GLOBAL BUSINESS MOBILITY (GBM)
Strategic Representation for Global Businesses & Overseas Personnel
The Global Business Mobility (GBM) umbrella route provides a structured, commercial framework under the Points-Based System for overseas companies seeking to establish a presence in the United Kingdom, transfer key specialist staff, fulfill international service contracts, or second personnel under high-value corporate investments.
All five Global Business Mobility sub-routes require sponsorship by a Home Office-licensed UK entity or approved expansion footprint. Unlike standard corporate routes, GBM routes do not lead directly to UK Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), and time spent under GBM cannot be aggregated toward settlement under other routes. Strategic legal planning is therefore essential for businesses managing international talent pipelines or planning eventual transitions to settlement-eligible routes (such as the Skilled Worker route).
At Jonah Law, we deliver clear, commercially aligned, and regulatory-compliant advisory services to multinational corporations, expanding overseas enterprises, and foreign specialists navigating UK business mobility.
Important Notice & Regulatory Compliance Disclosures
Legal Disclaimer: The contents of this web page are published for general informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute formal legal advice. UK immigration rules, sponsor guidance, salary thresholds, eligible occupation codes, and international trade commitments change frequently. Accessing or reviewing this information does not create an adviser-client or solicitor-client relationship. Formal legal counsel should be sought through a tailored consultation prior to taking action.
Overview of the 5 Global Business Mobility Routes
The Global Business Mobility framework comprises five distinct sub-categories tailored to specific commercial scenarios:
GLOBAL BUSINESS MOBILITY (GBM)
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Senior / Specialist Graduate Trainee UK Expansion Worker Service Supplier /
Worker Secondment Worker1. Senior or Specialist Worker Visa
Scope: Replaced the former Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) route. Designed for senior managers and specialist employees who are temporarily transferred to a UK entity linked to their overseas employer by common ownership, control, or an approved joint venture.
Salary Thresholds: Roles must meet or exceed the general salary threshold of £52,500 per year or 100% of the role-specific "going rate" specified under Appendix Skilled Occupations, whichever is higher (transitional provisions apply to pre-April 2011 ICT migrants).
High Earner Exception: Workers earning £73,900 or more per year (High Earners) benefit from extended cumulative stay limits and are exempt from the standard overseas employment tenure rule.
2. Graduate Trainee Visa
Scope: Replaced the Intra-Company Graduate Trainee route. For overseas workers transferring to the UK as part of a structured, corporate graduate training programme leading to a senior management or specialist role with the overseas business.
Salary Thresholds: Roles must meet or exceed £27,300 per year or the applicable going rate (typically 70% of the full going rate for most eligible occupation codes, or 100% for specified health/education roles), whichever is higher.
Duration: Grants are issued for up to 1 year per assignment. The role must involve a genuine work placement integrated into the graduate scheme.
3. UK Expansion Worker Visa
Scope: Replaced the Sole Representative route for new business entries. Allows overseas businesses that have not yet begun trading in the UK to send senior managers or specialist employees to establish a UK branch or wholly owned subsidiary.
UK Footprint & Overseas Trading: The overseas business must have been actively trading overseas for at least 3 years (exceptions apply to Japanese businesses under the UK-Japan CEPA, Australian businesses under the UK-Australia FTA, or companies listed on specified regulated stock exchanges). The business must also demonstrate a physical UK footprint (e.g., UK premises lease or Companies House registration).
Trading Presence Deadline: The UK entity must establish a full UK trading presence within 2 years. Once trading commences, the business must transition to another sponsor licence category (such as Skilled Worker or Senior/Specialist Worker) to recruit or extend personnel.
4. Service Supplier Visa
Scope: For contractual service suppliers employed by an overseas service provider or self-employed independent professionals established overseas who are assigned to the UK to supply services covered by an active UK international trade agreement (e.g., UK-EU TCA, CPTPP, or UK-India CETA).
Assignment Duration: Grants are typically issued for 6 to 12 months per assignment depending on the specific trade commitment.
Remuneration: Must comply with UK National Minimum Wage (NMW) legislation and Working Time Regulations. (Note: Specific annual limits apply to certain occupations under specific trade agreements, such as the 1,800 annual quota for classical musicians, yoga instructors, and traditional chefs under the UK-India CETA).
5. Secondment Worker Visa
Scope: Designed for overseas workers who are seconded to the UK by their foreign employer as part of a high-value corporate contract or investment with a UK business.
Contract Value Threshold: The underlying contract between the UK sponsor and the overseas business must be worth at least £10 million per year and no less than £50 million in total value.
Overseas Work Requirement: Applicants must have worked for the eligible overseas business for a continuous period of at least 6 months prior to the application date.
Core Eligibility & Statutory Requirements
To qualify under any Global Business Mobility route, applicants and sponsoring businesses must satisfy key Points-Based System parameters:
Criteria | Statutory Framework & Requirements |
|---|---|
Sponsorship | Valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) assigned by an A-rated (or Provisional for UK Expansion) UK sponsor holding an active GBM licence. |
Skill Level | The job role must be skilled to at least RQF Level 6 (graduate level) under Appendix Skilled Occupations (unless Option B qualifications/experience rules apply to Service Suppliers). |
Overseas Work History | Must be currently employed by the linked overseas business and have worked for them outside the UK for at least 12 months (Senior/Specialist, Expansion, Service Supplier), 6 months (Secondment Worker), or 3 months (Graduate Trainee). Exemption: Senior/Specialist & Expansion High Earners (£73,900+) are exempt from the minimum overseas tenure rule. |
Maximum Cumulative Stay | 5 years in any 6-year period for standard GBM workers across all GBM/Intra-Company routes. 9 years in any 10-year period for High Earners (£73,900+). Note: UK Expansion and Secondment routes carry individual caps of 2 continuous years. |
Non-Settlement Rule | Direct Settlement (ILR) is not available. Time spent on any GBM route cannot be aggregated toward 5-year ILR under other routes. Overseas staff seeking permanent UK residence must formally switch to a settlement-eligible route (such as Skilled Worker) subject to meeting switching eligibility rules. |
Dependant Eligibility | Partners (spouses, civil partners, durable partners of 2+ years) and dependent children under 18 can accompany or join the primary GBM visa holder, benefiting from the same period of permission. |
How Jonah Law Assists Corporate Employers & International Personnel
Navigating Global Business Mobility requires aligning commercial strategy with strict Home Office corporate sponsorship duties, contract auditing, and workforce planning:
For Corporate Employers & Sponsors
GBM Sponsor Licence Strategy & Setup: Advising on the correct GBM licence category, verifying qualifying overseas corporate links (common ownership, control, or joint venture documentation), and assessing UK expansion plans.
Contract & Value Audits: Auditing high-value investment contracts (£10m/yr or £50m total for Secondment Workers) and international trade agreement coverage for Service Suppliers to ensure compliance.
Outsourced SMS & CoS Management: Acting as Level 1 or Level 2 SMS users to assign CoSs, manage annual CoS allocations, report corporate structural changes (M&A, TUPE), and ensure compliance with 10-day reporting windows.
Mock UKVI Audits & Compliance Reviews: Inspecting HR onboarding workflows, attendance monitoring systems, right-to-work files, and National Minimum Wage compliance to prepare businesses for UKVI compliance checks.
For Overseas Executives & Transferred Staff
End-to-End Application Representation: Complete preparation and submission of entry clearance, extension, and dependant applications for Senior/Specialist Workers, Expansion Managers, and Seconded Specialists.
Settlement Transition Planning: Advising corporate clients and senior personnel on legal strategies for transitioning workers from non-settlement GBM routes into settlement-eligible categories (e.g., Skilled Worker or Innovator Founder).
Dependant & High Earner Guidance: Structuring applications for high-earning executives (£73,900+) to utilize extended 9-year stay limits and overseas tenure exemptions.
Schedule a Corporate Mobility Review
Speak with our corporate immigration specialists to evaluate your overseas expansion plans, intra-company transfers, or GBM sponsor licence requirements.