Secondment Worker Visa (Global Business Mobility)

United Kingdom•Europe

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Secondment Worker Visa (Global Business Mobility)

Work

At a Glance

Processing Time

1 day – 2 months

Varies by processing route

Estimated Cost

GBP £1,375–£2,875

Varies by filing options

Stay Duration

1 year

Renewable

Renewal

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 workers on a temporary secondment to a UK employer as part of a high-value contract.

The Secondment Worker visa is a UK Global Business Mobility route for overseas employees temporarily seconded to a UK sponsor under a high-value contract. The overseas employer and UK sponsor need not be in the same corporate group — the visa covers third-party commercial contracts worth at least £50 million.

Stay is up to 2 years (initial 12 months, one extension). Requires 6 months prior overseas employment and a £50 million contract. No salary threshold, no English test, and no Immigration Skills Charge. Dependants may accompany and work freely. No PR pathway; time does not count toward settlement.

This visa is ideal for overseas employees seconded to deliver a major UK commercial contract, who need a temporary work permit without pursuing settlement.

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Cost Breakdown

Application feeGBP £340

Priority serviceGBP £500

optional

Super-priority serviceGBP £1,000

optional

Immigration Health SurchargeGBP £1,035

TotalGBP £1,375–£2,875

Processing Time

Standard (outside UK)	2–3 weeks
Standard (extension, inside UK)	1–2 months
Priority	5 days
Super-priority	1 day

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

Age 18 or over

Current employee of an overseas organisation with a high-value contract with a UK-licensed sponsor

At least 6 months of qualifying overseas employment with that employer (outside the UK)

Valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from an A-rated UK sponsor

Job must be on the Appendix Skilled Occupations list (GBM-qualifying codes)

Overseas employer's contract with the UK sponsor must be worth at least £50 million total

Apply within 3 months of receiving the Certificate of Sponsorship

£1,270 in bank account for 28 consecutive days (unless sponsor certifies maintenance or applicant held UK visa 12+ months)

TB test certificate if from a designated country

KEY CRITERIA

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 sponsor and sponsor licence number.

Evidence of 12 months' employment with the overseas employer.

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

No salary threshold requirement for the worker
No Immigration Skills Charge for the sponsoring employer (cost saving vs Skilled Worker route)
Dependants (partner and children under 18) may accompany and are permitted to work in the UK
Priority processing available (5 working days, £500) and super-priority (next working day, £1,000)
Enables project-based intra-contract skill transfers for up to 2 years
No English language test required

Worth Knowing

Strictly tied to a single high-value contract (£50m+ threshold) — very narrow qualification
Hard 2-year absolute maximum; no further extensions on this route
No pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain (settlement)
Time does not count toward the standard 5-year settlement qualifying period
Worker is tied to the sponsoring employer and the specific registered contract
Cannot take secondary employment or work outside the registered contract scope
Subject to a cross-route GBM cap of 5 years in any 6-year period across all GBM routes combined
Cannot access public funds