GTR — Graduate Trainee Visa (Global Business Mobility)

United Kingdom•Europe

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GTR — Graduate Trainee Visa (Global Business Mobility)

Work

At a Glance

Processing Time

2–3 weeks

Estimated Cost

From GBP £340

Other charges may apply

Stay Duration

1 year

Not renewable

Renewal

Not renewable

Family

Not specified

PR Pathway

None

Sponsor

Job offer required

Work

Remote not required

Apply Now Official Information

Living in United Kingdom

Cost of Living

2% cheaper than United States

Avg Salary£31,000

Quality of Life

174/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

For graduate trainees on a temporary intra-company transfer to a UK branch.

The UK Graduate Trainee visa is part of the Global Business Mobility routes, allowing multinationals to transfer junior staff enrolled in a structured graduate training programme to a UK branch. The role must be on the qualifying occupation list and lead toward a senior management or specialist position.

Stay is capped at 12 months with no in-country extension; applicants must reapply from outside the UK. Salary must meet £27,300/year or the going rate. The route carries no settlement pathway. Dependant partners and children may accompany the main applicant and can work in the UK.

This visa is ideal for overseas employees on a formal corporate graduate scheme who need a short UK placement within their existing employer group.

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Cost Breakdown

Visa application feeGBP £340

Immigration Health Surcharge (per year)GBP £1,035

recurring

TotalGBP £340

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant

1 year

Conversion Paths

Visas you can typically switch to from this status.

United Kingdom

Skilled Worker Visa

Validity5 years per grant (renewable indefinitely)

Processing3 weeks

View Visa Details

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Employer must be a Home Office-approved sponsor with a valid sponsor licence

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) required, issued no more than 3 months before application

Must have worked for the sponsoring employer outside the UK for at least 3 consecutive months immediately before applying

Minimum salary of £27,300/year or 70% of the going rate for the occupation code (whichever is higher)

Job must be in a qualifying occupation on the approved list (4-digit SOC code)

Role must be part of a structured graduate training programme with clear progression toward a managerial or specialist role

Must hold £1,270 in savings for 28 consecutive days (waived if sponsor certifies maintenance on CoS)

Must apply from outside the UK (cannot switch from within the UK)

KEY CRITERIA

Education

bachelor or higher

Min. Income

27,300 GBP/yr

Min. Savings

1,270 GBP

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number.

Valid passport or travel document.

Job title and annual salary.

Job's occupation code.

Name of the employer and sponsor licence number.

Evidence of 3 months' employment with the overseas employer (e.g., payslips, bank statements).

Evidence of personal savings (if required).

Proof of relationship for dependants (if applicable).

Tuberculosis test results (if required).

ATAS certificate (if the job involves sensitive research).

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Legal right to work for the UK branch of your sponsoring employer
Dependants (partner and children) may accompany you
Study is permitted while on this visa
Unpaid volunteering is permitted
International travel in and out of the UK is permitted
No English language requirement
No annual quota or cap on visa numbers

Worth Knowing

Not a route to settlement — Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) explicitly excluded
Cannot extend or switch to this visa from within the UK; must apply from abroad each time
Tied to sponsoring employer — cannot change employers
No secondary employment permitted
Maximum 12-month stay per grant
Cumulative 5-year cap in any 6-year period across all Global Business Mobility and Intra-Company routes
Cannot access most public funds or the State Pension
Must work only in the role specified on the Certificate of Sponsorship