The UK government openly promotes trade agreements in both private and public sectors. This facilitates international business relationships, with a large number of foreign companies securing contracts within the UK.
To fulfil these contracts, employers often need to send their employees into the UK. One legal pathway for sending staff to the UK to fulfil trade contracts is the Global Business Mobility Secondment Worker Visa.
This article discusses the purpose of the UK Secondment Worker visa, who qualifies for it, and what foreign nationals need to apply.
What is the Secondment Worker Visa?
The Secondment Worker visa is specifically designed for employees of overseas companies who are being seconded to the UK to work on high-value contracts.
It is one of the five visas under the UK’s Global Business Mobility routes, all designed to aid employee mobility and secondment from a foreign business to a UK entity. Other Global Business Mobility visas include:
- Senior or Specialist Worker visa
- Graduate Trainee visa
- UK Expansion Worker visa
- Service Supplier visa
Through the Secondment Worker visa, foreign workers can come to the UK temporarily while remaining employed by their home country employer. The initial visa is typically granted for up to 12 months, with the option to extend the stay for an additional 12 months, for a maximum of two years.
Eligibility Requirements for the Secondment Worker Visa
To qualify for the Secondment Worker Visa in 2025, both the employer and the employee must meet specific eligibility conditions set by the UK Home Office.
Key eligibility criteria include the following:
- The overseas employer must have an active, high-value contract or investment relationship with a UK-registered company.
- The UK-based company must be a licensed sponsor for the Secondment Worker route.
- The applicant must have worked for their overseas employer for at least 12 continuous months before applying for the visa.
- The job role in the UK must meet the required skill level, typically equivalent to RQF Level 6 or higher (graduate level roles).
- A valid Certificate of Sponsorship must be issued by the UK-based licensed sponsor linked to the contract.
- Applicants must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to support themselves in the UK or have certified sponsorship covering their living expenses.
What Qualifies as a High-Value Contract for the Secondment Visa?
To qualify for the Secondment Worker Visa, the overseas employer must have an eligible high-value contract with a licensed UK sponsor. Specifically, this contract must be valued at a minimum of £50 million. The arrangement should involve the delivery of goods or services that justify temporarily seconding employees to the UK.
If an employer has a contract worth less than £50 million, the employee may be eligible for another type of visa to work in the UK, such as the Service Supplier visa or the Temporary Work – International Agreement visa.
Required Documents for the Visa Application
If you are an employee intending to enter the UK to fulfil a contract for your employer, you must provide the following document when applying for the Secondment Worker visa:
- A valid passport or travel document
- A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number provided by your UK sponsor.
- Documents showing that you have been employed by the overseas company for at least 12 months before applying, such as employment letters and payslips.
- Documents from your overseas employer confirming the existence of a registered contract worth at least £50 million with the UK sponsor.
- Bank statements or a sponsor guarantee letter proving you can support yourself during your stay.
- Tuberculosis test results if you are from a country where TB testing is mandatory for UK visas.
How to Apply for the UK Secondment Worker Visa
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to apply for the Secondment Worker visa:
Step 1: Check that Your Job is Eligible
Before applying, confirm that your role meets the required skill level (RQF Level 6 or equivalent) and that your overseas employer has a high-value contract (worth at least £50 million) with a licensed UK sponsor.
You can check if your job role is eligible on the Home Office list of eligible occupations for the Global Business Mobility route.
Step 2: Get a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
Your UK sponsor must issue you a valid Certificate of Sponsorship, which will include details about your job role, contract, and stay in the UK. This reference number is required for your application. If your UK sponsor is not yet licensed to hire overseas workers, they must apply for a sponsor licence to enable them to issue you a CoS.
Step 3: Submit an Online Application
Visit the UK government website and complete the online visa application form. You must also pay the visa fee and healthcare surcharge.
Step 5: Schedule and Attend a Biometric Appointment
After submitting an online application, you will be redirected to book an appointment at a local visa application centre (VAC) in your home country. During your appointment, you will be required to submit fingerprints and a photograph. If you did not upload your documents during the online application, you must submit them at the VAC.
Step 6: Await a Decision
Once you have attended your appointment, wait for the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to process your application. Once a decision has been reached on your visa, the UKVI will notify you via email.
Cost and Processing Time of the Visa
The application fee for the Secondment Worker visa is £319, and you must make the payment with a debit or credit card during your online application.
First time applications for the Secondment Worker visa typically take 3 weeks to process. However, if you are applying for an extension from within the UK, it can take up to 8 weeks.
Rights and Restrictions of the Secondment Worker Visa
If your visa application is successful, your Secondment Worker visa will come with specific rights and restrictions.
You are allowed to:
- Work for your UK sponsor in the role specified in your Certificate of Sponsorship.
- Study alongside your primary job.
- Bring your partner and children to the UK as dependents if they meet the eligibility requirements.
- Travel freely in and out of the UK during the validity of your visa.
- Do voluntary work for a registered charity, voluntary organisation, associated fundraising body, or a statutory body.
However, you will not be able to:
- Claim public funds, State Pension, and most UK benefits.
- Change jobs without applying to update your visa.
- Take up secondary employment.
- Apply for settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain)
Conclusion
The Secondment Worker visa provides a tailored solution for international companies seeking to send employees to the UK for a high-value, short-term assignment.
If you are applying for the visa, it is essential to seek professional help from a UK immigration lawyer. A lawyer can assess your eligibility for the visa, including determining if your company’s contract qualifies you for the Secondment visa route, and guide you through the application process.
