Introduction
From 22 July 2025, the UK Government will implement major changes to the Global Business Mobility (GBM) visa routes as part of its wider immigration reforms under Statement of Changes HC 997. These updates affect salary thresholds, job eligibility, and the number of workers that overseas businesses can send to the UK.
Whether you're an employer sponsoring overseas talent or a worker planning a UK transfer, it's crucial to understand how these changes could impact your visa options. This blog breaks it all down for you in simple terms.
What Is the Global Business Mobility Route?
The GBM visa route allows overseas businesses to transfer employees to the UK for specific business purposes. It includes several sub-routes:
⧁ Senior or Specialist Worker
⧁ Graduate Trainee
⧁ UK Expansion Worker
⧁ Service Supplier
⧁ Secondment Worker
What’s Changing from 22 July 2025 for GBM?
1. Higher Salary Thresholds Across GBM Routes
If you assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) on or after 22 July 2025, the following minimum salary thresholds will apply:
GBM Route | Old Threshold | New Threshold (from 22 July 2025) |
| Senior or Specialist Worker | £48,500 | £52,500 |
| Graduate Trainee | £25,410 | £27,300 |
| UK Expansion Worker | £48,500 | £52,500 |
| Scale-up Worker (Separate route) | £36,300 | £39,100 |
Note: Only the first 48 paid hours per week count towards the salary calculation.
2. Expanded Allowance for UK Expansion Workers
Previously, an overseas business could sponsor up to 5 workers under the UK Expansion Worker route. From 22 July 2025, this limit will increase to 10 workers—honouring the government’s pledge in the Immigration White Paper to support business growth in the UK.
3. RQF Level Requirements Tightened
The rebuilt Appendix Skilled Occupations will only allow jobs at RQF Level 6 or above for new GBM and Scale-up visa sponsorships. This means many previously eligible roles are now excluded, including:
■ Teaching Assistants
■ Medical and Dental Technicians
■ NHS Band 1–4 roles
These roles are no longer eligible for sponsorship under GBM unless transitional protections apply.
4. Transitional Arrangements for Downgraded Roles
A new Table 2b in Appendix Skilled Occupations offers temporary cover for 17 occupation codes that were previously considered RQF 6 but are now downgraded. These include:
| SOC 2020 occupation code | Equivalent SOC 2010 occupation code(s) | Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive) | Going rate (GBM – minimum rate) | 70% of going rate (GTR – minimum rate) |
| 1232 Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors | 1221, 1184 | • Day care managers • Home care managers • Residential care managers and proprietors • Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors not elsewhere classified | £32,000 (£16.41 per hour) | £25,000 (£12.82 per hour) |
| 1233 Early education and childcare services proprietors | 2319 | • Early education and childcare services proprietors | £31,300 (£16.05 per hour) | £25,000 (£12.82 per hour) |
| 1243 Managers in logistics | 1133, 1161 | • Managers in logistics | £37,300 (£19.13 per hour) | £26,100 (£13.38 per hour) |
| 1259 Managers and proprietors in other services not elsewhere classified | 1139 | • Cleaning and hygiene services managers and proprietors • Educational establishment managers and proprietors • Funeral services and crematorium managers and proprietors • Library managers • Recruitment agency managers and proprietors • Security services managers and proprietors • Managers and proprietors in other services not elsewhere classified | £33,100 (£16.97 per hour) | £25,000 (£12.82 per hour) |
| 2324 Early education and childcare services managers | 2319 | • Early education and childcare services managers | £31,300 (£16.05 per hour) | £25,000 (£12.82 per hour) |
| 3119 Science, engineering and production technicians not elsewhere classified | 3411 | • School technicians • Textile consultants • Science, engineering and production technicians not elsewhere classified | £31,300 (£16.05 per hour) | £25,000 (£12.82 per hour) |
| 3120 CAD, drawing and architectural technicians | 2435 | • Architectural technicians • BIM and CAD technicians • Cartographers • CAD, drawing and architectural technicians not elsewhere classified | £31,300 (£16.05 per hour) | £25,000 (£12.82 per hour) |
| 3133 Database administrators and web content technicians | 2137 | • Database administrators • Web content technicians • Database administrators and web content technicians not elsewhere classified | £31,300 (£16.05 per hour) | £25,000 (£12.82 per hour) |
| 3229 Welfare and housing associate professionals not elsewhere classified | 2129, 2318, 2412 | • Advocates (excludes solicitor advocates) • Celebrants • Charity workers • Day care officers • Health advisers • Homelessness and housing advice support workers • Mental health project workers • Probation service workers • Student support workers • Victim support workers • Welfare and housing associate professionals not elsewhere classified | £31,300 (£16.05 per hour) | £25,000 (£12.82 per hour) |
| 3411 Artists | 3411 | • Art technicians (excludes education) • Drawing and painting artists • Hand drawn animators • Illustrators (excludes medical and scientific) • Medical and scientific illustrators • Picture restorers • Sculptors • Tattoo and henna artists • Artists not elsewhere classified | £31,300 (£16.05 per hour) | £25,000 (£12.82 per hour) |
| 3412 Authors, writers and translators | 3412 | • Authors • Bloggers • Copywriters • Literary editors • Poets • Script writers • Technical writers (excludes computing) • Translators and interpreters • Authors, writers and translators not elsewhere classified | £31,300 (£16.05 per hour) | £25,000 (£12.82 per hour) |
| 3413 Actors, entertainers and presenters | 3413, 3415, 3416 | • Actors • Broadcasters, podcasters and presenters • Children’s entertainers • Comedians • Disc jockeys • Magicians • Models • Singers • Social media influencers • Actors, entertainers and presenters not elsewhere classified | £31,300 (£16.05 per hour) | £25,000 (£12.82 per hour) |
| 3414 Dancers and choreographers | 3414 | • Choreographers • Dance teachers (excludes educational establishments) • Dancers | £31,300 (£16.05 per hour) | £25,000 (£12.82 per hour) |
| 3421 Interior designers | 2431, 3422 | • Interior designers | £31,300 (£16.05 per hour) | £25,000 (£12.82 per hour) |
| 3422 Clothing, fashion and accessories designers | 3422 | • Clothing and fashion consultants • Clothing and fashion designers • Footwear designers • Jewellery designers • Textile designers • Clothing, fashion and accessories designers not elsewhere classified | £31,300 (£16.05 per hour) | £25,000 (£12.82 per hour) |
| 3429 Design occupations not elsewhere classified | 2431, 3422 | • Industrial and product designers • Packaging designers • Performance make-up artists • Set designers • Visual merchandising managers and designers • Design occupations not elsewhere classified | £31,300 (£16.05 per hour) | £25,000 (£12.82 per hour) |
| 3543 Project support officers | 2136, 3534 | • Project support officers | £31,300 (£16.05 per hour) | £25,000 (£12.82 per hour) |
Important:
Only workers who held valid GBM leave before 4 April 2024 can continue under these codes, and only until 4 April 2030. No new applicants will be accepted under these downgraded codes.
Employer Takeaways: What You Should Do Now
✔ Review Sponsorship Plans:
Ensure your upcoming CoS assignments meet the new thresholds.
✔ Audit Job Roles:
Check if your target job codes meet the RQF Level 6 requirement.
✔ Plan UK Expansion Staffing:
Overseas businesses can now bring up to 10 workers instead of 5.
✔ Use Transitional Arrangements Wisely:
For downgraded roles, act quickly if candidates had GBM leave before April 2024.
How Can WorkPermitCloud Help?
At WorkPermitCloud, we support businesses and global talent with expert immigration solutions tailored to UK Home Office rules. Our team ensures your sponsorship and compliance strategies are futureproof under the latest changes.
Whether you’re navigating the Global Business Mobility route, setting up in the UK, or reviewing eligible roles post-RQF changes—we're here to help.
📞 Call us: +44 020 8087 2343
📧 Email: info@workpermitcloud.co.uk
📅 Book a free consultation: calendly.com/lutfur-workpermitcloud
Conclusion
The July 2025 updates to the Global Business Mobility route represent a significant shift in the UK’s approach to economic migration—raising salary thresholds and tightening job eligibility. If you're an employer or skilled worker affected by these changes, now is the time to adapt and act.
Stay compliant, stay competitive—partner with WorkPermitCloud to make your next move a success.
Glossary
Term | Definition |
| Global Business Mobility | A UK visa route allowing overseas businesses to temporarily send workers to the UK for specific business activities. |
| Senior or Specialist Worker | A sub-route under GBM for experienced employees transferring to a UK branch of their overseas employer. |
| Graduate Trainee | A GBM sub-route for early-career employees on structured graduate programmes being transferred for training in the UK. |
| UK Expansion Worker | A GBM sub-route allowing overseas businesses to send workers to the UK to establish a new UK branch. |
| RQF Level | The Regulated Qualifications Framework level, indicating the skill level of a job; Level 6 corresponds to graduate-level roles. |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) | A digital document issued by a licensed sponsor to confirm a migrant worker’s job offer and eligibility for a UK visa. |
| Appendix Skilled Occupations | A UK Home Office list of eligible jobs for sponsorship under skilled work routes, including GBM. |
| Statement of Changes HC 997 | A legislative document detailing changes to UK Immigration Rules effective from 22 July 2025. |
| Transitional Arrangements | Temporary provisions allowing continued sponsorship of certain downgraded occupations under specific conditions. |
| ASHE Data | Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings data used to set “going rates” for salary thresholds in immigration rules. |
