UK Graduate Trainee Visa

What is the Graduate Trainee Visa?

The Graduate Trainee Visa is part of the UK’s Global Business Mobility scheme. It is designed for individuals on a structured graduate training programme with their overseas employer, leading to a specialist or senior managerial role.

This visa allows trainees to work temporarily in their employer's UK branch, gaining industry experience as part of their development path.

It replaces the former Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) Graduate Trainee route.

Note: This visa differs from the UK Graduate Visa, which is for UK students who have completed an academic qualification.

Global Business Mobility Routes

The Global Business Mobility scheme is a UK immigration route for overseas businesses to send workers to the UK temporarily for specific business purposes.

The GBM scheme has five subcategories:

Senior or Specialist Worker

For senior managers or specialists being transferred to a UK branch.

Graduate Trainee

For workers on a graduate training programme with a UK placement.

UK Expansion Worker

For overseas businesses setting up a UK branch for the first time.

Service Supplier

For contractual service suppliers or self-employed professionals under trade agreements.

Secondment Worker

For workers seconded to the UK as part of a high-value contract or investment.

Each route has its own eligibility criteria, but all require a UK sponsor licence and do not directly lead to settlement.

Visa Pathway

The Graduate Trainee Visa does not provide a direct route to settle permanently in the UK, such as Indefinite Leave to Remain or British citizenship. However, you can switch to another visa category that does lead to settlement.

You cannot apply to switch to a Graduate Trainee visa from inside the UK.

Dependents

The Graduate Trainee Visa allows you to bring dependents, including your partner and children, to the UK, provided they meet the eligibility requirements. This enables your immediate family to accompany you in the UK.

Eligibility Criteria

This visa is designed for trainees engaged in a specific program that prepares them for senior managerial or specialist roles within the organisation. To qualify for a UK Graduate Trainee visa, the applicant must:

• Be on a structured managerial or specialist graduate training programme with their overseas employer.
• Have been employed by the sponsor outside the UK for at least 3 continuous months immediately before applying.
• Hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from the UK branch of their employer, detailing the role they will perform in the UK.
• Be taking up a role listed on the UK’s list of eligible occupations.
• Be paid a minimum salary of at least £25,410 per year or the “going rate” for the role, whichever is higher.
• Have at least £1,270 in your bank account for 28 consecutive days, with the 28 days ending no more than 31 days before your application date.
• Be employed by an organisation with a sponsor licence, which the Home Office approves to sponsor Graduate Trainee workers.

Job Level Requirement

To qualify for a Graduate Trainee visa, the role must:

• Be part of a structured graduate training programme with a clear path to a senior management or specialist position.
• Be skilled to at least RQF Level 6 (graduate level). You don’t need a degree, but the job must be equivalent to a graduate-level role.
• Fall under an eligible occupation code from the Graduate Trainee list, a subset of the Skilled Worker occupations.
• Match a valid Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code the Home Office defines.

The sponsoring employer must select the correct occupation code. The Home Office will assess whether:

• There is a genuine need for the role.
• You have the skills, qualifications, and experience needed to perform the job.

Required Documentation

The exact documentation you must provide when applying for a Graduate Trainee visa can vary depending on your circumstances. However, applicants will generally need to provide:

• A valid passport or other identity document confirming your nationality
• Employer’s name and sponsor licence number – found on your Certificate of Sponsorship
• Certificate of Sponsorship reference number from your employer
• Job title and annual salary
• Job’s occupation code
• Proof of enough personal savings, such as bank statements, unless your employer is covering your costs (this will be stated on your certificate)
• Proof of relationship with your partner or children if they are applying with you
• Tuberculosis test results, if you're from a country where this is required

You may also be asked to provide:

• Proof you’ve worked for your employer outside the UK for the past 3 months, such as:
• Payslips
• Bank statements
• Details of your training programme
• A valid ATAS certificate if your job involves PhD-level research in sensitive subjects

You must include a certified translation if any of your documents are not in English or Welsh.

Processing Time

After submitting your online application, verifying your identity, and providing your documents, you will usually receive a decision within 3 weeks.

Fees

The Graduate Trainee visa application fee is £298.

You’ll also need to pay the immigration healthcare surcharge (IHS), which is £1,035 per year for each year you spend in the UK. The IHS is a fee that gives you access to the National Health Service while you’re in the UK on a visa.

How to Apply for the Graduate Trainee Visa

You can apply for the visa up to 3 months before your job start date in the UK. The process of applying for a Graduate Trainee visa is as follows:

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

You must have worked for your overseas sponsor for at least 3 months before applying, and your UK sponsor must hold a sponsor licence and issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).

Step 2: Apply Online

Complete the Graduate Trainee visa application form via the Gov.uk website.

Step 3: Upload Supporting Documents

Submit your supporting documents, including your passport, CoS reference, and proof of employment with your sponsor.

Step 4: Attend Biometrics Appointment

If required, attend an appointment at the visa application centre to provide fingerprints and a photo.

Step 5: Wait for a Decision

Applications can be submitted up to 3 months before the start date of your UK job, and they are typically processed in 3 weeks.

Step 6: Travel to the UK

If approved, you may enter the UK to begin your role as set out in your CoS.

Duration and Conditions of Stay

If your Graduate Trainee visa is approved, you will be allowed to stay in the UK for up to one year from the start date of your job or for the duration specified in your Certificate of Sponsorship, plus an additional 14 days—whichever of these two periods is shorter.

If you've held leave under any Global Business Mobility routes, you can spend a maximum of 5 years in the UK within 6 years.

While in the UK, you can work for your sponsor in the role specified in your Certificate of Sponsorship, study, do voluntary work, travel in and out of the country, and bring eligible family members as dependants.

However, you cannot claim public funds or the State Pension, take a second job, change employers, or apply for permanent settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain).

Get Support With the Graduate Trainee Visa

The Graduate Trainee visa allows individuals to gain valuable UK work experience in specialist or managerial roles—boosting career growth and global exposure. It’s a strategic way for businesses to transfer talent, develop future leaders, and ensure consistency across global teams.

At QC Immigration, we support individuals and employers through every process stage. We provide clear, expert guidance, whether you're applying for the visa, navigating eligibility, or gathering documents. For businesses, we assist with sponsor licence applications, issuing Certificates of Sponsorship, and ensuring ongoing compliance with Home Office requirements.