UKWork

Senior or Specialist Worker visa in the UK

A visa for employees of international company groups whom their employer transfers to work in a UK office as an intra-company transfer. The applicant already works for an organisation approved by the Home Office as a sponsor on this route and moves into a job from the list of eligible occupations — the route is not for those looking for work in the United Kingdom from scratch.

Source: GOV.UK — the official UK government portal

Who can apply for the Senior or Specialist Worker visa

Main conditions

The applicant is a current employee of an organisation approved by the Home Office as a sponsor on the Global Business Mobility route
The employer has issued a certificate of sponsorship describing the work in the United Kingdom
The job is on the list of eligible occupations; five creative occupation codes are excluded (artists, authors/writers/translators, actors/presenters, dancers/choreographers, product/clothing designers)
A salary of at least £52,500 a year or the “going rate” for the occupation code — whichever is higher

Service requirement with the employer abroad

On a salary below £73,900 a year you must have worked for this organisation outside the United Kingdom for at least 12 months
On a salary of £73,900 a year or more there is no minimum period of work abroad
Those who have continuously held a Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long-term Staff visa since 6 April 2011 only need to meet the “going rate”, without the £52,500 minimum

What it costs

Visa fee when applying outside the United Kingdom (visa for up to 3 years)	819 GBP
Visa fee when applying outside the United Kingdom (visa for more than 3 years)	1 618 GBP
Visa fee when applying inside the United Kingdom — extension or switching status (visa for up to 3 years)	943 GBP
Visa fee when applying inside the United Kingdom — extension or switching status (visa for more than 3 years)	1 865 GBP
Immigration health surcharge, for each year of the visa	+1 035 GBP
Funds for the first month in the United Kingdom that must be shown in the account	+1 270 GBP

Documents to gather

The applicant’s main set of documents, not counting a partner and children:

The certificate of sponsorship number from the employer
A valid passport or another document proving identity and nationality
The employer’s name and sponsor licence number
The job title, annual salary and occupation code
A bank statement proving personal savings, if the employer does not cover the costs
Evidence of the relationship with a partner or children, if they apply together
Tuberculosis test results, if the applicant is from a country on the relevant list
A certified translation of documents that are not in English or Welsh
On a salary below £73,900 a year — proof of at least 12 months of work for this employer outside the United Kingdom (payslips or bank statements)
A valid ATAS certificate, if the work involves research on a sensitive subject at PhD level or above

How the process runs

How to apply

1
Obtain the certificate of sponsorship
The employer approved by the Home Office as a sponsor issues a certificate of sponsorship describing the work in the United Kingdom.
2
Apply online
no later than 3 months from the date the certificate of sponsorship was issued and no earlier than 3 months before the job start date
The application can only be made through the online form on GOV.UK; identity is confirmed and documents uploaded there as well.
3
Wait for the decision
usually 3 weeks when applying from abroad or 8 weeks when applying inside the United Kingdom
A priority service is available for an extra fee.
4
Receive the visa
The visa is valid for the period stated in the certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, but no more than 5 years per application.

Who you can bring with you

Conditions for a partner and children

Partner (spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner in a relationship of 2 years or more)

Files a separate application and pays a separate visa fee; at least £285 must be shown in the account for 28 days in a row (the requirement is waived if the family has been in the United Kingdom on visas for 12+ months or the employer covers the costs). They can work, except as a professional sportsperson or coach, and study.

Child under 18 (or older, if they were already on this visa as a dependant)

Files a separate application; at least £315 must be shown for the first child and £200 for each further child. A child’s visa usually ends on the same day as the parent’s visa.

Renewal and the grace period

The visa can be extended and new applications made an unlimited number of times within the maximum periods. The total length of stay is capped by lifetime limits: 5 years in any 6-year period on a salary below £73,900 a year, and 9 years in any 10-year period on a salary of £73,900 or more. For those who have lived in the United Kingdom continuously since 6 April 2011 on an Intra-company Transfer visa or its predecessor Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long-term Staff, the maximum period does not apply — the visa is extended for as long as the employer continues sponsorship. This visa does not give the right to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

The route does not lead to permanent residence — you cannot apply for indefinite leave to remain on this visa.

Frequently asked questions about Senior or Specialist Worker visa

Who can apply for the Senior or Specialist Worker visa?

The applicant must be a current employee of an organisation the Home Office has approved as a sponsor on the Global Business Mobility route, hold a certificate of sponsorship describing the work in the United Kingdom and occupy a job from the list of eligible occupations. On a salary below £73,900 a year you must also have worked for this organisation outside the United Kingdom for at least 12 months.

How much does the Senior or Specialist Worker visa cost?

The fee for applying outside the United Kingdom is £819 for a visa of up to 3 years and £1,618 for more than 3 years. When applying inside the United Kingdom (an extension or switching status) it is £943 and £1,865 respectively. On top of that you must pay the immigration health surcharge, usually £1,035 for each year of the visa, and show at least £1,270 in the account for the first month in the country.

How long does the application take?

The application can be made no earlier than 3 months before the job start date. The decision usually takes 3 weeks when applying from abroad and 8 weeks when applying inside the United Kingdom; a priority service is available for an extra fee.

Can a partner or children come with the applicant?

Yes. A partner (spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner in a relationship of 2 years or more) and children under 18 can apply as dependants — each separately and with a separate visa fee. At least £285 must be shown in the account for a partner, £315 for the first child and £200 for each further child; in a number of cases the requirement is waived. Dependants can work (except as professional sportspeople or coaches) and study.

Does this visa lead to indefinite leave to remain (ILR)?

No. You cannot apply for indefinite leave to remain on this visa — the route expressly excludes it.

How does this visa differ from the former Intra-company Transfer visa?

The Senior or Specialist Worker visa replaced the Intra-company Transfer visa, which was previously called Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long-term Staff. For those who have lived in the United Kingdom continuously since 6 April 2011 on one of these visas, the lifetime limit on stay does not apply — the visa is extended for as long as the employer continues sponsorship.

Other ways to move to UK

Every route in one list — migration programmes: UK.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.