Graduate Trainee Visa
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A quick look
You can stay for 14 days longer than the time given on the Certificate of Sponsorship under the Graduate Trainee Visa.
Yes, and the sponsor needs to be registered to do so by the UK Home Office.
You are allowed to:
- Work for a sponsoring organisation in the job described in your Certificate of Sponsorship
- Study
- Bring your partner and/or children with you, if eligible
- Do voluntary work
- Travel abroad and return to the UK
You are not allowed to:
- Apply for most public funds/benefits, including State Pension
- Change jobs
- Have a second job
- Apply for permanent settlement in the UK
Graduate Trainee Visa
The Graduate Trainee Visa is for overseas workers who wish to be transferred to the UK by their employer for a work placement in the UK as part of a graduate training course that leads to a managerial or specialist role. The route replaced the existing Intra-Company Graduate Trainee Visa, which closed to new applicants on 11 April 2022.
Requirements
Applicants for the Graduate Trainee Visa need to:
- Be currently working for a business linked to their UK sponsor by common ownership
- Have worked outside the UK for this business for at least three months
- Have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the job they are planning to do, issued by an authorised employer
Applicants are not required to satisfy an English language requirement.
The job you plan to do must:
- Be an eligible job at or above a minimum skill level
- Be paid a salary of at least £24,220 per year
Certificate of Sponsorship
A Certificate of Sponsorship is a reference number that holds information on the job and your own personal details. It is not an actual certificate or paper document. It is a number that corresponds to the job you have been offered.Â
As well as the reference number, your sponsor will also give you information to help you to apply for the visa, for example how much you will be paid. This helps to prove you meet the job and salary requirements for the visa.Â
How long can you stay in the UK?
Successful applicants will be allowed to stay in the UK until either:Â
- 1 year from the start date of the job detailed in the Certificate of Sponsorship
- 14 days longer than the time given on the Certificate of SponsorshipÂ
- The date when the applicant will have had cumulative permission in both the Global Business Mobility routes and Intra-Company routes – totalling 5 years in any 6-year period
Holders of the visa will be allowed to work for their sponsor in the job detailed on their Certificate of Sponsorship.Â
Please note that this visa cannot be extended. However, you can apply for another Graduate Trainee Visa after you have returned to your home country.
How much does it cost?
When you apply for a Graduate Trainee Visa, you will need to pay the application fee, which is £298. You will also need to pay the healthcare surcharge, which is currently £1,035.Â
You will also need to have enough money to support yourself when you arrive in the UK. The money will need to have been in your bank account for 28 continuous days, and within 31 days of making your visa application. The amount you need is usually at least £1,270, unless you are exempt from providing proof of funds.
To be exempt from proof of funds, your sponsor must have stated that they are covering your costs for your first month in the UK. They will have to fill out the relevant section on your Certificate of Sponsorship.Â
If you are already in the UK and have been for at least 12 months, you will also be exempt. Â
You will be told how much you need to pay when you apply.
The information contained on this page is sourced from UK Visas and Immigration and is subject to change. While Woodcock Law Limited makes every effort to keep this information current, prices and information cannot be guaranteed and should always be checked on www.gov.uk.
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