Senior or Specialist Worker visa
Eligibility Criteria:
To be eligible for the Senior or Specialist Worker visa, applicants must adhere to the following criteria:
Maintain a position within a company that holds official Home Office recognition as a certified sponsor.
Obtain a 'certificate of sponsorship' from the aforementioned employer, detailing the specifics of the intended UK-based role.
Secure a role that is included on the official list of occupations eligible for this visa category.
Receive a minimum annual compensation of £45,800.
The Senior or Specialist Worker visa provides the opportunity for individuals to relocate to or remain in the UK for the purpose of employment in a qualifying role at a UK branch of their employing company.
This current program supersedes the former Intra-company Transfer visa, which was initially known as the Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long-term Staff visa.
Individuals participating in graduate trainee programs are required to proceed with the Graduate Trainee visa application.
FAQs
You are allowed to reside in the UK with a Senior or Specialist Worker visa for the shorter of the following durations: the time indicated on your certificate of sponsorship plus an additional 14 days, or up to 5 years. You have the option to apply for visa extensions or renewals multiple times within the maximum permitted period.
If you already hold an Intra-company visa or a Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long- term Staff visa, you are eligible to apply for an extension under the Senior or Specialist Worker category. The maximum cumulative stay is:
- 5 years within any 6-year timeframe if your annual salary is below £73,900.
- 9 years within any 10-year timeframe if your annual salary is £73,900 or above.
The maximum stay on a Global Business Mobility visa is 2 years. After this, you must spend 6 months outside the UK before you are eligible to apply for another Global Business Mobility visa.
Individuals who have resided in the UK since 6 April 2011 under specific visa categories, including the Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long-term Staff visa, are exempt from the maximum stay limitation, provided they continue to be sponsored by
their employer.
Applications must be submitted online. The process will differ based on whether you are:
- Applying from outside the UK.
- Already in the UK and seeking an extension.
- In the UK and switching from a different visa category.
Your family members may qualify to join or remain with you as ‘dependants.’
Each applicant, including dependants, is required to pay an application fee, cover the healthcare surcharge for the duration of their stay, and demonstrate sufficient personal savings. Please refer to the official website to check the current fees.
Holders of the Religious Worker visa can:
- Engage in study (some courses may require an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate).
- Work for the sponsoring employer as per the role detailed in the certificate of sponsorship.
- Take on a secondary job within the same sector and level for up to 20 hours per week outside the main job hours.
- Work a job listed on the Skilled Worker shortage occupation list for up to 20 hours per week outside the main job hours.
- Bring dependants (partner and children) to the UK, subject to eligibility.
You can initiate your visa application up to 3 months before your work start date in the UK. After applying online, verifying your identity, and submitting the necessary documents, the decision typically takes:
- 3 weeks for applications from outside the UK.
- 8 weeks for applications from within the UK.
Expedited options may be available for an additional fee.
Holders of a Senior or Specialist Worker visa can:
- Be employed by the sponsoring company in the role specified in the certificate of sponsorship.
- Pursue academic studies.
- Bring eligible dependants.
- Engage in voluntary work.
- Travel abroad and re-enter the UK. Restrictions apply to changing employment, holding secondary employment, applying for public funds, and seeking permanent settlement in the UK.
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