SENIOR OR SPECIALIST WORKER VISA
If you work for an overseas business as a senior manager or specialist employee, this visa allows you to come to the UK on temporary basis to do a job for your employer's UK branch.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
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Work for your sponsor's UK branch or subsidiary for up to 5 years
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Bring your spouse, partner and/or child
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Leave the UK and return without issue
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Extend your visa
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Switch to a different visa
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Study
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Work in a role different to what is stated on your Certificate of Sponsorship.
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Receive public funds (benefits)
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Apply to settle permanently in the UK
WHAT YOU CAN'T DO
REQUIREMENTS
Valid Passport
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You must have a passport which is valid at the time you apply.
Current Employment
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You must already work for the overseas employer as a senior manager or specialist employee.
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If your annual income is less than £73,900, you must have worker for your overseas employer for a minimum of 12 months.
English Language
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There is no English language requirement for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa.
Worker licence
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Your sponsor must apply for and obtain a Worker licence on the GBM: Senior or Specialist Worker route to gain the necessary authorisation to sponsor you.
Certificate of Sponsorship
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Your sponsor must assign a CoS to you before you make your visa application.
Salary
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Your sponsor must pay you a salary of £48,500 or the 'going rate' for your job, whichever is higher.
Financial Requirements
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Unless you have already been in the UK for at least 12 months, you must show sufficient funds to support yourself and any dependants joining you in the UK.
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The current requirement is at least £1,270 in your account for at least 28 consecutive days with the last day being within 31 days of the date of application.
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If your dependants are joining you, you must show an additional £285 for your partner, £315 for your first child, and £200 for each additional child. Example - You must show £1,870 if you are applying with your wife and child
Additional Requirements
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You may be required to provide a tuberculosis test depending on which country you are applying from.
You can apply for a Senior or Specialist visa up to 3 months before the start date on your Certificate of Sponsorship.
The application fee for a Senior or Specialist visa is currently:
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£769 (up to 3 years)
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£1,519 (over 3 years)
If you are applying to switch to this visa from inside the UK:
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£885 (up to 3 years)
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£1,751 (over 3 years)
You will also have to pay £1,035 per year for the Immigration Health Surcharge.
The same fees apply to any dependants included in your application or who apply to join you at a later date.
TERM AND FEES
PROCESSING
The processing time for Senior or Specialist Worker visa applications is approximately 3 weeks for applications made from outside the UK and approximately 8 weeks for applications from within the UK.
You may be eligible to pay for a faster decision by purchasing the priority or super-priority service, depending on availability.
Successful Application
If your application for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa is successful, you will receive confirmation in your passport and your immigration status will be reflected in your UKVI account.
Application Refused
If your application for a Senior or Specialist Worker visa is refused, you will receive a refusal letter outlining the reasons. There is no right of appeal, but you may consider applying for an administrative review if you believe an incorrect decision has been made based on a casework error.
An application for administrative review costs £80 and can be made online. It must be made within 28 days of the refusal (if you're outside the UK) or within 14 days (if you're inside the UK).
OUTCOME
NEXT STEP
If you want to remain in the UK beyond your Senior or Specialist Worker visa, you can extend your visa or apply to switch to a different visa. If you extend, you will need a new Certificate of Sponsorship before applying.
Unfortunately, the Senior or Specialist Worker visa is not a route to settlement, and the maximum time you can stay in the UK on this visa depends on your salary:
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5 years in any 6 year period (annual salary less than £73,900)
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9 years in any 10 year period (annual salary over £73,900)
HOW WE CAN HELP
Senior or Specialist Worker visas can be complex, particularly if your employer is unsure about your eligibility. Mistakes can be costly, time-consuming, and may have a significant impact on the business and future immigration applications to the Home Office. This means it is very important to have experts by your side who can make the process easier and give much needed confidence to make a strong application.
At Lace Law LLP, we offer comprehensive support throughout the Worker licence and Senior or Specialist Worker visa processes. From your initial consultation to the final decision, you will have a dedicated expert who will meticulously prepare your application, maintain regular communication, and promptly respond to any concerns along the way. We pride ourselves on this personal approach, which we feel not only provides a greater experience to you, but also increases the likelihood of a successful outcome.
Don't let the process be more stressful than it needs to be. Contact us today to have a dedicated partner by your side on your immigration journey.
