Bridge Partners

GBM – Senior or Specialist Worker Visa

You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government.

Can I apply for the UK Skilled Worker visa?

We can help you. It’s what we do.

Overview

You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government. This UK work visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. This category is for all foreign nationals who have been offered a skilled job to fill a gap in the workforce which cannot be filled by an already settled worker in the UK. There are a number of complex scenarios which should be discussed and explored in detail before you can apply.

You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government. This UK work visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. This category is for all foreign nationals who have been offered a skilled job to fill a gap in the workforce which cannot be filled by an already settled worker in the UK. There are a number of complex scenarios which should be discussed and explored in detail before you can apply.

International Sportspersons visa

This category is for highly skilled sportspersons who must be recognised by a governing body as an elite sports person or a sports coach. The applicant must demonstrate that their employment in the UK will encourage the sport to become more elite and prominent in the UK.

To apply for ILR you must have spent continuous period of 5 years in the UK and must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. You must also meet the English language requirement, pass the Life in the UK test and meet the salary threshold requirement of at least £35,800.

Indefinite leave to remain

The skilled worker visa lasts for up to five years. If you want to stay longer, you can apply to extend your, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements. After five years, you may also be entitled to apply for indefinite leave to remain, which gives you the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as you like. You must apply to extend or update your skilled work visa UK if you change jobs or employer.

To apply for ILR you must have spent continuous period of five years in the UK and must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. You must also meet the English language requirement, pass the Life in the UK test and meet the salary threshold requirement of at least £25,600 per year.

What is the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa?

The Senior or Specialist Worker Visa falls under one of the five Global Business Mobility (GBM) visas, for overseas organisations who are looking to establish a UK presence or transfer staff to the UK. This route falls under the Global Business Mobility visas – as the name suggests, this is designed for senior or specialist employees who intend to transfer to a UK subsidiary or branch of their overseas employer.  

Like the other five route under the GBM umbrella, the Senior or Specialist Worker visa is a temporary work visa – regardless of how much the applicant earns or how long the UK sponsor would like them to stay on in the UK, they will not be eligible to apply for settlement. Nevertheless, senior or specialist employees in the UK under this route can remain in the UK for up to 9 years. 

Who can apply for the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa?

To be eligible for this visa route, the applicant must be a senior manager or specialist employee that is working for an overseas business, that has a branch in the UK.  

This is deal for applicants who wish to undertake temporary work assignments in the UK. Please note, that this is not a pathway for settlement in the UK, however there are options available should you decided to switch into another immigration route which does result in indefinite leave to remain. 

What are the requirements?

To satisfy the requirements of the UK Visas and Immigration, you must ensure the following: 

  • You are aged 18 or over; 
  • You must meet the sponsorship requirement – e.g. you have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) by a UK sponsor authorised by the Home Office to sponsor a senior or specialist worker. 
  • The job meets the genuine requirement – e.g., you must be sponsored for a job that is genuine and eligible. 
  • You must meet the skill requirement for senior or specialist workers. 
  • You should meet the salary requirement – of at least £45,800 or the ‘going rate’ for that job, whichever is higher. 
  • Be able to demonstrate sufficient funds – where applicable, the applicant must have proof of funds of at least £1,270, or their sponsor must verify that they intend to maintain and accommodate their overseas recruit until the end of their first month of employment. 
  • If you are from a listed country, you will be required to provide a tuberculosis test certificate. 

What is the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa processing time?

The processing time for the Senior or Specialist Worker visa typically takes up to 3 weeks to be processed for overseas applications, and a period of 8 weeks for in-country applications. However, please note that these processing times can vary depending on the workload of the Home Office, so it is advised that you submit your application sooner rather than later, to avoid disappointment if there happens to be delays.  

How to apply for the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa?

To successfully apply for this route, the applicant must complete an online visa application, using their CoS reference number – it is important to be aware that the sponsorship certificate must not have been issued more than 3 months prior to the date of the application.  

As part of the application process, the applicant will need to pay the relevant fees and submit various detailed documentation in support. They may be required to submit biometric information during this process, depending on their country of residence and the type of passport they own. If applicable, they would need to attend a biometric appointment to enabled them to get a biometric residence permit.  

Once the applicant has been granted their visa, they will be permitted to work in the UK in the eligible job for which they have been sponsored.  

How long does a Senior or Specialist Worker Visa last?

Following the successful grant of a GBM senior or specialist worker visa, the visa-holder will be allowed to work in the UK in the job role for which they have been sponsored to do. The maximum period that a senior or specialist worker can remain in the UK for under this route, is 5 years in any 6-year period, unless they’re a higher earner in a receipt of £73,900 per year or more. In relation to high-earners, they may be eligible to remain in the UK for up to 9 years in any 10-year period.  

Regardless, the GBM Senior or Specialist Worker Visa is recognised as a temporary work visa and as such, despite being able to earn and work in the UK, the applicant will not be eligible to stay in the UK permanently. This is reinforced by the fact that none of the five key routes under the Global Business Mobility umbrella, provide a path to settlement. However, later if the applicant meets the eligibility criteria, they may be able to switch into an alternative immigration route, which will enable them to settle in the UK.  

How much does it cost to get a Senior or Specialist Worker Visa?

To apply for this visa, there are various costs involved – from showing their funds, paying an application fee and the annual immigration healthcare surcharge.  The charges may vary depending on your circumstance – for instance, if you are applying from inside or outside of the UK.  

If you are applying from outside the UK, the application fee for a senior or specialist worker is £625 when intending for 3 year’s leave and £1,235 when seeking more than 3 years. Whereas, if you are applying from inside the UK to extend a visa or switch into this route, the fee is £719 for up to 3 years’ leave and £1,423 for more than 3 years.  

In addition, the healthcare surcharge is set at £624 per year that the applicant is granted leave. Please note that there are also costs associated with the sponsorship process – this will vary on the size and status of the organisation, so it’s best advised to contact us to fully understand your options. Likewise, with the Immigration Skills Charge – this is based on the size and status of the organisation, as well as how long the specialist or senior worker intends to remain in the UK for.  

Can my dependants be included as part of my Senior or Specialist Worker Visa?

Under this route, dependants can be included if they are a dependant spouse or partner of a senior or specialist worker, or a child that is aged under 18. However, if applying under the GBM Senior or Specialist worker route as a dependant, they will need to satisfy both the relationship and financial requirement.  

How can I apply to include my dependents as part of my Senior or Specialist Worker Visa?

An application submitted by the dependant of a senior or specialist worker can be made at the same time or later – if the application is successful, their visa will end on the same date as the period of leave granted for the primary visa-holder.  

How can Bridge Partners Immigration help?

Our immigration specialists can prove substantial advice and guidance on the Home Office requirements to ensure that the criteria are met under the Senior or Specialist Worker route. From assisting you with the eligibility requirements, to handling the visa application process, we can work with you in all aspects of the Senior or Specialist Worker route. Please do not hesitate to contact us today for any enquiries.  

Frequently Asked Skilled Worker visa​ Application Questions

Someone can be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa if they have a job offer from a sponsoring company in the UK for a job that is on the list of skilled worker occupations. In addition, the skilled worker must have the required skills and experience to undergo the role in the company and have the required level of English language ability.   

The minimum salary for the Skilled Worker visa is either £25,600 per year, £10.10 per hour or the “going rate” for the particular occupation code, whichever is highest. For each job on the Home Office occupation list, there is a “going rate” which details the recommended annual and hourly salary that an individual must earn for the role. The rates are based on a 39-hour week of work. Those applying for the Skilled Worker visa need 50 points to do so. These are gained from sponsorship, skill level and English language requirements. However, 20 further tradable points can be given to those that meet the minimum salary requirement. 

You cannot move to the UK without a job offer from a company that has a UK sponsor licence, unless you apply for the Global Talent visa where this is not a requirement. When you are applying for a Skilled Worker visa you must provide a certificate of sponsorship reference number which proves that you have a job offer and therefore permission to work in the UK with a registered sponsor.  

The general Skilled Worker visa requirements are that you must have a job offer from a company that is a UK-registered sponsor and have a certificate of sponsorship that confirms that you have permission to work in the UK within a specific job role. You must be paid the required minimum salary for the occupation, have the required skill level and English language ability to do the job and have enough funds to support yourself in the UK.   

Once all the correct documentation has been submitted, it takes around 3 weeks for an application for a Skilled Worker visa to be processed by the Home Office when applying outside of the UK. For applications within the UK, the standard processing time is 8 weeks, although this can take around 9 weeks on average.  

For the Skilled Worker visa, you will need to provide a valid passport and proof that you have a job in the UK with details about your job role, salary, and employer information. You will also need the reference number for your certificate of sponsorship which proves that you have an approved job offer with a registered UK sponsor. In addition, you will need to provide bank statements that show you are able to support yourself in the UK and proof of the required qualifications needed for the role such as an English language test and degree certificate.

Yes, you can study whilst on a Skilled Worker visa. There is no restriction on the number of hours you can study as long as it does not interfere with your work. Another requirement is that workers who study must first get an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate for their studies and present it to the education provider.  

Skilled Workers are not allowed to run their own businesses.