The UK Secondment Worker visa is designed for overseas employees who are temporarily sent to the UK as part of a high-value contract or investment by their overseas employer. This immigration route facilitates the transfer of expertise between international businesses and their UK partners, while supporting commercial expansion and strengthening trade ties.
Because this is a specialised immigration category under the Global Business Mobility (GBM) framework, the eligibility criteria and procedural rules are highly specific. Applicants and sponsors alike must ensure they satisfy the strict Home Office requirements.
This guide explains what the Secondment Worker visa is, outlines the eligibility and documentary requirements, and provides step-by-step guidance on the application process, fees, and conditions of stay.
Section A: What is the UK Secondment Worker Visa?
The Secondment Worker visa is one of the five sponsored work routes under the UK’s Global Business Mobility framework. These routes were introduced to assist international companies in either establishing a UK footprint, expanding operations, or deploying staff for business needs. Unlike some other GBM categories which replaced older routes, the Secondment Worker visa was created as a new pathway to support major commercial projects and encourage inward investment.
Applicants can apply for entry clearance from abroad. In-country applications are also permitted provided the individual does not currently, or most recently, hold leave as a Visitor, Short-term Student, Parent of a Child Student, Seasonal Worker, Domestic Worker in a Private Household, or any form of leave outside the Immigration Rules.
1. Duration of Stay
Successful applicants are initially granted permission for up to 12 months, with the option to extend once for a further 12 months. The maximum continuous stay under this route is two years. In addition, the GBM cumulative cap applies, meaning a maximum of five years can be spent in any six-year period across all GBM and Intra-Company routes combined.
This route does not provide a direct path to settlement in the UK. However, individuals may be able to switch into another immigration category that does lead to settlement, provided they meet the requirements for that category.
2. Permitted and Prohibited Activities
Visa holders are permitted to work for their sponsor in the job detailed on their Certificate of Sponsorship. They may also study, volunteer, travel overseas and re-enter the UK, and be accompanied by eligible family members.
Restrictions include no access to public funds or most state benefits, no entitlement to the State Pension, and no ability to take a second job. Changing roles or sponsors requires notifying the Home Office and applying to update the visa. The route does not provide permanent residence rights.
3. Benefits for Workers and Employers
For employees, the visa offers valuable professional development through UK-based assignments, as well as international networking and cultural experience. For employers, the route facilitates the transfer of skills and knowledge between offices, strengthens operational links, and supports the delivery of high-value contracts and investments. By fostering collaboration between overseas and UK offices, businesses can promote innovation, improve efficiency, and enhance their international profile.
Section B: UK Secondment Worker Visa Requirements
To qualify for a Secondment Worker visa, both the applicant and the sponsoring organisation must meet strict Home Office requirements. The route operates under the points-based system, meaning applicants must score a total of 40 points, allocated across sponsorship and job role eligibility.
1. Applicant Requirements
Applicants must be employed by an overseas company and have worked for that business outside the UK for at least 12 months prior to applying. This employment requirement is mandatory under this visa route.
The 40 points are awarded as follows:
- Sponsorship (20 points): A valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) must be assigned by a licensed UK sponsor. The CoS must relate to genuine employment; the Home Office must not suspect that the role is a sham or created purely for immigration purposes.
- Role and Skill Level (20 points): The job must be in an eligible occupation code as set out in Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules, specifically marked as available for Global Business Mobility routes. Sponsors must select the correct occupation code, and the Home Office may refuse the application if a less appropriate code is used to circumvent eligibility rules.
The Home Office may assess whether the sponsor has a genuine business need for the role and whether the applicant is suitably qualified. The sponsor’s immigration compliance history, including the correct payment of sponsored workers, may also be considered.
Additional requirements may apply:
- Tuberculosis testing: Required for applicants from specified countries.
- Financial requirement: Applicants must demonstrate access to at least £1,270 for 28 consecutive days, with the final day falling within 31 days of the application date. This requirement may be waived if the sponsor certifies maintenance on the CoS for at least one month.
Unlike other GBM categories, there is no English language requirement and no minimum salary threshold for Secondment Workers.
2. Sponsorship Requirements
The UK-based organisation must hold an A-rated sponsor licence approved for the Secondment Worker route. If not already licensed, the business must apply for a sponsor licence or vary an existing licence to include this route.
To sponsor a Secondment Worker, the UK business must have an eligible contract with an overseas service provider. This contract must be worth at least £10 million per year and no less than £50 million in total. The contract must be registered with the Home Office through the Sponsorship Management System (SMS), either during the sponsor licence application or before a CoS is issued. The CoS must specify which contract the worker will be assigned to.
If a sponsor wishes to assign workers under a new contract, they must notify the Home Office using the SMS “request change of circumstances” function and provide supporting evidence. No CoS can be assigned for a new contract until the Home Office confirms that it meets the eligibility requirements.
3. Sponsor Costs
Employers must pay the relevant sponsor licence fee, which varies depending on business size and charitable status. The current fees are:
- £536 for small or charitable organisations
- £1,476 for medium and large organisations
In addition, sponsors must pay £55 for each Certificate of Sponsorship they assign. Importantly, the Immigration Skills Charge does not apply to Secondment Worker visas, which can make this route more cost-effective for employers compared to other work visa categories.
Section C: Apply for a UK Secondment Worker Visa
The application process for a Secondment Worker visa is structured and must be completed in a timely manner. Both the overseas employee and the UK sponsor must coordinate closely to ensure all requirements are satisfied.
1. Application Steps
The typical process involves the following steps:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from the UK sponsor. |
| Step 2 | Complete the online visa application within 3 months of the CoS being issued. Ensure the CoS reference number is included. |
| Step 3 | Pay the visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge. |
| Step 4 | Submit supporting documents, such as a valid passport, CoS, proof of overseas employment, and financial evidence. |
| Step 5 | Attend a biometric appointment at a visa application centre to provide fingerprints and a photograph. |
| Step 6 | Wait for a decision from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). Processing typically takes around 3 weeks for overseas applications and 8 weeks for in-country applications. |
2. Supporting Documents
Applicants must prove their identity and provide evidence to confirm they meet the visa criteria. The following documents are usually required:
- Valid passport or travel document: Confirming identity and nationality.
- Certificate of Sponsorship: Issued electronically by the UK sponsor.
- Proof of overseas employment: Evidence confirming at least 12 months’ employment with the overseas company.
- Proof of funds: Bank statements showing at least £1,270 available for 28 consecutive days, unless the sponsor certifies maintenance.
- Tuberculosis test certificate: Required for nationals of certain listed countries.
- Biometric information: Fingerprints and a digital photograph taken at a visa application centre.
There is no English language requirement under this visa route.
3. Application Fees
The current application fee is £319 per applicant. In addition, the Immigration Health Surcharge is payable at £1,035 per year of leave. These fees are subject to periodic Home Office updates, so applicants should always check the latest rates before applying.
Applicants must also meet the financial requirement of £1,270, unless their sponsor has certified maintenance on the CoS. This ensures the applicant can support themselves during their stay in the UK.
4. Processing Times
The standard processing time is:
- 3 weeks for applications made from outside the UK
- 8 weeks for applications made from inside the UK
Applicants can pay for faster decisions. The priority service costs £500 for a decision within 5 working days, while the super priority service costs £1,000 for a decision by the end of the next working day.
Section D: Can Dependants Join Secondment Workers?
Partners and children can accompany or join a Secondment Worker in the UK if they meet the dependant requirements under the Immigration Rules. Each dependant must make a separate application and pay the relevant application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).
1. Who Qualifies as a Dependant
- Partner: A spouse, civil partner, or unmarried partner aged 18 or over. Unmarried partners must have lived together in a relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership for at least two years at the date of application.
- Child: A child under 18 on the date of application (including children born in the UK during the main applicant’s leave). Children aged 18 or over may qualify only in limited scenarios (e.g., when already in the UK as a dependant and not living an independent life).
Relationships must be genuine and subsisting, and the family must intend to live together throughout their permission in the UK.
2. Eligibility and Evidential Requirements
- Identity and nationality: A valid passport or travel document for each dependant.
- Relationship evidence: Marriage or civil partnership certificate, or proof of at least two years’ cohabitation for unmarried partners (e.g., joint tenancy, bills, or bank statements at the same address); full birth certificates for children showing both parents’ details where applicable.
- Child residence and care: Evidence that the child is not living an independent life and either both parents are in the UK or applying at the same time, or one parent has sole responsibility/serious and compelling reasons apply.
- Tuberculosis testing: TB certificate where required by nationality and residence.
- Financial requirement: Unless certified by the sponsor, proof of funds must be shown for each dependant in addition to the main applicant’s funds:
- £285 for a partner
- £315 for the first child
- £200 for each additional child
Sponsors can certify maintenance for the main applicant and/or dependants on the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). If maintenance is certified, the relevant bank balance evidence is not required for those covered.
3. Application Process and Fees
Dependants apply online, submit biometrics, and provide supporting documents. Each dependant pays the application fee (the same route fee as the main applicant) and the IHS at the prevailing annual rate for the duration of their permission. Processing times typically mirror those for the main applicant (around 3 weeks for out-of-country applications and 8 weeks in-country, with paid priority options available in many locations).
4. Conditions of Stay for Dependants
- Length of stay: Dependants are usually granted permission in line with the main applicant’s visa end date. Extending the main applicant’s visa does not automatically extend a dependant’s permission; each dependant must apply to extend before their current leave expires.
- Work and study: Partners can generally work (with the usual prohibition on work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach) and study. Children can study at school or college subject to standard rules.
- No recourse to public funds: Dependants, like main applicants, cannot access public funds.
- Travel and re-entry: Dependants may travel and re-enter the UK while their permission remains valid.
Dependants must continue to meet the relationship and residence requirements throughout their stay. Material changes (e.g., relationship breakdown) can affect immigration status and may require notifying the Home Office or applying under a different route if eligible.
Section E: Managing Your Secondment Worker Visa
Holders of a Secondment Worker visa must comply with strict conditions during their stay in the UK. Managing the visa properly ensures continuity of status and avoids breaching immigration rules.
1. Extending Your Visa
You may apply to extend your visa for a further period of up to 12 months, provided the maximum two-year limit for this route has not been reached. Extensions can only be granted if you remain employed by the same UK sponsor who issued your Certificate of Sponsorship and you continue to work on the same qualifying contract between the sponsor and the overseas business.
It is important to note that extending your visa does not automatically extend the leave of any dependants. Dependants must submit their own applications for extension before their current permission expires.
2. Travel Restrictions During Extension Applications
When applying to extend your visa from inside the UK, you must remain in the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man until a decision has been made. If you travel outside these areas while your application is pending, the Home Office will treat the application as withdrawn.
3. Changing Your Role or Circumstances
If your job role or circumstances change, you may need to apply to update your visa rather than extend it. For example, changes in the occupation code, contract, or sponsoring entity must be reported and a new Certificate of Sponsorship may need to be issued. Failure to update the Home Office about material changes can result in curtailment of leave and compliance action against the sponsor.
4. Compliance with Visa Conditions
- You must work only in the role and for the sponsor stated on your Certificate of Sponsorship.
- You cannot take up a second job in the UK under this route.
- You cannot access public funds or most state benefits.
- You must notify the Home Office of certain changes, such as a change of residential address, via the appropriate reporting channels.
Failure to comply with visa conditions can result in cancellation of leave and may also affect any future UK immigration applications.
Section F: Summary
The Secondment Worker visa is a specialist immigration route under the Global Business Mobility framework. It allows overseas employees to be deployed to the UK to work on high-value contracts or investments while remaining employed by their overseas business. This facilitates the transfer of knowledge, enhances collaboration, and supports the delivery of major commercial projects in the UK.
The route offers opportunities for both employers and employees, but the rules are strict and the eligibility criteria must be satisfied in full. Applicants must have been employed overseas by the sending business for at least 12 months, hold a Certificate of Sponsorship from an authorised UK sponsor, and demonstrate sufficient funds unless maintenance is certified by the sponsor. There is no English language or minimum salary requirement under this route.
Visa holders are limited to an initial stay of up to one year, extendable to a maximum of two years, and are subject to the wider five-in-six-year cap across all GBM and Intra-Company routes. The visa does not lead directly to settlement, but switching into other categories may be possible if the criteria for those routes are met.
Supporting documentation is critical, and employers must ensure their sponsor licence includes the Secondment Worker route and that contracts are registered with the Home Office. Employees must adhere to visa conditions, including restrictions on public funds, secondary employment, and changes of role.
Given the complexity of the requirements, careful preparation and coordination between the UK sponsor and the overseas business are essential for a successful outcome.
Section G: Need Assistance?
The Secondment Worker route involves specific sponsor licensing steps, contract eligibility checks, and documentary requirements for both employers and applicants. If you are planning to deploy personnel under this route, consider obtaining professional immigration advice to review your contract registration, Certificate of Sponsorship processes, and application evidence before submission.
Employers should ensure their sponsor licence covers the Secondment Worker route, that eligible contracts are registered correctly with the Home Office, and that internal HR systems can meet ongoing sponsor duties. Applicants should confirm they meet the 12-month overseas employment requirement, hold a valid CoS, and satisfy the financial and tuberculosis testing rules where applicable.
Given the complexity and the potential impact of errors on business operations and individual status, early preparation and a compliance review can help reduce risk and avoid delays.
Section H: UK Secondment Worker Visa FAQs
What is a Secondment Worker visa?
It is a temporary work visa under the Global Business Mobility routes that allows an employee of an overseas company to come to the UK to work on a qualifying high-value contract while remaining employed by their overseas business.
Who is eligible for a Secondment Worker visa?
Applicants must have been employed by their overseas employer for at least 12 months, hold a Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK sponsor approved for this route, and be assigned to an eligible contract registered with the Home Office.
How long can I stay in the UK on this visa?
The visa is granted for up to 12 months initially and may be extended for another 12 months. The maximum stay on this route is 2 years, and the wider GBM five years in six years cumulative cap also applies.
Does this visa lead to settlement in the UK?
No. The Secondment Worker visa does not provide a direct route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). However, applicants may be able to switch into another visa category that does provide a path to settlement, if they meet the eligibility requirements.
What documents are needed for the application?
You will usually need a valid passport, a Certificate of Sponsorship from your UK sponsor, evidence of at least 12 months’ employment with your overseas company, proof of maintenance funds (unless certified by the sponsor), and a tuberculosis test certificate if required. Biometrics must also be provided.
Can my family join me in the UK?
Yes. Eligible partners and children can apply as dependants, subject to meeting the relationship, financial, and documentary requirements. Each dependant must pay the application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.
Can I change jobs while on this visa?
No. You must only work for the sponsor in the role stated on your Certificate of Sponsorship. A change of role or sponsor requires a new application and Home Office approval.
Is there an English language requirement?
No. Unlike some other UK work visas, there is no English language requirement for the Secondment Worker route.
What are the costs of the visa?
The application fee is £319. The Immigration Health Surcharge is payable at £1,035 per year of leave. Sponsors must also pay £55 for each Certificate of Sponsorship they assign, as well as the relevant sponsor licence fee.
Section I: Glossary
| Secondment Worker visa | A visa that allows an overseas employee to work temporarily in the UK on a high-value contract while remaining employed by their overseas company. |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) | An electronic record issued by a licensed UK sponsor to confirm details of the applicant’s role and sponsorship. |
| UKVI | UK Visas and Immigration, the branch of the Home Office responsible for administering the UK’s visa system. |
| Sponsor | A UK-based organisation authorised by the Home Office to assign Certificates of Sponsorship and sponsor workers. |
| Dependants | Eligible family members (partner and children) who may accompany or join the visa holder in the UK. |
| Eligibility criteria | The specific requirements that must be met for an applicant to qualify for the visa. |
| Public funds | Government benefits and financial support that visa holders are prohibited from accessing. |
| Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) | Status that allows a person to live permanently in the UK without time restrictions, also referred to as settlement. |
| Biometric appointment | An appointment where applicants provide fingerprints and a digital photograph as part of the visa process. |
| Financial requirement | The minimum funds applicants must show to demonstrate they can support themselves and any dependants, unless the sponsor certifies maintenance. |
| Employment duration requirement | The rule that applicants must have been employed by their overseas employer for at least 12 months before applying. |
| Processing time | The period it takes UKVI to make a decision on a visa application. |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | A fee paid by visa applicants to access the UK’s National Health Service during their stay. |
| Visa application fee | The cost of submitting a visa application to the Home Office. |
Section J: Additional Resources
| GOV.UK – Secondment Worker visa overview | https://www.gov.uk/secondment-worker-visa |
| Immigration Rules – Appendix Global Business Mobility: Secondment Worker | Official Rules (Appendix GBM) |
| Guidance for sponsors – Register and manage a sponsor licence | https://www.gov.uk/uk-visa-sponsorship-employers |
| Visa application fees (work routes) | https://www.gov.uk/visa-fees |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application |
| Visa processing times | https://www.gov.uk/visa-processing-times |
| Xpats.io – Secondment Worker visa guide | https://www.xpats.io/secondment-worker-visa/ |
| DavidsonMorris – Secondment Worker visa | https://www.davidsonmorris.com/secondment-worker-visa/ |
