Global Business Mobility: eligible occupations

 The UK Global Business Mobility (GBM) visa is a structured immigration framework designed to help overseas businesses either transfer skilled workers to the UK or establish a new presence here. 

*Note that none of these routes lead to permanent residency (ILR); individuals wishing to settle must eventually switch to another category, such as Skilled Worker, if eligible. 

Enable international firms to manage UK‑focused projects or expansion by sending qualified employees—such as senior managers, specialists, graduate trainees, service providers, or seconded workers—on temporary assignments to the UK. This supports business operations and trade while aligning with the UK’s points-based immigration model.

1. Senior or Specialist Worker
   Suitable for senior executives or highly skilled professionals being temporarily transferred to a UK branch. Requires sponsorship, specific skills and salary thresholds (e.g. at least £52,500/year) and previous employment abroad. Duration capped at up to 5 years total
    
2. Graduate Trainee
   For international trainees on structured graduate programs with short-term placements in the UK branch. Requires at least 3 months’ prior employment, eligible role, certificate of sponsorship, and minimum salary of ~£27,300/year
    
3. UK Expansion Worker
   Designed for senior or specialist workers sent to set up a new UK branch for their overseas employer. Allows placement of multiple staff (unlike the previous “sole representative” visa). Stays of up to 2 years, with a maximum cap of 5 years across all GBM routes within any 6‑year period
    
4. Service Supplier
   For overseas employees or self-employed professionals providing services under a UK‑recognised international trade agreement. Eligibility requires prior experience, a valid contract, sponsorship, and eligible occupation status. Stays generally 6–12 months, capped at 5 years total in GBM categories
5. Secondment Worker
   Intended for overseas employees seconded to the UK because of a high‑value contract (usually above £50 million) between their overseas employer and a UK sponsor. Requires at least 12 months of prior employment, sponsorship, and an eligible occupation. Stay up to 2 years; combined with other GBM activity, max 5 years in 6‑year period

This list is different to the list of eligible occupations for the UK Skilled Worker visa. 

A full list of  Global Business Mobility: eligible occupations and codes

Updated 8 October 2024 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/global-business-mobility-eligible-occupations-and-codes/global-business-mobility-eligible-occupations-and-codes

A few examples of eligible occupations from the above list include: 

Code & Job title

 1135 Charitable organisation managers and directors 

 1136 Human resource managers and directors 

 1162 Senior police officers 

 1163 Senior officers in fire, ambulance, prison and related services 

 1171 Health services and public health managers and directors 

 1254 Waste disposal and environmental services managers 

 2111 Chemical scientists 

 2112 Biological scientists 

 2114 Physical scientists 

 2121 Civil engineers + many more 

Below are the five main subcategories of the Global Business Mobility visa. 

If you’re applying for the Service Supplier visa, you can apply in jobs not on the list if you have relevant qualifications or experience.

A Senior or Specialist Worker visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job at your employer’s UK branch if it has a UK sponsor licence. 

Eligibility

To qualify for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa, you must:

• be an existing employee of an organisation that’s been approved by the Home Office as a sponsor in the UK
• have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the work you will do in the UK
• do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
• be paid at least £52,500 per year
• you’ll usually need to have at least £1,270 savings available (unless you’re exempt) 
• Must meet the TB medical if applicable, and the ATAS requirement if your employer tells you that you need one because your job involves researching a sensitive subject at PhD level or higher 
• evidence is needed of your partner and children if they are applying.
• evidence you’ve worked for your employer outside the UK 

 How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK with a Senior or Specialist Worker visa for whichever is shorter of:

• the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days
• 5 years

You can apply to extend your visa or apply for another one as many times as you like up to the maximum total stay.

How long you need to have worked for your employer outside the UK

If you’re earning less than £73,900 a year you must have worked for your employer outside the UK for at least 12 months.

If you’re earning £73,900 a year or more, there is no minimum time requirement.

 Check if your job is eligible

Before you can find out if your job is eligible, you need to know its 4-digit occupation code. You can get this from your employer or your certificate of sponsorship.

When you know your occupation code, check list of eligible occupations to see if it’s eligible for your visa type.

 Salary requirements

You must be paid at least £52,500 or the ‘going rate’ for your job - whichever is higher.

Each occupation code has its own annual going rate. Check the going rate for your job in the going rates table.

 Evidence you’ve worked for your employer outside the UK

If you earn less than £73,900 a year you might be asked to show you’ve worked for your employer outside the UK for at least 12 months.

If you’re asked, you’ll need to show you’ve been paid by your employer over this time period. You can provide:

• printed payslips
• online payslips supported by a letter from your sponsor signed by a senior staff member
• bank or building society statements
• a building society pass book

If you earn £73,900 a year or more, there is no minimum time requirement.

Here are clear examples of when the Senior or Specialist Worker visa (under the Global Business Mobility route) would be used:

🏢 1. Intra-company Transfer of a Senior Manager

Example:
A large US tech company wants to send its UK branch a senior operations manager to oversee the rollout of a new product.

• The employee has worked at the company for over 1 year.
   
• The UK branch is part of the same group of companies.
   

✅ Why this visa applies:

It allows senior employees to transfer to a UK branch of their multinational company.

💼 2. Specialist IT Employee Transfer

Example:
An Indian software company needs to send a specialist software engineer to their UK client’s office (via their own UK branch) for a system integration project.

• The engineer has specialist skills and experience not readily available in the UK.
   
• He has worked at the Indian company for 6 months or more.
   

✅ Why this visa applies:
The employee has specialist knowledge needed by the UK branch and meets the experience requirement.

🏗️ 3. Construction Project Transfer

Example:
A Japanese engineering firm is awarded a UK infrastructure contract. It sends a technical project director from its Tokyo office to the UK office to lead the implementation.

• The director is not a UK resident and has been with the company for over a year.
   

✅ Why this visa applies:
A senior technical expert is being transferred within the same group to oversee a UK-based project.

🔧 4. Manufacturing/Automotive Specialist Deployment

Example:
A German car manufacturer sends a robotics technician to its UK assembly plant to install and configure proprietary machinery.

• The technician has worked with the company for 6 months and has unique training on the equipment.
   

✅ Why this visa applies:
The role requires specialist knowledge, and it’s a temporary intra-group transfer.

❌ Not Suitable for:

• Long-term work with no link between the overseas and UK company.
   
• Applicants wanting to settle in the UK (this route does not lead to ILR).
   
• Freelancers or self-employed individuals.
   

Key Requirements (for context):

• You must work for a sponsor-licensed UK branch of the overseas employer.
   
• You must have worked abroad for the group for:
   
  • 12 months (senior workers), or
     
  • 6 months (specialists, if salary is high enough).
     
• Minimum salary usually around £52,500 (varies by role).

The Graduate Trainee visa is for employees of multinational companies being transferred to a UK branch as part of a structured graduate training programme for future management or specialist roles. 

Eligibility

To qualify for a Graduate Trainee visa, you must:

• be an existing employee of an organisation that’s been approved by the Home Office as a sponsor
• have worked for your sponsor outside the UK for at least 3 months immediately before you apply
• have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the work you will do in the UK
• do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
• be paid at least £27,300 per year or 70% of the ‘going rate’ for your job - whichever is higher. 

You cannot apply to change (‘switch’) to a Graduate Trainee visa from inside the UK.

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK with a Graduate Trainee visa for whichever is shorter of:

• the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days
• 12 months

You cannot extend your visa, but you can apply for another Graduate Trainee visa from outside the UK.

💼 Examples of When It Might Be Used

1. International Management Programme
    
   • A French investment bank sends a graduate analyst to its London office for a 6-month rotation as part of a 2-year global leadership programme.
      

1. Tech Company Graduate Rotation
    
   • A US tech company places a graduate software engineer in its UK branch for specialist product training, after 3 months working in the US.
      

1. Consulting Firm Trainee Secondment
    
   • An Indian consulting firm sends a business analyst to its UK office to gain experience working with UK-based clients.
      

1. Manufacturing Graduate Scheme
    
   • A Japanese automotive company moves a junior operations trainee to its UK plant to complete a planned international rotation.

A UK Expansion Worker visa allows you to come to the UK to set up a branch of an overseas business that has not started trading in the UK yet.

You must already work for the overseas business as either a senior manager or specialist employee.

If your business is already trading in the UK, you should apply for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa instead.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a UK Expansion Worker visa you need to:

• have a valid certificate of sponsorship from your employer
• have worked for your employer outside the UK
• do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
• be paid the minimum eligible salary required for your job

Your employer must make sure your job pays at least the minimum wage and follows the UK rules for how many hours a week you work. If your employer does not do this, your application will be refused.

How long you need to have worked for your employer outside the UK

You must have worked for your employer outside of the UK for at least 12 months unless you meet one of the following criteria:

• you’re earning over £73,900
• you’re a Japanese national doing work for a Japanese company that is expanding to the UK
• you’re a national or permanent resident of Australia doing work for an Australian company that is expanding to the UK

Check if your job is eligible

Before you can find out if your job is eligible, you need to know its 4-digit occupation code. You can get this from your employer or your certificate of sponsorship.

When you know your occupation code, view the table of eligible jobs to see if it’s included.

Salary requirements

You must be paid at least £52,500 per year or the ‘going rate’ for your job - whichever is higher.

Each occupation code has its own annual going rate. Check the going rate for your job in the going rates table.

Here are some practical examples of when the UK Expansion Worker visa (part of the Global Business Mobility routes) might be used:

✅ 1. Opening a New UK Branch of an Overseas Company

Example:
A South Korean electronics manufacturer wants to expand into the UK market.
It has no presence in the UK yet but wants to establish a new UK subsidiary.
It sends a senior operations executive and a technical manager to set up and run the initial office.

🟢 Why this applies:
This visa is designed for key staff of an overseas company with no UK trading presence to come and establish a UK branch.

✅ 2. Legal Firm Expanding Internationally

Example:
A Canadian law firm decides to open a UK office in London.
They transfer a qualified solicitor and a practice manager from their Canadian office to register the UK entity and recruit local staff.

🟢 Why this applies:
The firm is expanding into the UK and needs experienced staff to manage setup and compliance.

✅ 3. Tech Startup Scaling into the UK

Example:
A US-based AI startup has grown rapidly and now wants to serve UK clients.
They send a UK Expansion Worker (e.g. a CTO or head of partnerships) to:

• Establish a UK office
   
• Register with Companies House
   
• Begin hiring and marketing locally
   

🟢 Why this applies:
They need a presence in the UK but haven’t yet started trading — the Expansion Worker visa enables this.

✅ 4. Fashion Brand Launching a UK Store

Example:
An Indian clothing brand wants to open its first store in London.
It sends a retail expansion manager and a UK market lead from its Mumbai office to oversee the store’s launch and local partnerships.

🟢 Why this applies:
The company is not yet trading in the UK, so it qualifies for this visa.

🛑 Not Suitable For:

• Individuals setting up unaffiliated businesses (use Innovator Founder instead)
   
• Companies that already have a UK trading presence (use Skilled Worker or Senior/Specialist Worker)
   
• Permanent settlement — this visa does not lead to ILR
   

🔑 Key Points to Remember:

• Must be employed by the overseas company.
   
• The UK company must be a new, non-trading entity at the time of application.
   
• The UK entity must have a sponsor licence (Expansion Worker type).
   
• Minimum salary: usually £48,500 or the going rate (whichever is higher).
   
• Visa is granted for up to 1 year initially, extendable to 2 years total.

Overview

Apply for this visa if your overseas employer is transferring you to the UK to do an eligible job for a different organisation.

Your overseas employer must have a high-value contract with the UK organisation.

Your employer will tell you if their contract makes you eligible for a Secondment Worker visa.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a Secondment Worker visa, you must:

• be an existing employee of an overseas organisation that has a high-value contract with your UK sponsor
• have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your UK sponsor with information about the role you’ve been offered
• have worked for your overseas employer for 12 months
• do a job in the UK that’s on the list of eligible occupations

Your overseas employer’s contract with your UK sponsor

The UK organisation you’ll work for is also known as your sponsor, because they are sponsoring you to come to or stay in the UK.

Your overseas employer must have an eligible contract with your UK sponsor that’s worth at least £50 million.

Evidence you’ve worked for your employer outside the UK

After you apply you might be asked to show you’ve worked for your overseas employer outside the UK for 12 months.

If you’re asked, you’ll need to show you’ve been paid by your employer over this time period. You can provide:

• printed payslips
• online payslips supported by a letter from your sponsor signed by a senior staff member
• bank or building society statements
• a building society pass book

Here are clear, real-world-style examples of when the UK Secondment Worker visa (under the Global Business Mobility scheme) might be used:

🏗️ 1. Construction & Infrastructure Projects

Example:
A Japanese construction company wins a major contract to assist with the development of a new UK railway terminal.
They send senior civil engineers and project managers to the UK for 9 months to oversee part of the contract delivery.

✅ Why it qualifies:
The staff are seconded from an overseas company to a UK-based client under a high-value commercial contract.

🧪 2. Scientific Research Collaboration

Example:
A South Korean biotech firm enters a joint research agreement with a UK pharmaceutical company. They second a lead researcher to the UK for 1 year to work inside the UK company’s lab facilities.

✅ Why it qualifies:
This is a collaborative R&D contract, and the researcher is seconded from the overseas business to support it.

🚘 3. Automotive Industry Supply Chain

Example:
A German car parts manufacturer signs a supply and installation contract with a UK vehicle manufacturer. They send technical specialists to the UK to oversee integration of the new components at the UK plant.

✅ Why it qualifies:
The workers are coming to the UK to help fulfil a contract between two companies, and the UK company has registered that contract with the Home Office.

🏭 4. Machinery Installation & Support

Example:
A Chinese robotics firm sells automated machinery to a UK food packaging company. As part of the purchase contract, they send software engineers and technicians to install and configure the systems.

✅ Why it qualifies:
The secondment is linked to the delivery of a high-value investment contract with a UK business.

🧑‍🏫 5. Corporate Training and Knowledge Transfer

Example:
An Indian IT services company provides a UK firm with long-term software support.
They send a training lead and systems analyst to the UK for 6 months to train the UK staff on the new systems as part of the service agreement.

✅ Why it qualifies:
Temporary secondment to deliver part of a contracted service to a UK-based client.

⚠️ Important Conditions

To use the Secondment Worker visa:

• The UK company must be licensed to sponsor secondment workers.
   
• The contract between the overseas and UK business must be registered with the Home Office.
   
• The seconded employee must have worked for the overseas company for 12+ months before applying.
   

The Service Supplier visa is for overseas workers who are coming to the UK to provide a service under a UK international trade agreement. It’s part of the Global Business Mobility routes and is specifically for contractual service suppliers and self-employed independent professionals.

✅ Key Requirements

1. Eligible Trade Agreement
    
   • The service must be delivered under an eligible international trade agreement, such as:
      
     • UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement
        
     • General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS)
        
     • Other country-specific agreements (e.g. with Japan, Canada, etc.)
        

1. Type of Worker
   Must be either:
    
   • A contractual service supplier (employee of an overseas company with no UK presence), or
      
   • A self-employed independent professional
      

1. Work Experience
    
   • Must have 12 months’ experience with the overseas company or as a self-employed professional.
      

1. Skill Level
    
   • The job must be on the list of eligible service supplier occupations (typically RQF level 6 or higher).
      

1. Sponsorship
    
   • Requires a Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK-licensed sponsor.
      

1. Visa Duration
    
   • Usually granted for up to 6–12 months, depending on the trade agreement.
      

1. No Settlement Route
    
   • This visa does not lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
      

💼 Example of When It Might Be Used

Example:

A Canadian architecture firm has a contract to design part of a large commercial project in London. They send a senior architect to the UK for 6 months to work on-site with the UK client. The service is delivered under the UK-Canada Trade Continuity Agreement.

✅ Why this qualifies:

• The architect is a contractual service supplier,
   
• The service is part of a recognised trade agreement,
   
• The worker is coming to deliver a defined project for a UK-based company.