What you can do
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Work for your employer's UK branch for up to 5 years.
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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 as a senior manager or specialist employee.
Current Immigration Status
You cannot switch to the senior or specialist worker 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
Senior or Specialist Worker Licence
Your sponsor will need a valid '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.
English Language
There is no English language requirement for this route.
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.
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 senior or specialist worker visa depends on the length of your employment as stated in your Certificate of Sponsorship:
Up to 3 years: £719
Over 3 years: £1,420
If you are applying from within the UK to extend or switch to this visa, the fee will be:
Up to 3 years: £827
Over 3 years: £1,500
Term & Fees
You will have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per year.
Processing
The current processing time for the senior or specialist worker visa is approximately 3 weeks for applications made from outside the UK or 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 senior or specialist 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 senior or specialist 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 senior or specialist worker visa, you can apply to extend it with the same employer - you will need a new Certificate of Sponsorship to apply.
The maximum length of time you can stay on a senior or specialist worker visa depends on your salary. You can stay a maximum of:
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5 years in any 6 year period (if you are paid less than £73,900 per year)
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9 years in any 10 year period (if you are paid more than £73,900 per year)