| For whom | trainees on a graduate programme for management or specialist roles |
| Prior employment | 3 months with the sponsor overseas, immediately before applying |
| Salary | at least £27,300 or 70 per cent of the going rate, whichever is higher |
| Length | 12 months at most, no extension |
| Fee | £340 plus £1,035 health surcharge a year |
| Settlement | not possible |
What the route is for
The Graduate Trainee visa lets an employee work for their employer at its UK branch when the job is part of a graduate training programme for a managerial or specialist role. It replaced the old Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa.
For a business with a UK subsidiary it is an easy way to send young talent over for a year without reaching the higher salary floors of the Senior or Specialist Worker. The UK entity needs a sponsor licence for this route and must be linked to head office.
The three conditions
First, prior employment: the trainee must have worked for the sponsor outside the UK for at least three months immediately before applying. That is why you cannot switch into this route from another visa inside the UK.
Second, salary: at least £27,300 a year or 70 per cent of the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher. Certain health and education jobs use the full going rate.
Third, the job: the occupation must be on the list of eligible jobs, and the programme must be real. An ordinary entry-level job labelled a graduate scheme does not qualify.
Length and what comes next
The visa runs for the period on the certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, twelve months at most. You cannot extend it, but you can apply for a new Graduate Trainee visa from outside the UK. The cap of five years in any six across all Global Business Mobility visas applies here too.
If the trainee is to stay in the UK afterwards, they need another visa, such as Skilled Worker through the UK subsidiary. The twelve months as a trainee do not count towards settlement.
Costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Visa fee | £340 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | £1,035 a year |
| Personal funds | £1,270, unless the employer covers the first month |
GOV.UK, Graduate Trainee visa, as of November 2026
What the application needs
The person applies online. GOV.UK usually asks for these documents and details:
- the certificate of sponsorship reference number your sponsor gives you
- a valid passport or other document showing your identity and nationality
- your job title, annual salary and the four-digit occupation code
- evidence of the three months with the sponsor overseas immediately before applying
- evidence of your relationship with your partner and children if they come with you
- a tuberculosis test if you come from a listed country, and certified translations of any documents not in English or Welsh
Timeline
The deadlines to plan around:
- 1
No earlier than 3 months before
You can apply for the Graduate Trainee visa no earlier than three months before the start date on your certificate of sponsorship.
- 2
Within 3 months of the certificate
Once you have your certificate of sponsorship, you have three months to apply.
- 3
Proving your identity
Either with the UK Immigration: ID Check app or with fingerprints and a photo at a visa application centre. In the second case, allow time for the appointment.
- 4
Decision
Usually within 3 weeks. Switching from another visa inside the UK is not possible on this route.
The five Global Business Mobility routes compared
All five need a licensed sponsor, none leads to settlement, and together they share a cap of five years in any six.
| Route | Typical case | Length | Salary or threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK Expansion Worker | Company sets up its first UK presence | up to 2 years | £52,500 or going rate |
| Senior or Specialist Worker | Transfer to the group's established UK entity | up to 5 years in 6 | £52,500 or going rate |
| Graduate Trainee | Trainee on a group programme | up to 12 months | £27,300 or 70 per cent of going rate |
| Service Supplier | Contract for a UK client under a trade agreement | 6 or 12 months | qualifications and experience |
| Secondment Worker | Secondment to a UK contracting party | up to 2 years | contract of £50 million or more |
GOV.UK, Global Business Mobility visas, as of November 2026
A year in the UK and tax
A trainee working in the UK for twelve months will usually become UK tax resident, even if they keep a flat at home. The UK branch must run their pay through UK payroll. What that means for social security and tax at home depends on the home country's rules. We explain the difference between visa and tax status under status and tax.
Frequently asked questions
Can a working student use the route?
Only if they are employed by the sponsor, have worked for it overseas for three months and the job is part of a genuine graduate programme.
Can the trainee bring family?
A partner and children can come as dependants, with the usual proof of funds.
What if the programme lasts longer than a year?
Then the second part needs a new visa from outside the UK or a different route.
Can the trainee stay on as a Skilled Worker after the year?
Yes, if the UK subsidiary holds a Skilled Worker sponsor licence and the job meets the salary and skill rules. The path to settlement then runs through Skilled Worker, not the trainee year.
Sources: GOV.UK: Graduate Trainee visa; GOV.UK: Immigration Rules Appendix Global Business Mobility; GOV.UK: Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application
