Secondment Worker Visa UK: Global Mobility Visa Routes 

The Secondment Worker visa allows a UK organisation to sponsor an overseas talent from a partner organisation overseas, to access their skills and expertise. 

Our immigration team at RVS Solicitors is highly experienced in assisting clients with work visa applications of all types, including the Secondment Worker visa. By working with our dedicated team of immigration solicitors, you can apply for a Secondment Worker visa with confidence, as we aim to make this process as stress-free and comfortable for you as possible.

We take pride in our ability to listen, partner with our clients and provide prompt and reliable advice. Our virtual services are tailored to save you time and deliver cost-effective services, so that can focus on preparing for your journey, while we help make legal representations on your behalf and assist you in gathering the necessary documents for a successful application. 

Secondment Worker Visa UK (FAQs)

What is a Secondment Worker visa?

A Secondment Worker visa allows an overseas employer to transfer an employee to the UK, to work temporarily at an eligible job, for a different organisation. This is only possible if the overseas employer has a high-value contract with the UK organisation. The UK-based organisation will be the sponsor and as such requires holding a Sponsorship Licence specifically for this route.  The duration of this visa is 12 months, with a maximum time of 2 years, meaning that the work will have a temporary nature. 

If you are an individual applying to come to the UK on a Secondment Worker visa, you need to be aware that a Secondment Worker visa does not lead directly to settlement in the UK. However, our immigration team at RVS Solicitors can advise you on possible routes to switch into, should your ultimate plan be to settle and obtain indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK. 

Furthermore, if you wish to be joined by your partner and children on this visa, we are happy to advise you and make sure you meet the eligibility requirements. 

What are the UK Secondment Worker visa requirements?

To be eligible for a Secondment Worker visa, you must:

• Be a current employee for an overseas business that has a contract with your UK sponsor 
• Have worked outside the UK for that overseas business for 12 months
• Obtain a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ from a sponsoring UK organisation
• Be sponsored for an eligible occupation 
• Have enough money to support yourself without relying on public funds

• Have provided a valid TB certificate, if required

Furthermore, there needs to be a high-value contract between the overseas business you are currently working for and the UK business that is sponsoring you. This means a contract worth at least £50 million. This contract has to be registered with the Home Office by the sponsor. 

How to prove employment outside the UK?

You must have worked for 12 months outside the UK for the overseas business, with any breaks during this period only for exceptional reasons, such as maternity, paternity, serious illness etc. 

You will be required to prove your employment with the business by providing evidence of continued employment over the past 12 months period, ending with the date of application. Our immigration team will advise and guide you on the evidential requirements. 

How to obtain a ‘Certification of Sponsorship?’

Your UK Sponsor will provide you with a Certificate of Sponsorship. To do so, they must have a valid Sponsorship Licence that covers the Secondment Worker route. The Certificate of Sponsorship is an electronic document detailing information about the work you will be doing in the UK. It will have:

• Your job title and salary.
• Confirmation that you are currently working for an overseas business that has a contract with your sponsor registered with the Home Office.
• Confirmation of work outside the UK for at least 12 months.
• Start date of the job (no more than 3 months after the date of your Secondment Worker visa application).
• End date, etc. 

The Certificate of Sponsorship will come with a reference number which you will need for your visa application. You will need to apply for your visa within 3 months of receiving your Certificate of Sponsorship. 

How much money do I need to show for a Secondment visa UK?

Unless you are exempt from proving the financial requirements, because your sponsor has certified your maintenance on the CoS, you need to have at least £1,270 available to support yourself in the UK. You will need to provide evidence that this amount was held on your account for at least 28 days. 

Can my partner and children join me? 

Your partner and children can join you under the Secondment Worker visa as your ‘dependants.’ You will need to prove your relationship with them before they can be granted the visa. Their application can be done either at the same time as yours, or at a later date, after you have been granted your visa. In either case, their leave will be in line with yours, meaning their visa will be valid until the same date as yours. 

How much does the application cost?

Altogether, you need to have enough funds to pay for the following:

• Application fee of £259
• Healthcare surcharge of £624 for each year you will be in the UK
• Supporting funds of at least £1,270 (unless you’re exempt) 
• Legal fees, if you wish to ensure your application is handled by experienced UK immigration lawyers. 

Should you wish to be joined by your partner and children, below are the additional costs you would need to pay:

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

How do I apply for a Secondment Worker visa?

You will need to secure a sponsorship from an eligible sponsor and receive a Certificate of Sponsorship from them. Following this, you will be able to apply for a Secondment Worker visa using the online application form. 

As part of the application process, you will need to provide evidence of meeting the Secondment Worker visa requirements and, if applying with dependents, evidence of your relationship with them. You will also be required to attend a biometric appointment before your application can be processed. 

What can RVS Solicitors do for you?

Our Immigration team is experienced in advising businesses and individuals in respect of their immigration requirements. Whether you are a UK-based business looking to receive someone from overseas, a foreign company in need of posting an employee to a UK partner organisation or an individual who is being seconded to work in the UK, we are able to guide you from A to Z, until you obtain the necessary Immigration permissions and visas. 

Our strong business acumen and client-centred approach sets us apart from other immigration firms. We understand the importance of having your best people available to work for you at the necessary time and we aim to eliminate any chances for errors and take care to review your application so that it is of the highest quality and standard.  

By guiding you through every step of the Secondment Worker visa process, we are here to make simple the complexities that can arise from applications.

To find out more about how we can assist you with obtaining a Secondment Worker Visa, please contact our London office on 020 3372 5125 or complete our online enquiry form to make an appointment. Find out more information on our fees and timescales here.

To read more about similar issues please visit our blog or read on how we have helped others in similar circumstances by visiting our success stories.