At First Law Solicitors, we provide sophisticated legal and compliance support to multinational corporations and senior professionals transferring to the United Kingdom under the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa, a key part of the Global Business Mobility (GBM) framework.
This route enables established overseas employees to undertake senior management or specialist assignments in the United Kingdom as part of a structured corporate transfer. It is designed for businesses that wish to move experienced staff between international offices to support expansion, projects, or leadership functions.
Our solicitors work directly with HR directors, compliance officers, and executives to ensure every transfer meets the Home Office’s complex sponsorship and digital reporting standards.
This visa is intended for employees of an overseas business that has a linked entity in the United Kingdom through common ownership or control. It replaced the former Intra Company Transfer route and now forms part of the wider Global Business Mobility system introduced to modernise corporate immigration pathways.
Applicants must hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship issued by an approved UK sponsor. The position must meet the skill and salary thresholds under Appendix Global Business Mobility: Senior or Specialist Worker and demonstrate a genuine temporary assignment.
As of January 2026, the minimum general salary threshold is fifty-two thousand five hundred pounds per year or the going rate for the role, whichever is higher. The high earner exemption remains at seventy-three thousand nine hundred pounds, removing the twelve-month overseas employment requirement and extending the cumulative stay allowance to nine years in any ten-year period.
Our solicitors carefully verify all salary and skill classifications using the 2020 Standard Occupational Coding system to ensure compliance with both the general threshold and the applicable going rate.
Applicants must normally have been employed by the overseas company for at least twelve months prior to the transfer unless they qualify as high earners. The role in the United Kingdom must be at degree level or equivalent (RQF Level Six) and demonstrably necessary to the UK branch’s operations.
We analyse each client’s corporate structure, employee history, and remuneration model before any application is submitted, ensuring that all eligibility criteria are met. This proactive approach prevents costly refusals and ensures uninterrupted business continuity.
Every UK employer hosting an overseas worker must hold a valid sponsor licence under the Global Business Mobility framework. Sponsors must assign accurate Certificates of Sponsorship, maintain detailed records of employee activity, and report changes within strict time limits.
Under the Data Use and Access Act 2025, sponsor compliance now operates through real-time payroll integration with HMRC. The Home Office automatically cross-checks payroll data against sponsorship records, allowing instant detection of underpayment or role discrepancies.
At First Law Solicitors, we conduct Digital Audit Readiness Reviews to ensure every client’s HR, payroll, and sponsorship records are fully aligned with DUAA 2025 systems. Our proactive compliance management protects businesses from automatic licence downgrades or suspension under the Home Office’s digital enforcement regime.
We also use Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) to authenticate all Certificates of Sponsorship and legal representations, providing a secure, tamper-proof layer of corporate identity verification.
A Senior or Specialist Worker Visa may be granted for the full duration of the sponsored assignment, subject to overall time limits.
Those earning below the high earner threshold may spend up to five years in the United Kingdom in any six-year period. High earners may remain for up to nine years in any ten-year period.
While this route does not directly lead to settlement, our solicitors design transition strategies to ensure clients can move seamlessly into settlement-eligible categories such as the Skilled Worker or Innovator Founder routes. This forward planning has become essential ahead of the Earned Settlement Reforms scheduled for implementation in 2026.
From 1 January 2026, all Global Business Mobility applications operate entirely within the Home Office’s digital immigration platform. Applicants verify their identity using the UK Immigration: ID Check App. Individuals from low-risk jurisdictions such as the United States, European Union, Japan, and Australia typically complete this process without attending a physical biometric appointment.
Once granted, immigration status is held digitally in a UKVI account. Physical visa stickers and Biometric Residence Permits have been fully phased out.
Our firm uses encrypted document transmission and QES authentication to ensure every submission is compliant with DUAA 2025, protecting both the corporate sponsor and the employee.
Strategic Corporate Advisory
We deliver bespoke legal solutions that align with corporate expansion strategies, ensuring each transfer supports long-term business goals.
Sponsor Licence Oversight
Our compliance team provides continuous digital monitoring and guidance to keep sponsors fully compliant with Home Office requirements.
Data Integrity and Digital Precision
All applications are processed under DUAA 2025 standards, with real-time data security and qualified authentication at every stage.
Long-Term Immigration Strategy
We go beyond transfer approvals, planning sustainable routes toward future settlement or permanent establishment for key staff in the United Kingdom.
At First Law Solicitors, every Global Business Mobility case is managed with the same rigour as a corporate transaction combining legal precision, regulatory foresight, and absolute discretion.
For expert legal advice on transferring senior staff or specialists to the United Kingdom, contact First Law Solicitors today.
Call 0044 161 224 4066
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