Written byFizza Butool ZaidiIELTS teacher for 10+ years, PTE for 5Updated 30 October 2026
What gov.uk asks for
The overview lists four conditions: existing employee of an approved sponsor, a certificate of sponsorship, a job on the eligible occupations list, and pay of at least £52,500 per year (gov.uk). The eligibility page adds an ATAS certificate for some PhD-level research and, if you earn under £73,900, possible proof that you worked for your employer outside the UK for at least 12 months.
English appears in the guide only as a translation rule: documents not in English or Welsh need a certified translation.
| Pay | Maximum total stay on Global Business Mobility visas |
|---|---|
| Under £73,900 a year | 5 years in any 6-year period |
| £73,900 a year or more | 9 years in any 10-year period |
Why this differs from the Skilled Worker visa
The Skilled Worker visa has its own knowledge of English requirement at B2; see IELTS for the UK Skilled Worker visa. If you later move from a Global Business Mobility visa to a Skilled Worker visa, check that route's English rules.
Rules change, sometimes at short notice. Confirm the current requirement on the gov.uk Senior or Specialist Worker guide before you book a test or apply. This guide restates the official page; it is not legal or immigration advice.
Need a SELT for a UK visa?
Where the Home Office asks for a Secure English Language Test, IELTS for UKVI and PTE Academic UKVI are approved. Practise the format free.
Free IELTS for UKVI practice →Practise before you book: free IELTS mock test, IELTS reading practice, IELTS listening practice and IELTS speaking predictions.
How long you can stay
Gov.uk says you can stay for whichever is shorter: the time on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, or 5 years. You can extend or apply again as many times as you like up to the maximum total stay.
Time on the Graduate Trainee, Secondment Worker, Service Supplier, UK Expansion Worker and earlier Intra-company visas counts towards the same maximum total stay.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Senior or Specialist Worker visa the old ICT visa?+
Yes. Gov.uk says it replaced the Intra-company Transfer visa, previously the Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) Long-term Staff visa.
Does a graduate trainee need English?+
Graduate trainees apply for the separate Graduate Trainee visa. This guide covers only the Senior or Specialist Worker visa.
Do my partner and children need an English test?+
The gov.uk partner and children section of this guide does not list an English test.
How long can I stay?+
The time on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, or 5 years, whichever is shorter, within the maximum total stay limits.
Keep reading
Related
- IELTS for the UK Skilled Worker visa
- Skilled Worker dependants and English
- UK Scale-up Worker visa English level
- All 3112 guides
Guide updated on 30 October 2026. Individual prices and policies may have earlier observation dates. Confirm current details on the linked official pages before you book or apply.
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