Senior or Specialist Worker (Global Business Mobility) — intra-company transfer

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."