Do Global Business Mobility visas lead to ILR?

No. None of the five GBM routes lead to ILR and time spent on any GBM route does not count toward the 5-year Skilled Worker ILR qualifying period. Assignees who intend to settle permanently in the UK must plan a transition to the Skilled Worker route. The ILR clock begins from the date the Skilled Worker visa is granted, not from the start of GBM leave.

How long must I have worked overseas before a Senior or Specialist Worker visa?

Senior or Specialist Worker applicants must have worked for the overseas group entity for at least 12 months before the assignment begins. This requirement is waived for High Earners whose salary exceeds £73,900. The 12-month requirement does not apply to the Graduate Trainee, Secondment Worker, or Service Supplier sub-routes.

What is the UK Expansion Worker visa?

The UK Expansion Worker visa is for overseas businesses that have not yet begun trading in the UK. The entity must have a genuine UK footprint — Companies House registration, commercial premises, and a business bank account — but must not be trading. A critical compliance risk is where an employee has been working remotely from the UK and has inadvertently been conducting commercial activity before the GBM licence is obtained.

Is there an Immigration Skills Charge on GBM visas?

The Secondment Worker route is exempt from the Immigration Skills Charge, making it cost-effective for large-scale commercial deployments. The Senior or Specialist Worker and Graduate Trainee routes are subject to the ISC at the standard rates. The UK Expansion Worker and Service Supplier routes have their own specific cost structures.

Global Business Mobility

Am I eligible for a Global Business Mobility visa?

Written by Bill Zahr | Noble Rose Immigration Service | IAA Regulated Level 1 | Last updated June 2026

Overview

The Global Business Mobility (GBM) framework provides five distinct routes for multinational organisations deploying overseas employees to the UK. Unlike the Skilled Worker visa, none of the GBM routes lead to ILR, they are strictly temporary assignment pathways. This page sets out the eligibility criteria for each sub-route and explains the most critical planning consideration: GBM time does not count toward settlement.

Core eligibility requirements

✓	Your employer holds a GBM sponsor licence for the relevant sub-route GBM licence categories differ from Skilled Worker licences, the correct sub-route licence must be held before a CoS can be assigned
✓	You have worked for the overseas group entity for the required period prior to assignment Senior or Specialist Worker requires 12 months overseas service, waived for High Earners earning over £73,900
✓	Your assignment falls within the permitted scope of the applicable GBM sub-route Each sub-route has specific purpose requirements, intra-group transfer, graduate training, service contracts, or pre-trading expansion
✓	You meet the applicable salary threshold for the sub-route £52,500 for Senior or Specialist Worker, £25,410 or 70% of going rate for Graduate Trainee, NMW for Secondment Worker
✓	You satisfy the suitability requirements under Part Suitability No relevant criminal convictions, deception findings, or outstanding immigration breaches

You may be eligible if	You are not eligible if
✓ Your employer is a licensed GBM sponsor for the relevant sub-route ✓ You have completed the required overseas service period ✓ Your assignment fits within the permitted scope of the relevant GBM sub-route ✓ Your salary meets the applicable threshold for the sub-route ✓ Your assignment is genuinely temporary with an intention to return overseas	✗ Your employer does not hold a GBM sponsor licence for the relevant sub-route ✗ You have not completed the required overseas service period ✗ Your assignment does not fit the scope of any GBM sub-route ✗ Your salary does not meet the applicable threshold ✗ You are seeking a route to ILR, GBM routes do not lead to settlement

Key facts at a glance

Senior Specialist Worker

£52,500

minimum salary threshold

Secondment Worker ISC

None

no Immigration Skills Charge

Leads to ILR

No

switch to Skilled Worker route

What you need to know

The five GBM sub-routes

Senior or Specialist Worker covers intra-group transfers of senior managers and specialists at a minimum salary of £52,500 or the going rate. Graduate Trainee covers structured training programme transfers at £25,410 or 70% of the going rate. UK Expansion Worker covers the pre-trading establishment of a UK presence, the entity must be registered but not yet trading. Secondment Worker covers deployment under high-value commercial contracts meeting the £50 million total or £10 million per year threshold, with no salary threshold beyond National Minimum Wage. Service Supplier covers deployment under UK international trade agreement commitments.

GBM does not lead to ILR: plan the transition early

None of the five GBM routes lead to ILR and time on a GBM route does not count toward the 5-year Skilled Worker ILR qualifying period. Assignees who wish to remain permanently in the UK must plan a transition to the Skilled Worker route this requires the employer to hold a Skilled Worker sponsor licence (separate from the GBM licence), assign a Skilled Worker CoS, and meet the Skilled Worker salary threshold. The ILR clock begins from the date the Skilled Worker visa is granted. This transition should be planned at least 12 to 18 months before the target settlement date.

UK Expansion Worker: the trading trap

The UK Expansion Worker route is for overseas businesses that have not yet begun trading in the UK. The entity must have a genuine UK footprint, Companies House registration, commercial premises, a business bank account but must not be trading. A critical and frequently encountered compliance risk is where an employee has been working remotely from the UK and has inadvertently been conducting commercial activity before the licence is obtained. The Home Office may refuse the licence on the grounds that the company is already trading.

Secondment Worker: the contract registration requirement

The Secondment Worker route requires the commercial contract between the UK client and the overseas employer to be registered with the Home Office before any CoS can be assigned. The contract must meet specific financial thresholds. There is no Immigration Skills Charge on the Secondment Worker route, making it cost-effective for large-scale projects. However, the registration process adds a lead time that must be factored into deployment planning.

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Bill Zahr (LLB Hons) leads Noble Rose Immigration Service with a methodical, "law-first" approach. Guided by the ethos ‘Navigare per Legem’, Bill combines rigorous legal expertise with genuine empathy to navigate complex UK immigration cases. Formerly of a top-tier UK firm, he ensures every client receives transparent, elite, and personalised care.

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Am I eligible for a Global Business Mobility visa?

Overview

Core eligibility requirements

Key facts at a glance

What you need to know

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