Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee Visa explained by our consultant based in India

The Graduate Trainee visa is for overseas workers who are undertaking temporary work assignments in the UK. The employee must be on a graduate training course leading to a senior management or specialist position and is required to do a work placement in the UK. This type of assignment is often called an Intra-Company Transfer-Graduate Trainee or ICT.

While applying for a Graduate Trainee visa, the applicant needs to have enough money to:

• Pay the £259 Application fee.
• Pay the Healthcare surcharge – this is usually £624 per year.
• Support themselves after arriving in the UK – the applicant usually has to have at least £1,270 available (unless exempted from this requirement).

Documents required for a UK Graduate Trainee visa are listed below:

• A Certificate of Sponsorship reference number – given by the UK-based employer.
• A valid passport to prove identity. The passport must have a blank page.
• Job title and annual salary.
• Job’s occupation code.
• Name of the employer and their Sponsor Licence number – this is mentioned on the Certificate of Sponsorship.
• Evidence that the applicant has enough personal savings to support their stay in the UK. For example, bank statements.
• Proof of relationship – partner or children (if they are applying along with the main applicant).
• Tuberculosis test results (if required).

Documents required for a UK Graduate Trainee visa are listed below:

• A Certificate of Sponsorship reference number – given by the UK-based employer.
• A valid passport to prove identity. The passport must have a blank page.
• Job title and annual salary.
• Job’s occupation code.
• Name of the employer and their Sponsor Licence number – this is mentioned on the Certificate of Sponsorship.
• Evidence that the applicant has enough personal savings to support their stay in the UK. For example, bank statements.
• Proof of relationship – partner or children (if they are applying along with the main applicant).
• Tuberculosis test results (if required).

• The applicant must apply for a Graduate Trainee visa online.
• The applicant can also include a partner and children (under 18 years) in the application to stay in the UK if they are eligible.

Yes, a Certificate of Sponsorship from the UK employer is a mandatory requirement for the applicant to apply for a UK Graduate Trainee visa.

An applicant can stay in the UK with a Graduate Trainee visa for whichever is a shorter span:

• The time mentioned on the Certificate of Sponsorship, plus 14 days.
• 12 months.

With a Graduate Trainee visa, the applicant can:

• Work for their sponsor in the job described in the Certificate of Sponsorship.
• Study.
• Bring partner and children as ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible.
• Do voluntary work.
• Travel abroad and return to the UK.

The main applicant can be accompanied by a partner and children (under 18 years) to the UK on the UK Graduate Trainee visa.

The Graduate Trainee visa does not permit settlement in the UK.