The Global Business Mobility routes are a number of new sponsored routes for businesses that are seeking to either establish a presence in the UK, transfer overseas staff to the UK, or come to the UK for a specific business purpose.
There are five new individual routes (five sub-categories) planned: Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier, and Secondment Worker. Four of the routes will replace existing visa categories (mainly rebranding) and the remaining individual category will create a new provision for secondments.
Come into force: on 11 April 2022
Key elements- Employers will still have to sponsor workers to come to the UK to fulfil specific work purposes.
- The Global Business Mobility visa follows the points based system. Applicants are required to score points from 40 to 60 depending on the sub-category.
- The routes do not lead to settlement in the UK.
Senior or Specialist Worker. This visa sub-category will replace the
Intra-Company Transfer route. The Senior or Specialist Worker visa will be appropriate for senior managers or specialist employees who are being assigned to a UK business which is linked by common ownership to the overseas employing company.
Graduate Trainee. This visa sub-category will replace the
Intra-Company Graduate Trainee route. The Graduate Trainee visa will be for workers on a graduate training course which leads to a senior management or specialist position and who are required to undertake a work placement in the UK.
UK Expansion Worker. This visa sub-category will replace the
Sole Representative of an Overseas Business route (however it will remain open for Media Representatives and those already on Sole Rep visas extending or applying for ILR). The UK Expansion Worker visa will be for specialist or senior employees who are being assigned to the UK to assist with the overseas business’s expansion to the UK.
Service Supplier. This visa sub-category will replace contractual service providers and independent professional persons in the
Temporary Worker — International Agreement route. The Service Supplier visa will be for overseas workers coming to the UK to provide a service that is in line with a UK trade commitment.
Secondment Worker. This new route will be for workers who are being seconded to the UK as part of a high value contract or investment by their employer overseas.