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The UK Secondment Worker visa is for overseas workers who are looking to undertake work assignments in the UK on a temporary basis, where the worker is due to be seconded to the UK as part of either a high value contract or investment by their employer overseas.  

Requirements for a Secondment Worker Visa 

To qualify for a Secondment Worker Visa, you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that: 

  • You are aged 18 or over; 

  • You are currently working for an overseas business that has a contract with your sponsor worth at least £50 million that has been registered with the Home Office by the sponsor (unless you are applying for an extension to work for the same sponsor); 

  • You have worked outside the UK for that overseas business for a cumulative period of at least 12 months (unless you are applying for an extension to work for the same sponsor); 

  • You have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship issued by your UK sponsor for the job you are planning to do; 

  • The job you are planning to do is genuine; 

  • The job you are planning to do is skilled to at least RQF Level 6 (graduate equivalent); 

  • You have enough money to support yourself without relying on public funds; 

  • You have provided a valid TB certificate, if required. 

 

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Requirement 

The applicant must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) assigned by a UK licensed sponsor for the job which they are planning to do in the UK. They must also be being sponsored for employment which is genuine. 

Your sponsor must be listed as A-rated on the Home Office’s register of licensed sponsors, unless you were last granted permission as a Secondment Worker and are applying to continue working for the same sponsor as in your last permission. 

Your sponsor must have a contract with the overseas business that you are working for, that contract must have been registered with the Home Office and you must be planning to work as a Secondment Worker on that contract. 

Overseas Work Requirement 

To be eligible for sponsorship, the applicant must currently be working for an overseas business. The overseas business must have a contract with their UK sponsor and have worked for that business outside the UK for a period of at least 12 months. The applicant will not be required to meet an overseas work requirement if they are applying for permission to stay and are applying to continue working for the same sponsor as a Secondment Worker. 

Salary Requirement 

UK-based employers that are authorised by the Home Office to sponsor a Secondment Worker under the UK Global Business Mobility Visa: Secondment Worker route do not need to satisfy either a general salary requirement or the ‘going rate’ for the occupation (as set out in the relevant  

Job Skill Level Requirement 

The job you are planning to do must be skilled to at least RQF Level 6 (graduate equivalent).  You do not necessarily need to hold a degree, but the role must be equivalent to a graduate level role. 

Immigration Skills Charge Requirement 

Employers that are authorised by the Home Office to sponsor a Secondment Worker are not required to pay the Immigration Skills Charge. 

Financial Requirement 

You will need to have cash funds of at least £1,270 available. 

You will need to have held the money for at least 28 consecutive days ending not more than 31 days before the date of your visa application. 

You will be exempt from the financial requirement if your sponsor is willing to meet your maintenance costs up to the end of the first month of your employment, to an amount of at least £1,270, if necessary.  Your sponsor will need to confirm this on your Certificate of Sponsorship. 

English Language Requirement 

Visa applicants do not need to satisfy an English language requirement. 

Maximum time allowed in this category 

If you have already spent time in the UK on any of the Global Mobility Routes or the former Intra-company routes then you may not be able to stay in the UK on a Global Business Mobility – UK Expansion Worker Visa for the full time period set out above. 

This is because you can only stay in the UK for a maximum of 5 years in any 6 year period if you have previously spent time in any of the Global Business Mobility routes or the former Intra-company routes. 

Dependants of Global Business Mobility Visa: UK Expansion Worker Visa applicants 

Expansion Worker Visa holders can be joined or accompanied by a dependent partner over the age of 18 and dependent children under the age of 18. 

Settlement under Secondment Worker Route 

Secondment Worker Visa does not lead directly to settlement in the UK. However, once in the UK, you may be able to switch into another immigration route which does lead to settlement. 

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