What you can do
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Work in the UK for up to 12 months
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Study
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Bring your dependants
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Extend your visa
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Switch to different visa
What you can't do
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Receive public funds
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Work in any role other than that which your sponsor has assigned to you
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Settle in the UK
Requirements
Valid Passport
You must have a valid passport to apply.
Existing Employment
You must already be employed by the overseas business or be a self-employed professional.
Current Immigration Status
You cannot switch to the service supplier visa if you currently hold any of the following visas:
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Visitor
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Short-term student
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Parent of a child student
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Seasonal worker
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Domestic worker in a private household
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Leave outside the Immigration Rules
Temporary Worker Licence
Your UK sponsor will need a valid 'Temporary Worker' licence with an A-rating in order to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
Certificate of Sponsorship
You must have a valid CoS confirming key details including your job, occupation code, salary, and start date.
Genuine Job
The job you are coming to the UK to undertake must not have been created mainly for you to be able to apply for this visa.
Valid Contract
Your UK sponsor will need to have a contract with your overseas service provider which is registered with the Home Office.
Professional Experience
You must have worked for your overseas employer for at least 12 months.
Finances
Unless you have already been in the UK for 12 months or longer, you will need to show you have at least £1,270 held in your account for the 28 days prior to making the application.
English Language
There is no English language requirement for this route.
Additional
You may require a tuberculosis test depending on which country you are applying from. You could also be required to provide a criminal record certificate.
The application fee for a secondment worker visa is currently £298.
You will have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per year.
Term & Fees
You can stay on the secondment worker visa for either 12 months after the start date on your CoS or the time given on your CoS plus 14 days, whichever is shorter.
Processing
The current processing time for the secondment worker visa is approximately 3 weeks for applications made outside the UK and
8 weeks for applications from inside the UK. You may be able to get a faster decision by paying for an enhanced service.
Outcome
If your application for a secondment worker visa is successful, you will receive a new biometric residence permit confirming the length and conditions of your permission to remain in the United Kingdom.
If your application for a secondment worker visa is refused, you will receive a refusal letter outlining the reasons. You may consider applying for an administrative review if you believe an incorrect decision has been made based on a casework error. Alternatively, a fresh application may be more appropriate.
Next Step
If you want to remain in the UK beyond your secondment worker visa, you can apply to extend it from within the UK if:
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You are still contracted to work for the same UK sponsor who issued your CoS
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You are working on the same contract your overseas employer has with your UK sponsor
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You have not reached the maximum total stay (maximum of 5 years in any 6 year period).