The Senior or Specialist Worker visa is open to migrants who come to the UK to work in an eligible job at their employer’s UK subsidiary or branch (the overseas and UK companies must be linked by common ownership or control). Workers should be at a senior executive or specialist level and on a temporary assignment and normally is expected to have been working for the overseas company for at least 12 months unless exception applies. Find more information and apply for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa on GOV.UK
Senior or Specialist Worker characteristics
To apply for the Senior or Specialist worker sponsor licence the company must be already trading or operating in the UK. For example, the Company has already established its trading presence in the UK under the Expansion Worker sponsor licence, and now the Company wishes to add the Senior or Specialist Worker category to their licence.
The Senior or Specialist workers must be paid at least the general salary threshold of £52,500 per year or the specified going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher. The minimum salary levels for immigration purposes are subject to frequent changes and for this reason it is important to check the current one at the date of application.
The job roles offered to migrant workers must be genuinely required by the business (in line with the Company’s business model, business plan, financials, etc.).
Senior or Specialist worker belongs to the Global Business Mobility visas (former Intra Company Transfer).
Senior or Specialist Worker visa
· The Senior or Specialist Worker visa does not lead to settlement in the UK.
It does NOT lead to settlement in the UK. However, it allows to switch to other visa categories that can lead to settlement (e.g. skilled worker).
It allows for dependant partner and children under 18 to join. The maximum duration of stay on that visa is up to 5 years or up to 9 years, depending on the salary.
Senior or Specialist Worker sponsor licence must first be obtained to then sponsor the workers under this category.