee and the Immigration Skills Charge.
How long can you stay on a Senior or Specialist Worker visa?
You can stay for the length of your Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days, up to 5 years per visa. The total time cap is:
- 5 years in any 6-year period if paid under £73,900
- 9 years in any 10-year period if paid £73,900 or more
You can extend within these limits. Once you reach the cap, you’ll normally need a cooling-off period or a different route, such as the Skilled Worker visa.
Bringing your partner and children
Your partner and children under 18 can apply as dependants. Each dependant pays the visa fee and the IHS. They must also show maintenance funds unless your sponsor certifies them:
- Partner: £285
- First child: £315
- Each additional child: £200
Dependant partners can work in the UK, except as professional sportspeople or coaches. Source: GOV.UK: your partner and children
How to apply and processing times
- The employer secures the sponsor licence. If you don’t have a GBM licence yet, see our sponsor licence application service.
- The employer assigns the Certificate of Sponsorship, with the correct occupation code, salary and dates.
- The employee applies online within 3 months of the CoS being assigned.
- The employee confirms identity at a visa application centre or via the UK Immigration: ID Check app.
- The Home Office makes a decision. This usually takes around 3 weeks from outside the UK and 8 weeks from inside. Priority and super priority services may be available.
Documents usually needed: a passport, the CoS reference number, evidence of 12 months’ overseas employment (if under £73,900), evidence of funds (unless certified), a TB test certificate from listed countries, and an ATAS certificate for some research roles.
Senior or Specialist Worker vs Skilled Worker vs Expansion Worker
| Senior or Specialist Worker | Skilled Worker | UK Expansion Worker | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it’s for | Existing overseas staff on temporary UK assignment | New or existing hires, long term | Staff setting up a first UK presence |
| Minimum salary | £52,500 | £41,700 (general) | £52,500 |
| English test | No | Yes | No |
| Leads to ILR | No | Yes | No |
| Max stay | 5 in 6 yrs (9 in 10 if £73,900+) | No limit | 2 years |
Refusals and compliance risks
The most common refusals come from a mismatch between the CoS and the role, the wrong occupation code, a salary below the going rate, or weak proof of 12 months’ overseas employment. If a refusal arrives, Administrative Review is usually the remedy. Sponsors who assign CoS incorrectly also risk compliance action, including sponsor licence suspension or revocation.
Why choose Adam Bernard Solicitors?
Adam Bernard Solicitors is an SRA-regulated firm with offices in High Holborn (Central London) and Upton Park (East London). We’ve helped more than 15,000 clients over 15 years. For Senior or Specialist Worker cases, we:
- Check the occupation code and going rate before the CoS is assigned
- Prepare the sponsor licence, CoS and employee application as one coordinated process
- Handle dependant applications alongside the main application
- Manage extensions and sponsor compliance throughout the assignment
Book a free consultation: call 0207 100 2525 (24/7) or book a video call via Zoom, Teams, WhatsApp or Skype.
This page is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Figures checked against GOV.UK on 8 October 2026.
Senior or Specialist Worker visa FAQs
Is the Senior or Specialist Worker visa the same as the ICT visa?
What is the minimum salary for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa?
Can I get ILR on a Senior or Specialist Worker visa?
Do I need to have worked for my employer overseas?
Do I need an English language test?
How long does a Senior or Specialist Worker visa take?
Can I switch from a Senior or Specialist Worker visa to a Skilled Worker visa?
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