Global Business Mobility routes

Global Business Mobility (GBM) is not one visa but a family of routes for people sent to the UK by an overseas employer: intra-company transfers, trainee placements, staff setting up a new UK branch, service suppliers and secondees. Requirements differ by route.

The main routes

Senior or Specialist Worker is the classic intra-company transfer: you must have worked for the group overseas (normally 12 months, waived for high earners) and be paid at least £52,500 or the occupation’s going rate, whichever is higher. Graduate Trainee covers structured graduate programmes at £27,300 or 70% of the going rate. UK Expansion Worker is for staff establishing a first UK presence (also £52,500). Service Supplier and Secondment Worker follow their own contract-based rules rather than these thresholds.

The key limitation

GBM routes do not lead to settlement, and time is capped (five years in any six for most transferees). English is not formally required, which helps some assignees — but anyone planning to stay long-term usually switches to Skilled Worker, which counts towards ILR and has no assignment cap. Many employers now sponsor Skilled Worker directly for that reason when the salary supports it.