Graduate Trainee Visa

What is the Graduate Trainee Visa?

The Graduate Trainee Visa is a sub-category of the Global Business Mobility route. The GBM routes have been introduced to encourage overseas businesses to establish a presence in the UK or to transfer staff to the UK.

The Graduate Trainee Visa allows individuals to come to the UK to work for the UK branch of their current employer. Individuals must be on a structured graduate training programme which leads to a senior management or specialist role with the affiliated overseas business. This visa has replaced the Intra-company Graduate Trainee Visa.

What are the requirements for a Graduate Trainee Visa?

In order to apply for the Graduate Trainee Route Visa, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Be paid at least £25,410 per year or the going rate for the job (whichever is higher) - 70% of the going rate can be applied.
• Have worked for an overseas company for at least 3 months.
• Must have a certificate of sponsorship from an approved UK sponsor.
• The job they are doing in the UK must be on the list of eligible occupations and must be at RQF Level 6 or above.
• Have funds of at least £1,270 (unless the sponsor can certify that they will accommodate and maintain the employee in their first month of being in the UK).

- Correct at the time of writing - 26th April 2024.

UK Graduate Trainee Visa: Sponsorship requirement

To be eligible for a Graduate Trainee Visa, applicants must have a valid certificate of sponsorship for the job which they will be carrying out whilst in the UK. Applicants will be given their certificate of sponsorship from their employer and will be required to provide the reference number as part of the application.

The certificate of sponsorship contains information about the work which will be carried out in the UK and will be used to prove that you meet the overseas work requirements laid for the Graduate Trainee Visa. In order to be eligible for this visa, applicants must have worked continuously for the linked overseas company for at least 3 months leading up to the application. This period of time cannot include time spent working for the company in the UK. 

UK Graduate Trainee Visa: Skill level requirement

Applicants for the Graduate Trainee Visa are required to show that they are coming to the UK to do an eligible job which is skilled to RQF level 6 or above (graduate level).

UK Graduate Trainee Visa: Salary requirement

Applicants must be paid at least £25,410 (per year) or 70% of the 'going rate' for the occupation code. Applicants working in certain healthcare or education jobs must be paid at least £25,410 (per year) or the full ‘going rate’ for the occupation code. Here is a full list of eligible occupations and their ‘going rate’.

- Correct at the time of writing - 26th April 2024.

How long is the Graduate Trainee Visa valid for?

Individuals with a Graduate Trainee Route Visa can stay in the UK for either 12 months or the time given on their certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days (whichever is shorter). Individuals can only stay in the UK for a maximum of 5 years in any 6-year period.

Individuals cannot extend the Graduate Trainee Visa. Instead, if individuals wish to remain in the UK then they must apply for another Graduate Trainee Visa from outside the UK.

Dependents and the Graduate Trainee Visa

Individuals with a Graduate Trainee Route Visa are able to bring their dependents (partner and children) to the UK with them (providing they are eligible). If dependents make a successful application, then they will be able to work in the UK full-time and their visa will end on the same date as the main applicant (the individual with the Graduate Trainee Route Visa).

How to apply for the Graduate Trainee Visa

Applicants wishing to apply for a Graduate Trainee Visa must make an online application. As part of the application process, applicants will be required to provide a range of documents in order to confirm their identity and that they meet the eligibility requirements. 

Applicants may be required to provide biometric information which (depending on circumstance) will be done by using the 'UK Immigration ID Check' app or by attending a biometrics appointment at a visa application centre. If this additional information is required, applicants will be informed at the time of application.

Switching to the Graduate Trainee Visa

Individuals already in the UK cannot switch to the Graduate Trainee Visa as they must have worked for their employer overseas for at least 3 months prior to making an application.

Application fees and the Graduate Trainee Visa

An applicant applying for a Graduate Trainee Visa will need to pay an application fee which costs £298. Applicants will also be required to pay the immigration healthcare surcharge which is £1035 per year.

Employers will be required to £239 (per worker) to assign a certificate of sponsorship.

- Correct at the time of writing - 26th April 2024.