How Much Is Global Business Mobility Visa UK?
The Global Business Mobility visa is a term used for 5 different work-related visas requiring sponsorship in the UK, each with its own unique requirements. It was introduced in April 2022 following changes to the UK immigration regulations in order to simplify the process and prevent people from entering the UK to commit financial crimes.
Luckily, at Synergy Immigration Solutions, we’ve stayed on top of all the UK visa changes so we can help you with your immigration applications. Here’s everything you need to know about the cost of Global Business Mobility visas.
Price of Global Business Mobility Visas
The five Global Business Mobility Visas are:
- Senior or Specialist Worker visa
- Graduate Trainee visa
- Secondment Worker visa
- Service Supplier visa
- UK Expansion Worker visa
Each visa has the same application fee and additional financial responsibilities, with the exception of the Senior or Specialist Worker visa (formerly ICT visa), which will be discussed separately. However, for the four visas listed above, the application fee is £259, which must be paid when submitting your application and will only be refunded if you withdraw your application before the Home Office has begun to process your application. Additionally, you must pay the health surcharge of £624 per year and show that you have at least £1,270 available in your bank account to support yourself in your first month within the UK.
If you do not have this amount available, there can be an exception made if your prospective employer in the UK can show that they will give you this amount upon your arrival in the UK, or that they’ll cover your accommodation and food costs for at least your first month. So in total, for a Global Business Mobility visa, you’ll need at least £2,153 when starting your application to cover all costs.
Bringing Family Members
Close family members such as partners or children can be brought to the UK with Global Business Mobility visas. But, if you intend to bring your partner or dependants to the UK with you, you’ll have to provide evidence that you have been living with your partner for 2 years if you’re unmarried or not in a civil union, and show that your child lives with you. They will also have to show that they have sufficient funds to support them in the UK, or your sponsor will need to prove they will cover your family’s costs too.
These costs are:
- £285 for your partner
- £315 for one child
- £200 for each additional child
Each family member you bring with you will also have to pay the immigration health surcharge of £624 if they plan to stay in the UK for at least 6 months.
Price of Senior or Specialist Worker Visa
As mentioned, the Senior and Specialist Worker visa differs slightly from the other Global Business Mobility visas, as it’s aimed at industry leaders and management-level positions. It replaced the old Intra-Company Transfer Visa (ICT) in April 2022, and is different from the similarly named Skilled Worker visa.
The Senior and Specialist Worker visa costs £625 for a visa up to 3 years, or £1,235 to stay more than 3 years for applicants applying from outside the UK, or £725 for up to 3 years, and £1,423 for more than 3 years, if applying from within the UK for the first time or to extend your visa.
Global Business Mobility Visa Requirements
Each Global Business Mobility visa has slightly different requirements, however, without exception, each visa requires a certificate of sponsorship from an approved and eligible UK business. Other details are as follows:
For the Graduate Trainee visa, applicants must:
- have been working for their employer for at least 3 months prior to the application
- demonstrate how their role will enable them to progress to a specialist or senior role
- earn at least £24,220 per year or at least 70% of their job’s going rate – whichever is higher
For the UK Expansion Worker visa, applicants must:
- have worked for their sponsor for at least 12 months prior to the application, unless they’re Australian working for an Australian company, Japanese working for a Japanese company or earn at least £73,900 per year
- earn at least £45,800 per year, or their job’s going rate – whichever is higher
For the Service Supplier visa, applicants must:
- have worked for their sponsor for at least 12 months prior to the application
- have an eligible job, or equivalent qualification to a bachelor’s degree and have 3 years relevant work experience for a business, or 6 years relevant work experience as a self-employed person
For the Secondment Worker visa, applicants must:
- have worked for their sponsor for at least 12 months prior to the application
For the Senior or Specialist Worker visa, applicants must:
- have worked for their sponsor for at least 12 months prior to the application, unless earning more than £73,900 per year in which case no time length applies
- earn at least £45,800 per year, or their job’s going rate – whichever is higher
The UK government website has a list of eligible jobs and their going rates to check before you start an application. Once an application has been submitted for a Global Business Mobility visa, applicants from outside of the UK will receive a response via email or letter within 3 weeks, or 8 weeks if the applicant is applying from the UK.
How Long Can You Stay in the UK with Global Business Mobility Visas?
Most of the Global Business Mobility visas will permit applicants to remain in the UK for 12 months, or for the length of time stipulated in their certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, depending on which is shorter. You may also extend your visa as many times as you wish, up to a maximum time limit of 5 years within a 6-year period. This language may be confusing, however, as people in the UK on Global Business Mobility visas are allowed to leave and re-enter the UK as they please while they have the visa, it means that only 5 years are allowed to be spent within the UK in total.
Senior and Specialist Worker visas are again slightly different, with successful applicants able to stay in the UK for whichever is shorter out of the length of their contract plus 14 days, or 5 years. What’s more, people earning at least £73,900 per year, can stay in the UK for a maximum of 9 years within a 10-year period.
Can You Settle in the UK with Global Business Mobility Visas?
The main drawback of Global Business Mobility visas is that they do not permit people to eventually settle in the UK, no matter how long they have lived and worked there. Even if you have a child born and raised in the UK in your 5 years living in the UK under a Global Business Mobility visa, neither you nor your child will be entitled to settlement status, otherwise known as Indefinite Leave to Remain, or ILR.
If you had a visa that has been replaced by a Global Business Mobility visa, you may still extend your visa up to the 5-year limit. However, if you have any of the Global Business Mobility visas and wish to stay on in the UK, you must switch to a different visa that you’re eligible for. A popular UK visa that eventually allows successful applicants to apply for ILR is the Skilled Worker visa, however, applicants must intend to work in an eligible job, and prove their English language proficiency.
Ready to Apply?
At Synergy Immigration Solution, we know the UK visa process can be complicated to deal with, even if you’ve gone through it before. That’s why we’re here to help any and every qualified applicant who needs help with their UK visa application.
Contact us today to learn how we can help you with your UK visa application.
