United Kingdom•Europe15-21 days
340 GBP
1 year
No
Required
Not Specified
No
Not Required
For graduate trainees on a temporary intra-company transfer to a UK branch.
The UK Graduate Trainee visa is part of the Global Business Mobility routes, allowing multinationals to transfer junior staff enrolled in a structured graduate training programme to a UK branch. The role must be on the eligible occupation list and lead toward a senior management or specialist position.
Stay is capped at 12 months with no in-country extension; applicants must reapply from outside the UK. Salary must meet £27,300/year or the going rate. The route carries no settlement pathway. Dependant partners and children may accompany the main applicant and can work in the UK.
This visa is ideal for overseas employees on a formal corporate graduate scheme who need a short UK placement within their existing employer group.
Visa application fee | 340 GBP |
Immigration Health Surcharge (per year) recurring | 1,035 GBP |
| Initial grant | 1 year |
Visas you can typically switch to from this status.
United KingdomEmployer must be a Home Office-approved sponsor with a valid sponsor licence
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) required, issued no more than 3 months before application
Must have worked for the sponsoring employer outside the UK for at least 3 consecutive months immediately before applying
Minimum salary of £27,300/year or 70% of the going rate for the occupation code (whichever is higher)
Job must be in an eligible occupation on the approved list (4-digit SOC code)
Role must be part of a structured graduate training programme with clear progression toward a managerial or specialist role
Must hold £1,270 in savings for 28 consecutive days (waived if sponsor certifies maintenance on CoS)
Must apply from outside the UK (cannot switch from within the UK)
Job Offer
Required
Education
bachelor or higher
Min. Income
27,300 EUR/yr
Min. Savings
1,270 EUR
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) reference number.
Valid passport or travel document.
Job title and annual salary.
Job's occupation code.
Name of the employer and sponsor licence number.
Evidence of 3 months' employment with the overseas employer (e.g., payslips, bank statements).
Evidence of personal savings (if required).
Proof of relationship for dependants (if applicable).
Tuberculosis test results (if required).
ATAS certificate (if the job involves sensitive research).
| Application Steps | Obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship reference number from your UK employer; Apply online via the UK … | gov.uk |
| Fee Breakdown | Visa application fee: 340 GBP; Immigration Health Surcharge (per year): 1035 GBP | gov.uk |
| Fee Breakdown · Visa application fee · amount | 319 | gov.uk |
| Fees | £319 application fee + £1,035/year Immigration Health Surcharge | gov.uk |
| Forms | — | gov.uk |
| Included Nationalities | — | gov.uk |
| Job Offer Required | true | gov.uk |
| Application Portal | https://www.gov.uk/graduate-trainee-visa/apply-from-outside-the-uk | gov.uk |
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