A Graduate Trainee visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to work for your employer in their UK branch. Your job must be eligible and part of a graduate training programme for a managerial or specialist role. This visa has replaced the Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa, previously Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Graduate Trainee visa. If you’re not on a graduate training programme, you may still be able to work for your employer’s UK branch with a Senior or Specialist Worker visa . Eligibility To qualify for a Graduate Trainee visa, you must: be an existing employee of an organisation that’s been approved by the Home Office as a sponsor have worked for your sponsor outside the UK for at least 3 months immediately before you apply have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the work you will do in the UK do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations be paid at least £25,410 per year You cannot apply to change (‘switch’) to a Graduate Trainee visa from inside the UK. How long you can stay You can stay in the UK with a Graduate Trainee visa for whichever is shorter of: the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days 12 months You cannot extend your visa, but you can apply for another Graduate Trainee visa from outside the UK. You can only stay in the UK for a maximum of 5 years in any 6 year period if you’ve spent time on any of these visas: Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa Intra-company Transfer visa Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility) Secondment Worker visa (Global Business Mobility) Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility) Service Supplier visa (Global Business Mobility) UK Expansion Worker visa (Global Business Mobility) You must have been working for your sponsor outside the UK for at least 3 months immediately before the date you apply. How to apply You must apply online from outside the UK . Your partner and children can apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible. How much it costs You, your partner or children will each need to: pay the £298 application fee pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay prove you have enough personal savings Check how much it costs . How long it takes You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship. As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide your documents. You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application. Getting a decision Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks. You may be able to pay to get a faster decision . What you can and cannot do With a Graduate Trainee visa you can: work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship study bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’ , if they’re eligible do voluntary work travel abroad and return to the UK You cannot: apply for most benefits ( public funds ), or the State Pension change jobs do a second job apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) If your application is successful, you’ll get a full list of what you can and cannot do with a Graduate Trainee visa.

To be eligible for a Graduate Trainee visa you need to: have a valid certificate of sponsorship from your employer have worked for your employer outside the UK for 3 months immediately before you apply do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations be paid the minimum eligible salary required for your job Getting a certificate of sponsorship Your employer - also known as your sponsor - will give you a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ with information about the work you will do in the UK. It’s an electronic record, not a paper document. You’ll need the reference number from the certificate of sponsorship for your visa application. You must apply for your visa within 3 months of getting your certificate of sponsorship. If your employer is not currently licensed to sponsor people to work in the UK, they can apply for a sponsor licence if they’re eligible. How long you need to have worked for your employer outside the UK You must have worked for your employer outside of the UK for 3 months immediately before the date you apply. This means you cannot: extend your Graduate Trainee visa from inside the UK switch to a Graduate Trainee visa from inside the UK Check if your job is eligible Before you can find out if your job is eligible, you need to know its 4-digit occupation code. You can get this from your employer or your certificate of sponsorship. When you know your occupation code, check the list of eligible occupations to see if it’s eligible for your visa type. Salary requirements You must be paid at least £25,410 or 70% of the ‘going rate’ for your job - whichever is higher. Each occupation code has its own annual going rate. Check the going rate for your job in the going rates table . If you work in healthcare or education There are different salary rules if you work in some healthcare or education jobs. Your salary must be at least £25,410 or the full ‘going rate’ of your job, whichever is higher. The going rates for these jobs are based on the national pay scales set by the relevant independent body, for example the NHS. Check the list of eligible occupations to see if your job is eligible and what the going rate is.

When you apply for a Graduate Trainee visa, you’ll need to have enough money to: pay the £298 application fee pay the healthcare surcharge - this is usually £1,035 per year support yourself when you arrive in the UK - you’ll usually need to have at least £1,270 available (unless you’re exempt) You’ll be told how much you need to pay when you apply. Healthcare surcharge You’ll have to pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay - this is usually £1,035 per year. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply. Money to support yourself You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK. You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 consecutive days. The end date of the 28 day period must be within 31 days of the date you apply. You’ll usually need to show proof of this when you apply , unless your employer can cover your costs during your first month in the UK, up to £1,270. Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they’re in the UK. Check how much they’ll need . Read the guidance on financial evidence for more information about the money you need and how to prove it. If your employer can support you instead Your certificate of sponsorship must confirm this. Your employer will need to complete the ‘sponsor certifies maintenance’ section on your certificate. This is under ‘Additional data’.

Documents you’ll need to apply

When you apply you’ll need to provide: your certificate of sponsorship reference number - your employer will give you this a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality your job title and annual salary your job’s occupation code the name of your employer and their sponsor licence number - this will be on your certificate of sponsorship evidence that you have enough personal savings to support yourself in the UK , for example bank statements (unless your certificate of sponsorship shows your employer can support you) proof of your relationship with your partner or children if they’re applying with you your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a listed country Ask your employer for a copy of your certificate of sponsorship if you do not have one. Other documents you might need Depending on your circumstances, you might be asked to provide: evidence you’ve worked for your employer outside the UK for 3 months immediately before you apply details of your training programme a valid ATAS certificate if your employer tells you that you need one because your job involves researching a sensitive subject at PhD level or higher You’ll need a blank page in your passport for your visa if you need to give your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) at a visa application centre. You’ll be told if you need to do this when you apply. If your documents are not in English or Welsh you’ll also need to provide a certified translation . Evidence you’ve worked for your employer outside the UK After you apply you might be asked to show you’ve worked for your employer overseas for 3 months immediately before you apply. If you’re asked, you’ll need to show you’ve been paid by your employer over this time period. You can provide: printed payslips online payslips supported by a letter from your sponsor signed by a senior staff member bank or building society statements a building society pass book

Apply from outside the UK

You must apply online for a Graduate Trainee visa. Check which documents you’ll need to apply . You do not need to apply again if you have a Graduate Trainee visa and your job changes as part of your graduate training programme. Your employer will notify UK Visas and Immigration. Proving your identity As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and what type of passport you have. You’ll either: use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI ) account have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a visa application centre You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply. If you do need an appointment: the visa application centre may need to keep your passport and documents while they process your application you may have to travel to get to your nearest centre (this could be in another country) Apply for a Graduate Trainee visa Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later. Apply now How long it takes to get a decision Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks. You’ll be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because: your supporting documents need to be verified you need to attend an interview of your personal circumstances (for example if you have a criminal conviction) You may be able to pay to get a faster decision . After you apply If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI ) . You can ask to cancel your application . You’ll only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application. You’ll get an email with the decision on your application . This will explain what you need to do next.

You cannot apply to change (‘switch’) to a Graduate Trainee visa from inside the UK because you need to have worked for your employer overseas for 3 months immediately before you apply. You must leave the UK and apply for a Graduate Trainee visa from abroad .

Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility)

Overview

A Graduate Trainee visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to work for your employer in their UK branch.

Your job must be eligible and part of a graduate training programme for a managerial or specialist role.

This visa has replaced the Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa, previously Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Graduate Trainee visa.

If you’re not on a graduate training programme, you may still be able to work for your employer’s UK branch with a Senior or Specialist Worker visa.

Eligibility

To qualify for a Graduate Trainee visa, you must:

be an existing employee of an organisation that’s been approved by the Home Office as a sponsor
have worked for your sponsor outside the UK for at least 3 months immediately before you apply
have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the work you will do in the UK
do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
be paid at least £25,410 per year

You cannot apply to change (‘switch’) to a Graduate Trainee visa from inside the UK.

How long you can stay

You can stay in the UK with a Graduate Trainee visa for whichever is shorter of:

the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days
12 months

You cannot extend your visa, but you can apply for another Graduate Trainee visa from outside the UK.

You can only stay in the UK for a maximum of 5 years in any 6 year period if you’ve spent time on any of these visas:

Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa
Intra-company Transfer visa
Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility)
Secondment Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
Senior or Specialist Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)
Service Supplier visa (Global Business Mobility)
UK Expansion Worker visa (Global Business Mobility)

You must have been working for your sponsor outside the UK for at least 3 months immediately before the date you apply.

How to apply

You must apply online from outside the UK.

Your partner and children can apply to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible.

How much it costs

You, your partner or children will each need to:

pay the £298 application fee
pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay
prove you have enough personal savings

Check how much it costs.

How long it takes

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide your documents.

You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.

Getting a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

What you can and cannot do

With a Graduate Trainee visa you can:

work for your sponsor in the job described in your certificate of sponsorship
study
bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible
do voluntary work
travel abroad and return to the UK

You cannot:

apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension
change jobs
do a second job
apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’)

If your application is successful, you’ll get a full list of what you can and cannot do with a Graduate Trainee visa.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility)

Overview

Eligibility

How long you can stay

How to apply

How much it costs

How long it takes

Getting a decision

What you can and cannot do

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Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility)

Overview

Eligibility

How long you can stay

How to apply

How much it costs

How long it takes

Getting a decision

What you can and cannot do

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK