Senior or Specialist Worker Visa (Global Business Mobility)
The Senior or Specialist Worker visa is a UK Global Business Mobility route for senior managers and specialist employees being transferred from an overseas organisation to a linked UK business.
Hudson McKenzie advises international businesses and employees on Senior or Specialist Worker applications, including sponsorship, Certificates of Sponsorship, eligible occupations, salary requirements, corporate relationships and UK immigration applications.
The Senior or Specialist Worker route enables an established overseas employee to undertake a temporary work assignment for a qualifying UK business linked to their overseas employer. It replaced the former Intra-Company Transfer route and forms part of the UK's Global Business Mobility framework.
The route can be used by international businesses transferring senior managers or employees with specialist expertise between overseas and UK group companies. Applicants must satisfy requirements relating to sponsorship, overseas employment, the proposed occupation and salary. The UK business must also hold the appropriate Sponsor Licence and have a qualifying relationship with the overseas organisation.
Unlike the Skilled Worker route, the Senior or Specialist Worker route is designed for temporary intra-group assignments and does not provide a direct route to settlement in the UK. Hudson McKenzie can assess the proposed assignment, corporate relationship, role, occupation code and remuneration package and advise on both the sponsorship and visa process.
Senior or Specialist Worker Visa Requirements
Who Can Apply for a Senior or Specialist Worker Visa?
Salary Requirements and Eligible Occupations
Sponsor Licence and Certificate of Sponsorship
Visa Duration, Dependants and Settlement
How Hudson McKenzie Can Help
Hudson McKenzie's UK immigration team advises multinational businesses and employees on transfers under the Global Business Mobility routes.
For employers, we can assess the corporate relationship between the overseas and UK entities, Sponsor Licence requirements, proposed roles, occupation codes, salary arrangements and Certificates of Sponsorship.
For employees, we can advise on eligibility, Senior or Specialist Worker visa applications, extensions, dependants and the implications of previous periods spent in the UK under Global Business Mobility or former Intra-Company routes.
Where the proposed UK employment may be better suited to a longer-term immigration route, we can also advise on the Skilled Worker Visa and the differences between the two routes.
For a broader overview of immigration options for businesses and individuals in the UK, you can also explore our United Kingdom immigration services.
If your organisation is planning to transfer a senior manager or specialist employee to an existing UK operation, speak to Hudson McKenzie for advice on the appropriate immigration and sponsorship arrangements.
