The Global Business Mobility Visa: A Complete Guide for EU Citizens Transferring to the UK
As the UK continues to reshape its immigration landscape post-Brexit, the Global Business Mobility (GBM) Visa has emerged as a key route for international businesses moving employees to their UK operations. For EU citizens working for multinational companies, this visa offers a legitimate and structured way to live and work in the UK temporarily while supporting international expansion, talent development, or service delivery.
Unlike traditional work visas, the GBM route is specifically designed for intra-company transfers and business projects, offering a range of subcategories to accommodate various professional scenarios. This article provides a detailed breakdown of the GBM visa, its subcategories, eligibility, application process, and long-term implications.
Table of Contents
The Five Subcategories of the GBM Visa (Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Secondment Worker, Service Supplier)
1. What is the Global Business Mobility Visa?
The Global Business Mobility Visa is an umbrella immigration route launched by the UK government in April 2022. It merges several pre-existing pathways and introduces new ones, making it easier for global businesses to deploy their workforce to the UK in a compliant and streamlined manner.
The GBM route is made up of five visa types, each tailored for specific use cases. These visas are typically temporary and do not directly lead to settlement in the UK, but they do allow you to live, work, and bring family members during your stay.
2. Who is the Global Business Mobility Visa For?
The GBM visa is for foreign nationals employed by companies based outside the UK who need to work in the UK on behalf of their employer. For EU citizens, this visa is especially relevant following the end of free movement, as it provides a legal way to work in the UK on assignment.
The visa is suitable for:
Senior executives or specialists transferring to a UK branch
Graduate trainees on structured training programmes
Individuals helping to establish a UK presence for their overseas company
Workers seconded to the UK by overseas employers
Service providers under international trade agreements
3. The Five Subcategories of the GBM Visa
3.1 Senior or Specialist Worker
This is the main replacement for the old Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) visa. It applies to high-level employees being transferred to a UK branch of the same business.
Key features:
Minimum salary: £45,800 per year, or the “going rate” for the job, whichever is higher
Required employment: Must have worked for the overseas entity for at least 12 months, unless earning £73,900+
Maximum stay: Up to 5 years in any 6-year period, or 9 years for high earners
No English language requirement
This route is ideal for technical experts, managers, or directors being assigned to strategic roles in the UK.
3.2 Graduate Trainee
Designed for younger employees on structured graduate schemes who are being moved to a UK branch as part of their training.
Key features:
Minimum salary: £24,220 per year
Required employment: At least 3 months with the overseas employer
Maximum stay: 12 months, no extension allowed
No English language requirement
This is a great option for international career development within global corporations.
3.3 UK Expansion Worker
This visa is tailored for overseas businesses planning to establish a UK branch or subsidiary.
Key features:
Must be a senior employee or specialist worker
The UK entity must be new and not yet trading
Sponsor licence is still required
Salary: Minimum £48,500 per year, or going rate
Maximum stay: 12 months initially, extendable to 2 years
This visa replaced the Sole Representative of an Overseas Business route. It's essential for growing international companies with plans to enter the UK market.
3.4 Secondment Worker
This route supports workers being seconded to a UK company by an overseas employer under high-value contracts or investment agreements.
Key features:
Must have a contract between the overseas and UK business
Must have worked with the overseas business for 12 months
Maximum stay: 12 months, extendable up to 2 years
This route is relevant for global partnerships in industries like construction, engineering, or finance.
3.5 Service Supplier
This route allows contractual service providers or self-employed professionals to come to the UK to deliver services under UK international trade agreements (e.g., the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement).
Key features:
Must have a contractual agreement with a UK client
Must be a national of a country with a trade agreement with the UK
Maximum stay: 6 or 12 months, depending on the agreement
For EU citizens working in consultancy, IT, or professional services, this route allows short-term entry for project delivery.
4. Common Eligibility Criteria
While each visa type has unique requirements, all GBM routes share some common criteria:
You must be employed by an eligible overseas business
You must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
You must meet the minimum salary threshold and skill level
Your job must be on the eligible occupations list
You must prove a genuine intention to work in the UK temporarily
5. Sponsorship Requirements
To apply under the GBM route, your UK employer must be a licensed sponsor under the relevant category. The sponsor issues the Certificate of Sponsorship, a key document needed for your visa application.
Even for UK Expansion Workers (where the UK entity is new), the business must first obtain a provisional sponsor licence.
Without sponsorship, you cannot apply for any GBM visa.
6. Visa Duration and Extension Rules
Each subcategory has its own rules:
Senior or Specialist Worker: Up to 5 years (9 for high earners)
Graduate Trainee: 12 months (no extension)
UK Expansion Worker: Up to 2 years
Secondment Worker: 2 years maximum
Service Supplier: 6 or 12 months
Visa holders may apply for extensions or reapply if eligible, but time limits apply across the categories to prevent indefinite stays.
7. Dependants: Bringing Family Members to the UK
If you're moving to the UK on a GBM visa, your spouse or partner and children under 18 can accompany you as dependants.
Dependants can:
Live and study in the UK
Work without restrictions (except as professional sportspersons)
Access the NHS (subject to Immigration Health Surcharge)
Each dependant must apply separately and pay the same application fees and health surcharge.
8. Rights and Restrictions on the GBM Visa
What you can do:
Work in your sponsored role
Study (in some cases)
Travel in and out of the UK
Bring dependants
What you cannot do:
Access public funds (benefits)
Change employers unless you reapply
Apply for settlement directly
Work outside your sponsored job
9. Settlement and Long-Term Stay Options
None of the GBM routes directly lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). However, you may switch to another visa (e.g., Skilled Worker) that does provide a path to settlement.
Time spent on a GBM visa does not count towards ILR eligibility unless you switch to a qualifying route.
10. Switching to Another Visa Route
Some GBM visa holders may switch to another visa from within the UK, such as:
Skilled Worker Visa
Innovator Founder Visa
Spouse or Partner Visa (if applicable)
Switching is allowed as long as you meet the new visa's criteria and apply before your current visa expires.
11. How to Apply
Application process:
Get a Certificate of Sponsorship from your UK employer
Complete the online visa application on the UK government website
Pay the application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge
Upload supporting documents (e.g., passport, job details, proof of employment)
Attend a biometric appointment (if required)
Decisions are typically made within 3 weeks if applying from outside the UK.
12. Costs and Fees
Visa application fee:
£298 (Graduate Trainee, Service Supplier)
£719 to £1,420 (other routes, depending on duration)
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS):
£1,035 per year
Sponsor licence fee (paid by the employer):
£536 (small business) or £1,476 (large business)
13. Comparison with Other UK Work Visas
Choosing the right UK visa can be confusing, especially for EU nationals now subject to the points-based immigration system. Here's how the Global Business Mobility Visa compares with other popular work visa routes
| Feature | Global Business Mobility Visa | Skilled Worker Visa | Innovator Founder Visa | Spouse/Partner Visa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Intra-company transfer or business projects | Permanent skilled employment | Start an innovative UK business | Join a UK-resident partner |
| Employer Sponsor Required | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (endorsement needed) | ❌ No |
| Leads to Settlement (ILR) | ❌ No (indirect only) | ✅ Yes (after 5 years) | ✅ Yes (after 3 years) | ✅ Yes (after 5 years) |
| Minimum Salary | £24,220–£48,500+ (varies) | £38,700 (from April 2024) | N/A (must show investment and viability) | N/A |
| English Language Required | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Duration | 6 months – 5 years (depends on route) | Up to 5 years | Up to 3 years (renewable) | 2.5 years (renewable) |
| Best For | Corporate transfers, global firms | Long-term employment | Entrepreneurs | Family reunification |
The Global Business Mobility Visa offers a flexible solution for EU citizens employed by international companies to work in the UK on temporary assignments. Whether you’re a graduate trainee, senior manager, or helping to open a new UK office, there is a subcategory tailored to your situation.
While this route doesn’t lead directly to permanent residency, it does provide a valuable stepping stone for career development and international experience in the UK. Understanding the specific eligibility requirements and planning with your employer is crucial for a smooth application process.
India Young Professionals Scheme (IYPS) Visa
The IYPS visa is a bilateral youth mobility agreement between the UK and India. It offers eligible Indian nationals the opportunity to experience life in the UK through employment, education, or travel.
UK Visa and Immigration Requirements: The Complete Guide for 2025
Whether you're coming for work, study, family, or a new life experience, the UK's visa system can be complex, and getting it right will save you time, money, and stress.
Health and Care Worker Visa Complete Guide
Launched to support the NHS, adult social care, and approved health providers, this visa offers a fast-track entry with reduced fees, no Immigration Health Surcharge, and a clear path to permanent residency.
Everything European Citizens Need to Know About Living and Working in the UK Post-Brexit: Visas, Work Permits, and the ETA Explained
In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through everything EU citizens need to know about living and working in the UK in 2025, including visa routes, work permits, and the newly introduced Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
UK Partner & Spouse Visa: What It Is, Who Qualifies, and How to Apply in 2025
Find out how to bring your partner to live with you in the UK through the Spouse or Partner Visa route. This updated 2025 guide covers eligibility, application steps, requirements, and key changes.
Student and Graduate Visas Guide for EU Citizens
From eligibility criteria and required documents to post-study work options, this comprehensive article will walk you through everything you need to know.