Global Mobility Visa and Sponsor Licence

A GBM visa permits an individual to enter or remain in the UK as part of a qualifying intra-company assignment. It is tied to a specific role and is issued based on a Certificate of Sponsorship.  

For most Global Business Mobility routes, such as the Senior or Specialist Worker, the business must already have an established, linked UK entity. However, the UK Expansion Worker route is specifically for businesses that have a registered UK “footprint” but have not yet begun trading in the UK. Once the UK branch establishes a full trading presence, the business can apply to add other routes to their licence to retain staff.  

Sponsorship costs depend on the organisation’s size, and the specific Global Business Mobility route utilised. Key costs include the initial sponsor licence application fee, Certificate of Sponsorship assignment fees, and potentially the Immigration Skills Charge. The Immigration Skills Charge is a mandatory fee specifically required when sponsoring workers on the Senior or Specialist Worker route, subject to certain exemptions.