The Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Visa allowed multinational companies to transfer skilled employees from overseas offices to the UK. It was a popular route for businesses needing to move senior staff or specialists for temporary assignments. However, the visa category closed to new applicants on 11 April 2022 and has been replaced by the Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker Visa.
What was the Tier 2 ICT visa?
Under previous rules, the Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) visa allowed employers to transfer key personnel to the UK through visa sponsorship. There were several key considerations when using the Tier 2 ICT route. Sponsorship requirements were strict, with businesses needing a valid sponsor licence and compliance with salary thresholds, work conditions and reporting duties. Failure to meet these obligations risked fines, sponsor licence suspension or revocation.
The visa did not lead to settlement, limiting long-term talent retention for UK businesses. Employers also needed to ensure the role met minimum salary levels, which could be higher for senior staff. Costs were another concern, as visa fees, the Immigration Skills Charge, and salary requirements placed financial strain on businesses.
Tier 2 ICT visa closure
The Tier 2 ICT visa was replaced by the Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker Visa as part of the UK government’s wider overhaul of the immigration system. This change was introduced on 11 April 2022 and intended to create a more streamlined approach for businesses transferring overseas employees to the UK.
The decision to close the Tier 2 ICT route was influenced by several factors. The UK aimed to simplify and consolidate work visa options, making it easier for employers to understand and comply with the rules. The government also wanted to align the system with the post-Brexit immigration framework, focusing on highly skilled workers and addressing concerns about the reliance on temporary transfers over long-term workforce development.
What is the Global Business Mobility visa?
The Global Business Mobility (GBM) visa was introduced as a broader category, covering five specific business needs, including senior and specialist workers, graduate trainees, secondments and UK expansion workers. The Senior or Specialist Worker Visa, which replaced the ICT route, largely retains the same function but introduces higher salary thresholds and slightly revised eligibility criteria.
Employers must now ensure they hold the correct sponsor licence under the GBM scheme and meet the updated salary and sponsorship requirements when transferring staff to the UK.
What is the Senior or Specialist Worker visa?
The Senior or Specialist Worker visa is for multinational companies transferring key employees to a UK branch, such as senior managers and specialist employees, with skills essential to the UK operations of the overseas business.
Employers must be registered as licensed sponsors to bring workers to the UK under this visa. A Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) must be issued for each worker, outlining details of the role and salary. The job must meet the required skill level, and the salary must be at the relevant level. Currently, the general salary threshold is £48,500 or the specified ‘going rate’ for the occupation will apply if higher. Each eligible occupation has its own annual rate, as set out in the going rates table for eligible occupations on the Home Office website. Employees must have worked for the overseas employer for at least 12 months, unless earning £73,900 or more.
The visa allows workers to stay in the UK for up to five years at a time, with a maximum stay of nine years in any ten-year period if earning £73,900 or more. Unlike some work visas, it does not lead directly to settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain). Employers must ensure compliance with sponsorship rules to avoid penalties.
Need assistance?
DavidsonMorris are specialists in UK business immigration, with substantial experience and recognised expertise in advising employers and workers on UK employment sponsorship, sponsor licence applications and management, and visa applications such as the Senior or Specialist Worker GBM visa. We work with employers to provide expert guidance on global mobility programmes and UK immigration options and to support with all types of UK Home Office applications.
For specialist immigration advice to support your talent mobility and business operations, contact us.
Tier 2 ICT visa FAQs
Is the Tier 2 ICT Visa still available?
No, the Tier 2 ICT Visa closed to new applicants on 11 April 2022. It has been replaced by the Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker Visa.
What was the purpose of the Tier 2 ICT Visa?
It allowed multinational companies to transfer skilled employees from overseas branches to a UK office. The visa was commonly used for senior managers, specialists and graduate trainees who were needed for temporary assignments.
Can Tier 2 ICT visa holders apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)?
No, the Tier 2 ICT Visa did not provide a direct path to settlement. Workers wishing to stay permanently in the UK would need to switch to a different visa route that allows settlement.
What visa has replaced the Tier 2 ICT route?
The Senior or Specialist Worker Visa, part of the Global Business Mobility (GBM) scheme, now serves the same purpose but with updated salary thresholds and eligibility rules.
Can a UK employer still transfer overseas employees to the UK?
Yes, but they must now apply under the Global Business Mobility – Senior or Specialist Worker Visa. Employers must hold a valid sponsor licence and ensure the role meets the salary and skill level requirements.
What should employers do if they have existing Tier 2 ICT visa holders?
Employers should continue to meet sponsorship duties, including reporting any changes to the worker’s employment. Employees may be eligible for visa extensions, but new hires must apply under the updated Global Business Mobility route.
How long can an employee stay under the new visa?
The visa allows workers to stay for up to five years at a time, with a maximum stay of nine years in any ten-year period if earning £73,900 or more. Those earning less have a maximum stay of five years in any six-year period.
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Tier 2 ICT Visa | A former UK visa route allowing multinational companies to transfer employees to a UK branch. Closed to new applicants on 11 April 2022. |
| Global Business Mobility (GBM) | A UK immigration scheme introduced in 2022, which includes the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa and other routes for business transfers. |
| Senior or Specialist Worker Visa | The visa that replaced the Tier 2 ICT route, allowing senior managers and specialist employees to be transferred to the UK. |
| Sponsor Licence | Approval required for UK employers to sponsor overseas workers under work visa routes, including the Global Business Mobility scheme. |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) | An electronic document issued by a UK employer to support a work visa application, containing job and salary details. |
| Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain – ILR) | Permanent residency status in the UK, which the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa does not directly lead to. |
| Salary Threshold | The minimum salary required for eligibility under a work visa. For the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa, this is £45,800 per year or £24.27 per hour. |
| Maximum Stay | The longest period a worker can stay in the UK under a visa. For the Senior or Specialist Worker Visa, this is either 5 years in 6 or 9 years in 10, depending on salary. |
Author
Founder and Managing Director Anne Morris is a fully qualified solicitor and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.
She is a recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers as a legal expert and delivers Board-level advice on business migration and compliance risk management as well as overseeing the firm’s development of new client propositions and delivery of cost and time efficient processing of applications.
Anne is an active public speaker, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals
