Differences between the Secondment Worker visa and the Senior or Specialist visa
Identifying the differences between the Secondment Worker visa and the Senior or Specialist visa
Introduction
The Global Mobility Business (GBM) routes were introduced earlier this year, encouraging overseas
businesses that wished to establish a presence within the UK. The Secondment Worker visa allows
overseas businesses to transfer their employees to undertake an eligible job for a different
organisation within the UK. The Senior or Specialist visa allows overseas businesses to transfer
employees to the UK to undertake an eligible job at their UK branch.
What are the differences between these routes?
Firstly, with the Secondment Worker visa, there must be a high-value contract between the overseas
employer and the UK sponsor. The contract between the overseas employer and the UK sponsor
must be worth at least £50 million before the overseas employer can second workers to the UK. The
Senior or Specialist visa does not have this requirement and an overseas employer can transfer
employees to the UK without a high-value contract.
While the Senior or Specialist visa does not require a high-value contract there is a salary threshold
for overseas employees that want to use this route to enter the UK. Overseas employees that wish
to apply for a Senior or Specialist visa must be paid at least £42,400 per year. However, there is no
salary threshold on the Secondment Worker visa.
Lastly, both routes have different requirements for the minimum period an applicant needs to work
for their overseas employer outside the UK before they can enter the UK. On the Secondment
worker visa, applicants must have worked for their overseas employer outside the UK for at least 12
months. However, on the Senior or Specialist visa, the length of time an applicant must spend
working for their overseas employer outside the UK is dependent on their salary. Applicants earning
less than £73,900 a year must have worked for their employer outside the UK for at least 12 months.
Whereas there is no minimum time requirement imposed on applicants earning £73,900 a year or
more.
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