A new Global Business Mobility visa is set to commence in April 2022 to provide new solutions for overseas companies transferring employees to the UK.

A Global Business Mobility scheme allows overseas firms to set up branches in the UK or send employees to the UK for specific corporate business purposes and will have five different pathways depending on the purpose of the business.

It is noteworthy that the Sole Representative of Oversea Business visa, which enabled an overseas company to send a senior staff to establish and operate a branch in the UK, will be closed and replaced by a UK Business Expansion Worker. 

 

Global Business Mobility Visa categories

Global Business Mobility Visa Routes cover the following categories of workers depending on the nature of their work in the UK:

• Senior or Specialist worker who required to work at a UK office of and overseas business

• Graduate Trainees undertaking a UK placement as part of a structured training programme

• Secondment Workers on secondment to a UK business for a specific purpose

• Service Suppliers travelling to the UK to deliver a service in line with a UK trade commitment

• UK Expansion workers, who will be senior employees who are on assignment as part of the expansion of overseas business

The first three are options for firms with a UK presence, the last three are for firms with no UK presence. (Secondments would be an option for both.) The Home Office has suggested that the worker will require sponsorship in all cases.

Global Business Mobility Visa Routes will be operated under the Points-based System, similar to existing Intra-Company Transfer visas and Skilled Worker visas. Applicants must have sponsorship (20 points), a job at an appropriate skill level (20 points) and a required salary level (20 points) that could be paid while working in the UK.

 

The requirement of UK Expansion Worker

• This route can only be used when the business has not yet begun trading in the UK. 

• This route will be for senior managers and specialist employees who wish to be assigned to the UK temporarily to undertake work related to the expansion of an overseas business in the UK.     

• Applicants will need to be currently working outside the UK for a business or organisation for a linked business or organisation for a cumulative period of at least 12 months unless they are a high earner earning £73,900.

• Applicants will also need to have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship.

• The job will need to be an eligible job at or above a minimum skill level and the applicant will need to be paid a salary that equals or exceeds £42,400 per year and higher depending on the skill level.

•    Applicants will not, however, need to satisfy an English language requirement.  

The Sole Representative of Oversea Business visa does not require sponsorship or certificate of sponsorship, but all Global Business Mobility visas require sponsorship. It is not yet clear whether the new UK branch applies for a licence once incorporated, or if an overseas business would be able to apply for the licence from abroad.

 

The length of stay of the UK Expansion Worker

Visa will be granted for either 1 year or a maximum of 2 years depending condition of stay and they will have had cumulative permission in the Global Business Mobility routes totalling 5 years in any 6-years, whichever is shorter. 

 

Global Business Mobility Visa settlement

The Global Business Mobility Visa Routes will not lead directly to settlement in the UK. However, subject to satisfying the eligibility requirements, Global Business Mobility Visa holders may be able to apply from within the UK to switch into another immigration route which does lead to settlement.

If you would like to discuss applying for a UK Global Business Mobility visa, please contact us on 020 3865 6219 or leave a message.