Senior or Specialist Worker (Global Business Mobility) — intra-company transfer
GBM Senior or Specialist Worker for Indian employees of multinationals transferring to UK branch / subsidiary.
UKGBMSenior Specialist WorkerIntra-companyTCSInfosysAppendix Global Business Mobility
Senior or Specialist Worker is one of five routes under Appendix Global Business Mobility (GBM). It replaced the Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer route in April 2022. Most Indian IT services (TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL) use this route to deploy talent to UK clients. For [CLIENT_NAME] from [OVERSEAS_EMPLOYER] to [UK_ENTITY] in role [ROLE_TITLE]: §1 — GBM SENIOR OR SPECIALIST WORKER ELIGIBILITY (150-180 words) Appendix Global Business Mobility — Senior or Specialist Worker (GBM 1.1+): Employer requirements: ▪ Overseas business + UK linked business (same group, branch, subsidiary, or contractually-linked) ▪ UK linked entity has a GBM Sponsor Licence (Senior or Specialist Worker) ▪ Genuine business need for transfer ▪ Linked entity must have minimum trading history Applicant requirements: ▪ Minimum 12 months service with overseas employer (with limited 60-day exception for highly-paid) ▪ Role on Skilled Worker SOC list (RQF Level 6+) ▪ Salary at the higher of GBP 48,500 OR 100% of going rate for SOC code [VERIFY] ▪ Role must be specialist or senior (not junior / entry-level) ▪ English not required for this route (KEY DIFFERENCE from Skilled Worker) For [CLIENT_NAME] [TENURE_MONTHS] months at [OVERSEAS_EMPLOYER]: ▪ Tenure threshold [met / not met / 60-day exception applies] §2 — SOC CODE + GOING RATE (100-120 words) For [ROLE_TITLE] at SOC code [SOC_CODE]: ▪ GBM Senior or Specialist Worker requires 100% of going rate (NO discount, unlike Skilled Worker) ▪ General threshold: GBP 48,500/year [VERIFY] ▪ Salary [SALARY_GBP] compared to higher of GBP 48,500 OR going rate Going rate verification: ▪ Look up [SOC_CODE] in Annex E of Appendix Skilled Worker (used by reference) ▪ Going rate published per hour; convert to annual (×37.5 hours × 52 weeks) ▪ Higher of GBP 48,500 OR going rate is minimum Common Indian IT services roles + SOC codes: ▪ SOC 2426 Management consultants ▪ SOC 1136 IT and telecoms directors ▪ SOC 2133 IT business analysts ▪ SOC 2136 Programmers / software developers ▪ SOC 2137 Web design / development professionals §3 — KEY DIFFERENCES FROM SKILLED WORKER (120-150 words) GBM Senior or Specialist Worker compared to Skilled Worker: | Feature | GBM | Skilled Worker | |---|---|---| | English requirement | NONE | B1 CEFR | | Salary threshold | GBP 48,500 + going rate (no discount) | GBP 38,700 (general); discounted routes available | | Maximum stay | 5 years standard; 9 years for high earners (GBP 84,400+) | Unlimited (renewable) | | Path to ILR | NOT a settlement route | Yes — 5 years to ILR | | Family dependants | Yes (Appendix Skilled Worker Dependant provisions) | Yes | | Switching to other routes | Allowed (Skilled Worker) | N/A | | Application fee | GBP 719-1,500 + IHS | Same | CRITICAL: GBM is NOT a path to settlement. Time on GBM does NOT count toward 5-year ILR clock on Skilled Worker. If long-term UK residence is the goal, switching to Skilled Worker after 12+ months is the strategy. §4 — SWITCHING FROM GBM TO SKILLED WORKER (100-120 words) Most Indian GBM workers eventually switch to Skilled Worker for ILR pathway. Switching mechanics: ▪ UK employer must hold Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence (often UK_ENTITY can be both GBM + Skilled Worker sponsor) ▪ New CoS assigned under Skilled Worker route ▪ Salary must meet Skilled Worker threshold (GBP 38,700+; discounts available) ▪ English (B1 CEFR) — KEY GAP: must demonstrate (typically via prior degree or IELTS UKVI Academic) ▪ Maintenance: GBP 1,270 × 28 days ▪ Apply for Switch Application from within UK before GBM visa expires For Indian IT services employees: most TCS/Infosys/Wipro UK deployments start as GBM Senior or Specialist Worker, switching to Skilled Worker after building tenure. §5 — APPLICATION DOCUMENTS (100-120 words) Required for [CLIENT_NAME]: □ CoS from UK entity's GBM Sponsor Licence (the sponsor decides eligibility) □ Evidence of 12+ months overseas service (employment contract, payslips, HR letter) □ Evidence of linked entity relationship (group ownership documents, organisation chart) □ Salary evidence in UK (employment contract, salary in GBP terms) □ Passport □ TB test (IOM clinic India for 6+ month stays) □ Police certificates from EVERY country resided 12+ months in last 10 years □ Maintenance evidence (or sponsor-certified) No English language evidence required. §6 — FAMILY DEPENDANTS (80-100 words) GBM Dependants: ▪ Spouse / civil partner / unmarried partner ▪ Children under 18 ▪ Same application fee + IHS ▪ Can work full-time ▪ Children: free state school Settlement pathway: ▪ NOT on GBM main visa ▪ Can switch to Skilled Worker with main applicant; ILR clock starts on Skilled Worker switch §7 — STRATEGIC ASSESSMENT (60-80 words) GBM Senior or Specialist Worker is right for: ▪ Established Indian IT services / multinationals deploying staff to UK clients ▪ Mid-career professionals (3-10 years tenure) ▪ Roles requiring specialist skill / senior judgement ▪ Short-medium-term UK deployment (1-5 years) NOT for: ▪ Junior / entry-level (use Skilled Worker) ▪ Workers with no prior overseas employment with company (12-month tenure rule) ▪ Roles below RQF Level 6 ▪ Anyone seeking settlement (no ILR path on GBM) End with: "DRAFT — for OISC/IAA-registered adviser or solicitor review. Confirm UK entity's GBM Sponsor Licence is current (separate licence type from Skilled Worker — many employers hold both). The 12-month tenure rule is hard; sponsor's HR records will be cross-checked by UKVI compliance audit. For Indian IT services firms, document the client engagement (UK client + project) to satisfy 'genuine business need' under GBM 4.4."
Purchase the vault to unlock