UK Global Business Mobility Visa: The Complete 2026 Guide
Everything you need to know about the five Global Business Mobility routes — who they are for, eligibility requirements, how to apply, and what each route allows you to do in the UK.
The Global Business Mobility routes allow overseas businesses to send workers to the UK on a temporary basis.
What is the UK Global Business Mobility Visa?
The Global Business Mobility (GBM) Visa is an umbrella category introduced in April 2022 that replaced several older business mobility routes including the Intra-Company Transfer Visa. It allows workers based overseas to come to the UK temporarily to work for, or on behalf of, their overseas employer.
Unlike the Skilled Worker Visa, the GBM routes are designed for temporary assignments rather than long-term UK employment. Workers remain employed by their overseas company and are sent to the UK for a specific purpose — whether to transfer skills, complete a contract, or establish a new UK business presence.
GBM routes do not lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain for most sub-categories. They are temporary routes. Only the Senior or Specialist Worker route offers any pathway toward settlement, and only in limited circumstances.
The five routes explained
The Global Business Mobility Visa has five distinct sub-routes. Each has different eligibility criteria, permitted activities, and maximum durations. You must apply under the correct route for your situation.
General eligibility requirements
While each route has specific requirements, the following apply across all five GBM sub-routes:
- You must be sponsored by a UK-based organisation holding a valid GBM sponsor licence
- You must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) assigned by your sponsor
- You must be paid at least the minimum salary threshold for your route
- You must not have any serious criminal convictions
- You must be able to support yourself financially in the UK
- You must be coming to the UK to do the specific work stated on your CoS
The minimum salary for the Senior or Specialist Worker and UK Expansion Worker routes increased to £48,500 in April 2024. Always verify the current threshold on GOV.UK before applying — the going rate for your specific occupation code may be higher and will take precedence.
Sponsorship and the Certificate of Sponsorship
To apply for any GBM route, your UK sponsor must hold a valid sponsor licence in the GBM category. Your sponsor will assign you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) — a unique reference number that confirms the details of your role and assignment.
Your CoS is not a physical certificate. It is a digital record in the UKVI sponsorship management system. It must be assigned before you submit your visa application, and you will need the CoS reference number to complete your application.
The UK Expansion Worker route is unusual in that the UK entity being established does not need to hold a sponsor licence in the traditional sense — the overseas parent company itself sponsors the worker. However, the overseas company must still be registered with the Home Office as a GBM sponsor.
The application process
- Sponsor obtains or confirms their licence: Your UK employer or sponsor confirms they hold a valid GBM sponsor licence covering your route.
- CoS is assigned: Your sponsor assigns you a Certificate of Sponsorship via the sponsorship management system. You receive the CoS reference number.
- Gather supporting documents: Passport, CoS reference, financial evidence, and any route-specific documents (e.g. proof of employment duration, salary evidence, trade agreement eligibility for Service Supplier route).
- Submit your visa application: Apply online via the UKVI website. Pay the visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge. Book a biometric appointment if applying from overseas.
- Attend biometric appointment: If applying outside the UK, attend a visa application centre to provide fingerprints and a photograph.
- Await decision: Standard processing is approximately 3 weeks. Priority services may be available depending on where you are applying from.
Fees
Fees vary by route and duration. The figures below are indicative for the 2025–26 fee year. Always check GOV.UK for the current fee schedule before applying.
| Route | Visa fee (main applicant) | Max duration |
|---|---|---|
| Senior or Specialist Worker | £259 – £749 | 5 years (9 for high earners) |
| Graduate Trainee | £259 | 1 year |
| UK Expansion Worker | £259 – £749 | 2 years |
| Service Supplier | £259 | 6 or 12 months |
| Secondment Worker | £259 – £749 | 2 years |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | £1,035/year | Per person |
What can I do on the Global Business Mobility Visa?
- Work for your sponsoring employer in the role and location stated on your CoS
- Bring your partner and dependent children as dependants (they can work freely in the UK)
- Access NHS healthcare (subject to IHS payment)
- Travel in and out of the UK freely during your visa period
- Study in the UK (subject to conditions)
You cannot work for a different employer than your sponsor, take on self-employed work, or use a GBM visa as a general work permit. Your permitted activities are strictly tied to the sponsoring organisation and the role detailed on your Certificate of Sponsorship.
Settlement and ILR
Most GBM routes do not lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain. They are explicitly temporary routes and time spent on them does not count towards the standard 5-year ILR qualifying period.
The exception is the Senior or Specialist Worker route. Workers on this route can apply for ILR after 5 continuous years in the UK — but only if they switch to the route from a qualifying predecessor route (such as the old Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer Visa), or have accumulated sufficient qualifying residence through a combination of routes.
If you intend to settle in the UK long-term, you should consider whether the Skilled Worker Visa would be a better fit — it offers a direct 5-year route to ILR and does not restrict you to a single employer group.
This guide is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. UK immigration rules change frequently — always verify current requirements on GOV.UK or consult a regulated immigration adviser before applying.
Frequently asked questions
The Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Visa was replaced in April 2022 by the Global Business Mobility routes, specifically the Senior or Specialist Worker route (which covers the same transfers as the old ICT Long-term Staff route) and the Graduate Trainee route. Workers previously on the ICT route can continue under the new GBM framework.
For the Senior or Specialist Worker route, you generally need to have been employed by the sponsoring organisation (or a linked entity) for at least 12 months prior to application. This requirement is waived if your salary is £73,900 or above. The Graduate Trainee route requires only 3 months of prior employment with the overseas company.
Yes. Your partner and dependent children under 18 can apply to join you in the UK as dependants on all five GBM routes. Dependants can work freely in the UK without restriction and can also study. They must apply separately and pay their own visa fees and Immigration Health Surcharge.
The correct route depends on your situation. If you are being transferred from an overseas branch to a UK branch of the same company, use Senior or Specialist Worker. If you are on a graduate training scheme, use Graduate Trainee. If you are being sent to set up a brand new UK entity, use UK Expansion Worker. If you are delivering services under a trade agreement, use Service Supplier. If you are being seconded as part of a high-value contract, use Secondment Worker.
Yes. In most cases you can switch from a GBM visa to the Skilled Worker Visa from inside the UK, provided you have a qualifying job offer and a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed Skilled Worker sponsor. Switching to the Skilled Worker route is often the recommended path if your circumstances change and you wish to remain in the UK long-term.