UK Secondment Worker Visa

The UK Secondment Worker Visa is designed for individuals who are temporarily transferring to a UK-based company as part of a high-value contract or investment. This visa allows workers to immigrate to UK for up to 12 months, with a possible extension of another 12 months.

Applicants must have a sponsor from a licensed UK business and meet specific eligibility criteria, including a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). This visa helps companies bring in skilled workers for a set period, facilitating knowledge transfer and project completion.

Apply for UK Secondment Worker Visa

UK Secondment Worker Visa Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for the UK Secondment Worker Visa, you must:

• Be an existing employee of an overseas organization that has a high-value contract with your UK’s sponsor: The organization you work for in the UK is also known as your sponsor. Your overseas employer must have an eligible contract with your UK sponsor that is worth at least £50 million.

• Have a valid ‘Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)’ from your employer: Your employer will provide you with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) detailing the job you will be performing in the UK. This is an electronic record, not a physical document. You will need the reference number from this certificate when applying for your visa. You must apply for the UK Secondment Worker Visa within 3 months of getting the CoS.

• Do a job that is on the UK Global Business Mobility (GBM) eligible occupations list: Your job must be on the UK GBM eligible occupations list. If you do not know your 4-digit occupation code, you can search for your job in the CASCOT occupation coding tool.

• Have worked for your overseas employee for 12 months.

UK Secondment Worker Visa Documents Required

When applying for the UK Secondment Worker Visa, you will need to provide:

• Your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number.
• A valid passport and other identity documents.
• Your job title and its 4-digit occupation code.
• The name of your sponsor and their sponsor licence number.
• Proof of funds to support yourself in the UK.
• Proof of relationship with your partner and dependents if they are applying with you.
• Your tuberculosis test results.

Other documents you might need

Depending on your situation you might also be asked to provide:

• Proof that you have worked for your employer outside the UK.
• An ATAS certificate if your job involves researching a sensitive subject at PhD level or higher.
• A police background check certificate.

If your documents are not in English or Welsh, you must provide a certified translation.

How to apply for UK Secondment Worker Visa?

You must apply for UK Secondment Worker Visa online. How you apply depends on whether you are residing:

• Outside the UK.
• Inside the UK and extending your current visa.
• Inside the UK and switching from a different visa.

Your partner and children can also apply with you to stay in the UK as your ‘dependents’ if they are eligible.

Note: The UK Secondment Worker Visa application process can get a bit complex, especially for first-timers. If you are having trouble, seek guidance from the best UK Immigration Consultants in India at Nationwide Visas.

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UK Secondment Worker Visa Costs

Application costs

The standard application fee for UK Secondment Worker Visa is £298.

Money to support yourself

You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show that you can support yourself in the UK. You will need to have these funds available in your bank account for at least 28 days in a row. The 28th day must be within 31 days of applying for the Secondment Worker Visa. Your partner and children will also need to prove that they can support themselves while they are in the UK. You - or your partner or child - will need:

• £285 for your partner
• £315 for one child
• £200 for each additional child

Healthcare surcharge

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge for each year of your stay which is usually £1,035 per year.

UK Secondment Worker Visa Processing Time

The latest UK Visa processing time to apply for the Secondment Worker Visa is 3 weeks if you are outside the UK and 8 weeks if you are applying from inside the UK. You may be able to pay to get super-priority faster service.

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

UK Secondment Worker Visa Validity

You can stay in the UK with a Secondment Worker Visa for either:

• 12 months after the start date of the job detailed in your CoS.
• The time given on your CoS + 14 days.

If you want to stay longer in the UK, you can apply to extend your visa by 12 months. The maximum total stay allowed for this visa is 2 years.

UK Secondment Worker Visa Extension

You can usually apply for UK Secondment Worker Visa extension and stay in the UK if all of the following are true:

• You are still working for the UK sponsor who gave you your current CoS.
• You are still working on the same contract that your employer has with your sponsor.
• You have not reached the maximum total stay.

You must be in the UK to extend your visa. Your partner and children will need to submit a separate application if they want to extend their visa.

Need help?

Connect with Nationwide Visas, one of the best UK Immigration Consultants in India. Our team will evaluate your case, offering the best solutions to immigrate to UK under the Secondment Worker Visa. Whether you need help with your application, documentation, or finding jobs - we’ve got you covered. Get a free consultation session and determine the best option to apply for your situation.