A Senior or Specialist Worker visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job at your employer’s UK branch.
This visa has replaced the Intra-company Transfer visa, previously the Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long-term Staff visa.
➤ You must be 18 or over when you apply
➤ You can apply outside and inside for UK Skilled Worker visa
➤ You must meet all of the following requirements to be eligible for a Health and Care Worker visa
➤ You must be an existing employee of an organisation that’s been approved by the Home Office as a sponsor
➤ You must have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the work you will do in the UK
➤ You must do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
➤ You must be paid at least £42,400 per year
➤ If you had a Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long-term Staff visa before 6 April 2011, there is no salary requirement if you’ve been in the UK since 6 April 2011 on any of the following visas:
➤ If you’re earning less than £73,900 a year you must have worked for your employer outside the UK for at least 12 months
➤ If you’re earning £73,900 a year or more, there is no minimum time requirement
➤ You can stay in the UK with a Senior or Specialist Worker visa for whichever is shorter of the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, 5 years
➤ You can apply to extend your visa or apply for another one as many times as you like up to the maximum total stay
➤ If you’re already in the UK with an Intra-company visa or a Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long-term Staff visa you can apply to extend your stay as a Senior or Specialist Worker
➤ If you’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training, you can be paid 70% of your job’s usual going rate
➤ If you have a postdoctoral position in a scientific role, you can be paid 70% of your job’s usual going rate if you’ll be working in a postdoctoral position.
➤ You must 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 also have to pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay - this is usually £624 per year
➤ You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK. You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.
➤ You don't need to proof if you've been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months your employer can cover your costs during your first month in the UK, up to £1,270
➤ You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay - this is usually £624 per year. Check how much you’ll have to pay before you apply.
➤Your visa can last for up to 5 years before you need to extend it. You’ll need to apply to extend or update your visa when it expires or if you change jobs or employer.
➤ You can include your partner and children in your application to stay in the UK if they are eligible.
➤ You must have tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test
➤ You’ll need to provide a criminal record certificate.
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, if you’re outside the UK
8 weeks, if you’re inside the UK
You may be able to pay to get a faster decision. How you do this depends on whether you’re outside the UK or inside the UK.
What you can and cannot do
With a Senior or Specialist Worker 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 unless you are eligible and you update your visa
have a second job - unless you’ve previously had an Intra-company Transfer visa or a Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long term Staff visa
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 Senior or Specialist Worker visa.