The UK officially ended the Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) visa. This visa was used to transfer senior or skilled employees from overseas branches to the UK for a temporary role. On the same day, the UK introduced a new route called the Global Business Mobility route, which is designed to help UK employers bring high-level staff to work in the country temporarily.
The new Global Business Mobility route has five categories, two of which directly replace the previous ICT visa categories (the Intra-Company Transfer and Intra-Company Transfer (Graduate Trainee) routes).
In this article, we’ll explain how this change impacts employers who previously held an ICT sponsor license, and what you need to know to prepare for the future.
Will my Sponsor Licence be Affected?
No, your sponsor license will automatically transition from the Intra-Company Transfer category to the new Global Mobility category. This means you won’t see any immediate changes to your license, and the sponsor management system will still function the same way. However, you will no longer be able to assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) under the ICT route.
If you were an ICT sponsor, you can now assign CoS under the new Senior or Specialist Worker route. If you previously used the ICT (Graduate Trainee) route, you will be moved to the new Graduate Trainee category and can sponsor employees in this area.
What Happens to My ICT CoS Allocation?
Your existing CoS allocation will stay the same as it was on 10 April 2022. There will be no changes to the number of CoS you had before the transition.
What if I Requested More CoS Before April 2022?
If you requested an increase in your ICT CoS allocation before 11 April 2022, and it wasn’t decided by that date, your request will now be assessed under the new Senior or Specialist Worker rules.
Also, the old ICT Graduate Trainee route had a limit of 20 CoS per year. Under the new Graduate Trainee route, however, there is no limit on the number of CoS you can assign.
If you had an outstanding request for a Graduate Trainee CoS that wasn’t decided before April 2022, it will expire. You’ll need to submit a new request, which will be assessed based on the current rules.
Do I Need to Assign a New CoS for Existing Employees?
No, if you assigned a CoS before the rule change, you can still use it for a Global Mobility application. This applies whether your employee is applying from abroad (entry clearance) or if they are already in the UK (extension or leave to remain).
How Will This Affect My Migrant Workers?
The salary requirements have changed for both the Senior or Specialist Worker and Graduate Trainee categories:
- Senior or Specialist Workers must earn at least £42,400 per year.
- Graduate Trainees must earn at least £23,100 per year.
If your budget for Intra-Company Transfers was based on the old salary thresholds, you’ll need to ensure that any new transferees or extensions meet the updated salary requirements.
For most sponsors, the transition from the Intra-Company Transfer route to the new Global Mobility route should be straightforward. However, if you’re in the middle of the sponsorship process or sponsoring an overseas employee, it’s important to check that your CoS is assigned under the new categories. Also, ensure that the salary meets the new thresholds for the Senior or Specialist Worker or Graduate Trainee routes.
At Law and Visas, we specialize in UK immigration law and have helped many clients navigate the recent changes to the system. If you need assistance with sponsoring an employee under the new Global Mobility route or have questions about how these changes affect your business, feel free to contact us.
