Senior or Specialist Worker Visa Applications – Immigration Solicitors Manchester
The Senior or Specialist Worker Visa is part of the Global Business Mobility (GBM) visa routes, which allow multinational companies to transfer experienced employees to their UK branch or subsidiary.
This visa replaced the former Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) visa, previously known as the Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) Long-term Staff visa.
The route enables international businesses to deploy senior managers and specialist employees to the United Kingdom for temporary assignments.
At TM Fortis Solicitors, our specialist immigration solicitors provide expert legal advice to both employers and employees applying under the Global Business Mobility Senior or Specialist Worker route, ensuring compliance with Home Office requirements.
What Is the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa?
The Senior or Specialist Worker Visa allows overseas employees of multinational organisations to work at their employer’s UK branch or linked entity.
This visa is intended for individuals who are transferring to the UK to perform senior management or specialist roles within their organisation.
The visa allows applicants to:
- Work in the UK for their sponsoring employer
- Travel in and out of the UK
- Study while in the UK
- Undertake certain voluntary work
- Bring eligible dependant family members
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for a Senior or Specialist Worker Visa, applicants must meet the following requirements.
Applicants must:
- Be an existing employee of an organisation approved by the Home Office as a sponsor
- Have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from their UK employer
- Be offered a role that appears on the list of eligible occupations
- Be paid a salary of at least £52,500 per year or the going rate for the role, whichever is higher
The sponsoring employer must hold a valid sponsor licence issued by the Home Office.
Certificate of Sponsorship
A Certificate of Sponsorship is an electronic document issued by the sponsoring employer.
The certificate confirms:
- The job role being offered
- Salary and working conditions
- Duration of employment in the UK
- The sponsor’s licence details
Applicants must include the Certificate of Sponsorship reference number when submitting their visa application.
Previous Employment Requirement
In most cases, applicants must have been employed by their overseas employer for at least 12 months before applying for the visa.
However, this requirement may be waived for high earners whose salary exceeds a specified threshold.
How Long You Can Stay in the UK
Applicants may stay in the UK on a Senior or Specialist Worker Visa for whichever is shorter of:
- The time stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days
- Five years
Applicants may extend their visa or apply again under the route until the maximum stay limit is reached.
Maximum Stay Limits
The maximum period that individuals can stay in the UK under the Global Business Mobility Senior or Specialist Worker route depends on their salary level.
Applicants may stay:
- Up to 5 years in any 6-year period if earning less than £73,900 per year, or
- Up to 9 years in any 10-year period if earning £73,900 or more
Time spent in the UK under certain related visa routes may count towards these limits.
These include time spent on:
- Intra-company Transfer visa
- Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa
- Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility)
- Secondment Worker visa
- Service Supplier visa
- UK Expansion Worker visa
Extending a Senior or Specialist Worker Visa
Individuals already in the UK under the Intra-Company Transfer visa or Tier 2 (ICT) Long-term Staff visa may be able to apply to extend their stay under the Senior or Specialist Worker route.
Extensions are possible, provided the applicant continues to meet the relevant immigration requirements.
Bringing Family Members to the UK
Applicants may bring dependant family members to the UK.
Eligible dependants include:
- A partner or spouse
- Children under the age of 18
Dependants must submit separate visa applications and meet the relevant financial and immigration requirements.
What You Can Do With This Visa
Holders of a Senior or Specialist Worker Visa can:
- Work for their sponsoring employer in the role described on their Certificate of Sponsorship
- Study in the UK
- Travel abroad and return to the UK
- Undertake certain types of voluntary work
Voluntary work must be unpaid and carried out for organisations such as:
- Registered charities
- Voluntary organisations
- Fundraising bodies
- Statutory bodies
Restrictions Under the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa
There are also several restrictions under this visa route.
Visa holders cannot:
- Access public funds or most benefits
- Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (settlement) under this route
- Change jobs unless they update their visa
- Take a second job in most circumstances
This visa is therefore considered a temporary business mobility route.
Application Process
Applications for the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa must be made online.
Applicants may apply:
- From outside the UK
- From within the UK to extend their visa
- From within the UK when switching from another visa
Applicants can usually apply up to three months before their employment start date, as stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship.
Visa Application Fees and Costs
Applicants and their dependants must normally pay:
- The visa application fee
- The Immigration Health Surcharge for each year of their stay
- Demonstrate that they have sufficient personal savings
The exact cost may vary depending on the length of the visa and the location of the application.
Processing Times
After submitting the application and providing biometric information, applicants will usually receive a decision within:
- 3 weeks if applying from outside the UK
- 8 weeks if applying from within the UK
Priority processing services may be available for faster decisions.
How Our Immigration Solicitors Can Help
Our specialist immigration solicitors provide expert legal advice to both employers and employees applying under the Global Business Mobility routes.
We assist with:
- Sponsor licence applications
- Certificate of Sponsorship advice
- Senior or Specialist Worker visa applications
- Visa extensions and compliance advice
- Advising multinational businesses transferring staff to the UK
Our aim is to ensure that applications comply fully with the UK Immigration Rules and are prepared to the highest professional standard.
Contact Our Immigration Solicitors
If you are an employer seeking to transfer staff to the UK or an employee applying under the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa, our experienced immigration solicitors can assist you.
Contact TM Fortis Solicitors today on 0161 220 6040 for expert legal advice on Senior or Specialist Worker Visa applications.
