How much does it cost to apply for a Graduate Trainee Visa?
This visa costs £259 and there is an immigration healthcare surcharge of £624 per year.
Graduate Trainee Visa – Global Business Mobility
The Graduate Trainee Visa replaces the graduate trainee aspect of the Intra-Company Transfer category. This route is for overseas workers who are undertaking temporary work assignments in the UK for a graduate training course that will lead to a senior managerial or specialist role.
Our solicitors are on hand to advise and direct employers and employees through the Graduate Trainee Visa route to ensure that their application is successful. We have more than 15 years of experience in the field of immigration law and make sure that we do everything within our power to help you meet your business goals.
To speak to a solicitor about the Graduate Trainee Visa route, including what requirements are needed for a successful application, contact Latitude Law today by calling either 0044 161 234 6800 or 0044 207 046 7185 now. Alternatively, fill in our online enquiry form to request a call back.
What is the Global Business Mobility Graduate Trainee Visa?
The Global Business Mobility Visa (GBM) for graduate trainees is one of five business immigration routes for overseas organisations to establish presence in the UK or transfer workers here. The new routes were open to applicants on 11th April 2022.
The visa route is for foreign workers who are seeking to be transferred to the UK by their employer for a work placement as part of their graduate training course to become a senior manager or specialist worker.
The Graduate Trainee Visa is a category under the UK’s points-based immigration system that has replaced the graduate trainee provision under the Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Visa.
Requirements for Graduate Trainee Visas
To be eligible to apply for leave under the Graduate Trainee route, applicants must:
- Be aged 18 or over
- Have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a UK sponsor
- Have worked outside of the UK for the organisation that wishes to make the transfer for at least three months prior to the date of application
- Be sponsored for a genuine job that is on the list of eligible occupations
- Expect to receive the minimum salary required for the job of £23,100 gross per annum or a percentage of the “going rate” for the role
- Provide evidence of £1,270 in maintenance funds unless the sponsor is certifying maintenance
- Provide a valid tuberculosis (TB) test certificate, if required
If an application is granted, you will normally be permitted to stay as a graduate trainee for one year. You may extend a visa from within the UK for one year at a time. However, you must be careful to not spend more than the maximum cumulative time permitted in the UK under any of the Global Business Mobility routes (usually a maximum of five years in any six-year period).
For companies that use the graduate trainee category regularly, the UKVI has removed the limit of only being able to assign 20 CoSs each year.
How to apply for a Graduate Trainee Visa
To apply for a Graduate Trainee Visa, an online application must be made using the CoS reference number. An application can be made up to three months before the date the applicant is due to start work in the UK.
The applicant will need to prove their identity and provide certain documents in support of their application – attending an appointment in order to do this may be necessary.
Evidence will also need to be provided to:
- prove that the applicant has worked for their employer outside of the UK for three months;
- outline details of the training programme;
- prove personal finances unless maintenance is certified; and
- submit tuberculosis test results, if necessary.
Why Choose Latitude Law?
The team at Latitude Law is well versed in helping businesses to send workers to the UK by providing advice on the sponsorship obligations for employers and the visa application process for employees.
Our experienced legal team will ensure your application is strong and processed on time to minimise business disruption. This includes:
- Advising on the appropriate type of sponsorship application
- Assisting with your sponsor licence application
- Helping to gather the appropriate supporting documents
- Making sure you are meeting the relevant sponsor compliance duties
- Advising on assigning Certificates of Sponsorship
- Making applications for sponsor licence renewals
Our team has helped thought leaders, innovators and business people to work and establish their businesses in the UK. We have a deep understanding of the law, immigration rules, and Home Office policies and guidance, which informs decisions related to this area of law.
FAQs about Graduate Trainee Visa
How long does it take to process a Graduate Trainee Visa?
Once an application for a Graduate Trainee Visa has been made, a decision will usually be granted within three weeks. There may be options to pay for a faster result.
Can I bring my family with me on a Graduate Trainee Visa?
The route allows Graduate Trainee Visa applicants to bring a dependent family member (spouse/partner or child under the age of 18) to the UK, provided they meet the relationship and financial requirements.
A spouse or partner needs to show proof of funds of £285 to be eligible for application, while dependent children under the age of 18 need £315, with any additional children needing £200 each.
Applications can be made at the same time as the primary visa holder, and visas will end on the same date as the holder of the Graduate Trainee Visa.
Does the Graduate Trainee Visa lead to settlement in the UK?
This route does not lead to settlement in the UK. To apply for settlement, individuals must switch onto a different immigration route, provided they meet the specific requirements for that route.
Contact us
For advice on Graduate Trainee Visas, including which Global Business Mobility route to take and how to make a successful application, contact Latitude Law today by calling 0044 161 234 6800 or 0044 207 046 7185. Alternatively, fill in our online enquiry form and we will call you back.
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All content on this page was reviewed by Latitude Law and is accurate as of 20/05/2022