For multinational businesses, the ability to move skilled staff between overseas offices is essential. Whether a company needs to deploy a specialist for a project, transfer senior leaders or support rapid expansion, global mobility is key to maintaining competitiveness. The UK’s Intra Company Transfer route was created to support exactly this movement of international talent.
Today, the original Intra Company Transfer Visa has evolved into the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa under the Global Business Mobility system. While the name has changed, the purpose remains the same. It enables overseas employees of multinational companies to work temporarily for the UK branch of the organisation.
If your company operates internationally or relies on transferring specialist staff into the UK, understanding how this route works is crucial. This guide explains who qualifies, how the visa operates and the advantages for both employers and employees.
What the Intra Company Transfer route is
The Intra Company Transfer route was originally designed to allow established employees of an international business to work in the United Kingdom for a temporary assignment. Transfers could take place for project work, training, leadership development or to share specialist expertise across global offices.
In 2022, the scheme became part of the wider Global Business Mobility framework and the visa is now known as the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa. Despite the change in name, the underlying concept remains familiar. It focuses on allowing companies to move existing employees from an overseas branch into a connected UK entity where their skills are required.
This route supports project continuity, rapid deployment of talent and international knowledge sharing, all of which are important for global businesses operating in fast moving markets.
Who qualifies for the Senior or Specialist Worker route?
To use this visa category, the organisation must be part of a multinational group with a genuine connection between the overseas branch and the UK entity. The company must hold a valid sponsor licence that allows it to sponsor workers under this route.
Employees must meet specific criteria. They must already be employed by the overseas branch and transferring to a linked UK business. They must also meet the relevant skill level for the role and be paid at or above the required salary threshold.
The role itself must be genuine, skilled and clearly linked to the needs of the UK branch. Evidence of the connection between the overseas and UK businesses will also be required, such as corporate documentation organisational charts or financial accounts that demonstrate common ownership or control.
This visa can be used for long term assignments that last several years or for shorter project based transfers. It’s commonly used for senior managers, technical specialists, engineers, analysts and employees with niche expertise.
How the visa works in practice
The company first issues a Certificate of Sponsorship to the employee, confirming the details of the role in the UK. The worker then applies for the visa from inside or outside the UK, depending on their current immigration status.
Once granted, the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa allows the employee to work for the sponsoring UK business in the role described on the certificate. The visa duration depends on the employee’s salary and previous time spent in the route but is usually granted for up to five years at a time, with a maximum combined period of stay.
Workers cannot normally switch to another employer while in this route and cannot usually work in a second job. The visa is designed for a specific transfer within a single multinational group and must be used in line with that purpose.
Advantages for employers and workers
The Senior or Specialist Worker route offers several advantages that make it a valuable tool for global companies. For employers, the most obvious benefit is the ability to move staff into the UK quickly when their expertise is needed. This avoids delays caused by local recruitment and ensures continuity across international operations.
It also supports staff development. Many companies use temporary UK assignments to train future leaders, expose employees to new markets or deliver specialist knowledge to UK teams. The route allows these assignments to take place without the long term commitments associated with other work visas.
For workers, the route provides a structured and predictable way to work in the UK for their current employer. It allows them to gain international experience and contribute to global projects while remaining part of their existing organisation. Employees can bring eligible family members as dependants, allowing families to relocate together where appropriate.
Related: Can a UK Visa Dependant Work? Your Rights Explained
Limitations to consider
Although the route is useful, it is not suitable for every situation. The most significant limitation is that the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa does not usually lead directly to settlement in the UK. Workers who want to settle permanently must switch into a different visa route if eligible.
The minimum salary requirements can also be higher than those for the Skilled Worker route. This means that only certain senior or specialist roles will qualify. In addition, employers must show strong evidence that the overseas and UK entities are genuinely linked. Without this, sponsorship will not be possible.
Employees are also limited to working only for the sponsoring employer in the role described on their certificate. Side jobs and outside employment are generally not permitted.
Who benefits from legal advice?
Both employers and employees can benefit from legal advice when considering the Senior or Specialist Worker route. You should consider seeking support if:
- Your organisation has a complex international structure
- You are unsure whether your business qualifies as a linked entity
- You need to understand the correct salary thresholds
- You want to compare this route with alternatives such as the Skilled Worker Visa
- You are planning repeated or large scale transfers
- You are unsure how the route affects long term settlement goals
A specialist immigration solicitor can help you understand the rules, prepare the sponsorship documents and ensure the transfer meets Home Office requirements.
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Please note that this article is solely for informational purposes. It’s not a substitute for legal advice. We encourage readers to contact Osbourne Pinner for case-specific guidance.
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