As a senior manager or specialist employee of an overseas company operating in the United Kingdom, you can apply with Visavis Immigration for the Senior or Specialist Worker visa, one of the visas under the Global Business Mobility route.
There are several visa routes under Global Business Mobility. Two of them are the Senior or Specialist Worker visa and the UK Expansion Worker visa. The Senior or Specialist Worker visa allows senior managers and specialist employees of an overseas company to be assigned to a linked company in the same group that has started trading in the United Kingdom and is actively trading. If your company has not yet started trading in the United Kingdom and you are being sent to set up a company or branch here, the UK Expansion Worker visa should be considered. https://visavisuk.com/en/global-business-mobility-uk-expansion-worker-visa/
Senior or Specialist Worker Visa Requirements
A Certificate of Sponsorship Provided by the Employer
To apply for the Senior or Specialist Worker visa in the United Kingdom, your employer must provide you with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). The CoS is an official document that describes the role your employer is offering you and proves that the employer is your sponsor. It is issued electronically, and the reference number it contains is used in the visa application process. After the Certificate of Sponsorship is assigned, applicants must complete their visa application within 3 months at the latest.
A CoS can only be issued by companies licensed by the Home Office that hold a sponsor licence . If your employer does not hold this licence, Visavis Immigration can guide you through the licensing process and help with obtaining the Certificate of Sponsorship. For more information, you can visit our Licensing Services page.
Your Occupation Must Be in the Listed “Eligible Occupations” Category
When preparing the Certificate of Sponsorship described in the previous section, your employer must choose the occupation code that matches your occupation. If there is no direct occupation code, the employer selects the code it considers closest to your occupation and issues the Certificate of Sponsorship with that code.
In the visa application, caseworkers will assess:
- whether your occupation is on the “Eligible Occupations” list,
- whether you have the skills, experience and qualifications needed to do the job offered to you as described.
You can find the full list of eligible occupation codes here.
When your company applies for the Certificate of Sponsorship, it may need to prove at the assessment stage that you worked for the company before coming to the United Kingdom. This depends on the route you apply under and your salary level. Please contact us for detailed information.
Company Link and Salary Level
There must be a qualifying link between the UK sponsor and the overseas company you work for, through common ownership or control. This link can exist where one company is a shareholder in the other, and it can also be established in other ways, for example where both companies are owned or controlled by the same person or people, or through a suitable joint venture structure. In addition, the sponsor must pay the worker it employs on the Senior or Specialist Worker visa at least £52,500 a year or the going rate set by the Home Office for the occupation code, whichever is higher.
You can review the list of minimum rates (going rates) at the following link:
One of the most important conditions for the Senior or Specialist Worker visa is that you have worked for the overseas group company (for example, in Turkey) for at least 12 months. However, if your sponsor offers you a job in which you will earn £73,900 or more a year, this 12-month requirement does not apply. In both cases, you must be working for the overseas company on the date of application.
Length of the Visa and the Rights It Provides
The Senior or Specialist Worker visa gives the right to stay in the United Kingdom until 14 days after the end date on your Certificate of Sponsorship, or for 5 years, whichever is shorter. The total time you can spend on this route depends on your salary: if your gross annual salary is below £73,900, you can stay for up to 5 years in any 6-year period; if it is £73,900 or more, you can stay for up to 9 years in any 10-year period. Time previously spent on certain Global Business Mobility or Intra-company visas also counts towards these limits.
If you work for the same employer under the same occupation code, you can apply to extend your Senior or Specialist Worker visa. However, you cannot apply for an extension if you have exceeded the maximum length of stay stated above. The Senior or Specialist Worker visa does not allow you to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, and time spent on this visa does not count towards the qualifying period for settlement. However, if you meet the requirements, you can switch from within the United Kingdom to a visa type that leads to settlement, such as the Skilled Worker visa.
You can contact us for detailed information and advice.
Application Costs
Application fees vary depending on the length of the visa and where the application is made from:
For applications from outside the United Kingdom:
- A visa valid for up to 3 years: £819
- A visa for longer than 3 years: £1,618
Applications from inside the United Kingdom (extension, switching or update):
- A visa valid for up to 3 years: £943
- A visa for longer than 3 years: £1,865
Applicants must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge, which covers the length of the visa. This fee is £1,035 a year, and the total amount may vary depending on the length of the visa.
In addition, applicants must hold a minimum of £1,270 in their bank account for 28 days before the visa application.
If you have not been living in the United Kingdom with valid permission for the last 12 months, or if your employer is not covering your costs for your first month, you must document the source of this amount.
If family members are to be included in the application, the following amounts must be shown in the bank account for each person:
- Spouse or partner: £285
- First child: £315
- Each additional child: £200
The Senior or Specialist Worker Visa in 10 Questions
Yes, the Senior or Specialist Worker visa gives permission to work in the United Kingdom. This visa is designed for the senior managers and specialist employees of a company in the United Kingdom.
No, this visa only gives permission to work for the employer stated in the application. There is no right to do additional work.
This visa type does not have an English language requirement. However, applicants must meet the other requirements.
Yes, with this visa type the applicant’s family members (spouse or partner and children) can also apply for a visa. Family members have the right to live and work in the United Kingdom.
No, this visa type does not allow self-employment. The visa is only valid for working on behalf of the employer that issued the CoS.
Yes, applicants must meet a specific salary requirement. The sponsoring company must pay the worker at least £52,500 a year or the going rate set by the Home Office for the occupation code, whichever is higher.
Yes, with this visa applicants can attend additional education programmes or professional development courses in the United Kingdom.
Yes, this visa can be extended provided it is with the same employer and under the same occupation code.
No, this visa does not directly give the right to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) or citizenship. However, you may become eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain by switching to a visa type that leads to settlement, such as the Skilled Worker visa.
No, under the Senior or Specialist Worker visa there is no requirement to be continuously present in the United Kingdom for a certain period. However, the visa rules require the sponsorship conditions to be met.
Contact us for detailed information about the Senior or Specialist Worker visa.
For Detailed Information
Visavis Limited is regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA), ref. F202100232. Your details are used only to respond to your enquiry. Privacy Notice