The global business mobility visa allows foreign companies to establish their presence in the UK and/or transfer their staff to the UK. This is a special category for which UK-based companies first need to acquire a global business mobility sponsorship license, after which they can issue a certificate of sponsorship to foreign workers. This route was opened in April 2022. There are 5 sub categories under this visa route.

A senior or specialist worker

This has replaced the old intra-company transfer route. This sub route allows foreign workers at senior level and specialist employees to a linked UK business to come to the UK for a temporary
period.

A graduate trainee

This is for those overseas employees who are transferred to the UK by their employer who are enrolled on a graduate training program leading to a senior manager or specialist role for a work placement.

Secondment worker visa

This route is for transferring an employee of overseas company to the UK to work as part of high value contract for the company.

Service supplier

If you are a contractual service supplier employed by an overseas company or an independent service supplier overseas you need to be in the UK to provide services under the UK’s international trade agreements.

A UK expansion worker

If you are a senior manager or specialist employee of an overseas company and you need to be transferred to the UK to establish a branch of subsidiary of the overseas business.

Global business mobility sponsor license general requirements

A UK-based company that wants to sponsor an overseas employee under any of the 5 subcategories of the global business mobility route needs to first acquire a GBM sponsor license.
The eligibility requirements for being approved as a GBM sponsor include the following general requirements:

Your organization must be genuine and your company must operate lawfully in the UK.
Your organization must be perceived as conducive to the public good.
You must be seen as doing your sponsor duties.
There must be human resource and recruitment systems in place
There must not be any evidence of your key personnel having any unspent criminal conviction for a relevant offence as well as any evidence of previous non-compliance

Specific Requirements for a Global Business Mobility Sponsor License

Home Office specifies specific requirements for a UK-based organization if it wants to sponsor an overseas employee under any sub-category of the GBM route. These specific requirements
include offering employment which

Meets the skill-level requirement for the relevant route
Meets the salary requirements of the route wherever relevant
Is genuine
Meets the rules on third-party working wherever relevant
Have a qualifying overseas business link

If you are applying on the UK Expansion Worker route, you need to meet the additional requirements for that route which are

You have a presence in the UK
You have a trading presence overseas
You have a credible expansion plan and you will establish a UK presence within two years.

Documents required for global business mobility sponsor license

Depending on the sub-category of the global business mobility route you are recruiting you need to submit a different set of documents relevant to that sub-category. For example, if you are hiring under a GBM service supplier you need to give evidence that you have an eligible contract with an overseas service provider for the supply of a service that is covered by a relevant UK trade commitment and that meets the requirements set out in section GBM2 of ‘sponsor a global business mobility worker’.

How to apply?

You need to apply an online application form. You also need to pay a fee for it. The amount you must pay will depend on the route you select. You must send the relevant documents after you have submitted the Global Business Mobility sponsor license application form to the Home Office within five working days.

How long does it take to get a decision?

The sponsor license application usually takes up to eight weeks to process. A priority service is also available for an extra fee of £500, and a decision is usually made within 10 working days.

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