This calculator is an eligibility estimator, not a Home Office decision. A valid Certificate of Sponsorship, eligible occupation, sponsor relationship and all other route-specific requirements must also be satisfied.
GBM Route & Eligibility Checker
GBM Eligibility Checker
Choose your route and enter the relevant salary and overseas work information to see the applicable requirements.
How the Five GBM Routes Differ
| Route | Salary rule | Overseas work rule |
|---|---|---|
| Senior or Specialist Worker | £52,500 or full going rate, whichever is higher | 12 months, unless qualifying salary is £73,900+ |
| UK Expansion Worker | £52,500 or full going rate, whichever is higher | 12 months, unless a listed exemption applies |
| Graduate Trainee | £27,300 or 70% of the going rate, whichever is higher | 3 continuous months immediately before applying |
| Secondment Worker | No general GBM salary threshold; National Minimum Wage applies | At least 6 months outside the UK under the route rules |
| Service Supplier | No general GBM salary threshold; National Minimum Wage applies | Separate 12-month employee/self-employed experience rules |
Sponsorship Is Essential
Meeting the salary or overseas-work requirement does not by itself qualify a person for a GBM visa. The applicant needs route-specific sponsorship and a valid Certificate of Sponsorship. The job must also be eligible under the relevant occupation rules.
GBM Routes Are Temporary
The GBM routes are temporary work routes and are not direct routes to indefinite leave to remain. Where permitted, a worker may later move to another immigration route whose requirements are met.
High-earner rule: for Senior or Specialist Worker and UK Expansion Worker, earning at least £73,900 can remove the 12-month overseas-work requirement. This does not turn every other GBM route into a high-earner route and does not remove other eligibility requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions (6)
The UK Global Business Mobility category currently contains five routes: Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier and Secondment Worker. Each route has different eligibility, overseas-work and salary rules, so the route must be identified before applying the relevant tests.
The general salary threshold is £52,500 per year and the worker must also normally meet the full going rate for the occupation, with the higher figure applying. Salary rules can include specific calculation and transitional provisions, so the occupation code and the current going-rate table should always be checked.
The period depends on the route. Senior or Specialist Workers and UK Expansion Workers normally need 12 months of overseas employment, although the 12-month requirement can be waived for qualifying high earners paid at least £73,900. Graduate Trainees need 3 months of continuous overseas work immediately before applying. Secondment Workers generally need at least 6 months of overseas work, while Service Suppliers have separate 12-month overseas-work or professional-experience rules.
No. Graduate Trainees have a separate salary rule. They normally need at least £27,300 per year or 70% of the applicable going rate, whichever is higher. Healthcare and education occupations can be subject to different going-rate treatment. The route also requires at least 3 months of continuous overseas work immediately before applying.
No. Secondment Workers and Service Suppliers do not have the general GBM salary threshold or an occupation-specific going-rate salary requirement. They must still be paid in accordance with UK National Minimum Wage law and must satisfy their own route-specific eligibility rules, including the required overseas work and qualifying contract or service arrangement.
No. The GBM routes are temporary work routes and are not routes to settlement. A person may later move to another eligible immigration route, where the rules permit, but time spent on GBM should not be presented as automatic ILR eligibility.
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