Global Business Mobility Visas: An Easy Guide for Businesses

Introduction to the Global Business Mobility Visa

The Global Business Mobility Visa is a UK visa designed to assist companies in relocating their employees to the UK for specific business purposes. It supports businesses in establishing a UK presence, transferring staff, and fulfilling contractual obligations through five sub-categories: Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier, and Secondment Worker.

Purpose and Use

This visa facilitates the temporary relocation of key employees to the UK, aiding global businesses in their international expansion efforts. It is tailored for transferring established employees, sending graduate trainees for specialized training, expanding business operations into the UK, fulfilling service contracts under international agreements, and managing secondment arrangements.

Key Features

Each sub-category is designed to meet different business needs:

• Senior or Specialist Worker Visa: For transferring senior or specialist employees, with a minimum annual salary requirement of £45,800.
• Graduate Trainee Visa: For sending graduate trainees for training, with a minimum salary of £24,220.
• UK Expansion Worker Visa: For businesses looking to establish a UK presence, with a minimum salary requirement of £45,800.
• Secondment Worker Visa: For employees on temporary assignments related to high-value contracts, requiring engagement in contracts valued over £50 million.
• Service Supplier Visa: For overseas service suppliers under UK trade agreements, without a specific salary threshold but requiring compliance with the National Minimum Wage.

Businesses must hold a UK Sponsor Licence to bring employees over, and visa holders can bring dependents. Visa validity varies from 6 months to 5 years, depending on the category, with restrictions on permanent settlement and secondary employment.

Updates and Requirements

• Senior and Specialist Workers Visa: Updates the Intra-Company Transfer route by increasing the salary threshold and limiting roles to specific skilled positions. It does not lead to indefinite leave to remain.
• Graduate Trainee Visa: Replaces the old Intra-Company route, raising the minimum salary and removing the cap on the number of trainees a company can sponsor.
• Service Supplier Visa: Replaces the T5 International Agreement route, catering to overseas service suppliers and self-employed professionals, with visa durations of 6 or 12 months.
• Secondment Worker Visa: For employees linked to significant investments, defining "high value" as contracts worth at least £10 million annually.
• UK Expansion Worker Visa: A new route that replaces the Representative of an Overseas Business visa, issued for one year at a time with a maximum stay of two years, aimed at businesses establishing a UK trading presence.

Settlement and Eligibility

The Global Business Mobility Visa is intended for temporary assignments and does not offer a direct path to settlement. Eligibility varies by sub-category but generally requires meeting specific role and salary criteria, and sponsorship by a UK employer is essential.

Transitioning to Permanent Residency

While the Global Business Mobility Visa does not lead to permanent residency, individuals looking to settle in the UK might consider switching to one of the following visas, which offer pathways to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR):

1. Skilled Worker Visa: Offers a route to permanent residency after 5 years, requiring a job offer from a UK employer at the appropriate skill level with a valid Sponsor Licence.
2. Innovator Founder Visa: Suitable for entrepreneurs with a viable business idea endorsed by an approved body, leading to settlement after 3 years.
3. Global Talent Visa: For recognized leaders in specific fields, allowing flexibility in employment and a path to settlement after 3 or 5 years based on the qualification level.

Conclusion

The Global Business Mobility Visa is crucial for businesses aiming to navigate the complexities of global expansion by efficiently managing the transfer and temporary relocation of employees to the UK.