Senior or Specialist Worker Visa
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A quick look
If you earn less than £73,900, the maximum time allowed in the UK will be five years in any six year period. If you are paid more than this sum, the maximum time will be nine years in any 10 year period.
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 until you update your visa
- Have a second job – unless you have previously had an Intra-company Transfer visa or a Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long-term Staff visa
- Apply for permanent settlement in the UK
Senior or Specialist Worker Visa
The Senior or Specialist Worker Visa is aimed at senior members of staff that wish to expand their business into the UK on a temporary basis. It replaced the Intra-Company Transfer route, which closed on 11 April 2022.
Requirements
Applicants for the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa will need to:
- Be currently working for a business linked to their UK sponsor by common ownership
- Have worked outside the UK for the linked business for a cumulative period of at least 12 months, (unless they are earning £73,900 per year)
- Have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship for the job they are planning to do, issued by an authorised employer
- Have at least £1,270 to support yourself when you arrive, unless you are exempt
Applicants will not be required to satisfy an English language requirement.
The job the applicant plans to do on the Senior or Specialist Worker visa must:
- Be an eligible job at or above a minimum skill level
- Have a salary of at least £45,800 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
You must ensure that you have a Certificate of Sponsorship when you apply for a Senior or Specialist Worker Visa.
How long can you stay?
How long applicants can stay in the UK depends on how much they earn. If you earn less than £73,900, the maximum time allowed in the UK will be five years in any six year period. If you are paid more than this sum, the maximum time will be nine years in any 10 year period.
 If the application is successful, the holder of the visa will be able to stay for either:
- A period of five years
- 14 days longer than the time given on the applicant’s Certificate of SponsorshipÂ
- The time it takes for the applicant to reach the maximum time allowed in the Global Business Mobility route (outlined above)Â Â
Holders of the visa will be allowed to work for their sponsor in the job detailed on their Certificate of Sponsorship.Â
How much does it cost?
The costs varies based on if you are applying from outside the UK, or from within the UK.
From inside the UK:
- For three years or less, it will cost £719 per person
- If you want to stay for more than three years, it will cost £1,420 per person.
From outside the UK:
- For three years or less, it will cost £827 per person
- For over three years, it will cost £1,636 per person
Also, you will have to provide proof that you can support yourself upon arrival in the UK. To do this, you will need at least £1,270 in your bank account for 28 continuous days, within 31 days of making your application.
However, you will be exempt from providing proof of funds if you have already been in the UK for at least 12 months, or if your sponsor has stated that they will cover your costs for your first month in the UK. The latter should be on your Certificate of Sponsorship after your sponsor has filled out the relevant section.Â
Do I need to pay the immigration health surcharge (IHS)?
Yes, you will need to pay the IHS. This is £1,035 per year you are in the UK.
Can I extend the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa?
Yes, you can extend this visa if:
- You have the same job as when you entered the UK
- Your job has the same occupation code as the job you entered the UK to do
- You work for the same employer who gave you your Certificate of Sponsorship
- You have not reached your maximum total stay
Any dependants will not have their visas automatically extended. They must apply separately.Â
Other information
- You can apply up to 3 months before you are due to start working.
- Applications can take up to 8 weeks to be approved if you are in the UK.
- Applications take 3 weeks if you are outside of the UK.
- You must not overstay on your Senior or Specialist Worker Visa.
- Any documents not in English or Welsh must be translated by a sworn translator.
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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