Graduate Trainee visa (Global Business Mobility)

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Eligibility

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.

View a printable version of the whole guide