The Graduate Trainee visa is a Global Business Mobility route that replaced the former Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa. It allows overseas employees who are undertaking a structured graduate training programme, leading towards a managerial or specialist role, to come to the UK. They can undertake a temporary work placement at their employer’s UK branch.
It is a temporary visa and may be granted for the period stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days, or for 12 months, whichever is shorter.
Sunrise Solicitors can provide legal advice and assistance with your Graduate Trainee visa application, including assessing your eligibility, reviewing your supporting documents and helping you comply with the relevant Immigration Rules.
What is the Graduate Trainee Visa?
The Graduate Trainee route allows an existing overseas employee to come to the UK for a temporary work placement with their employer’s UK branch. The placement must be part of a structured graduate training programme with clearly defined progression towards a managerial or specialist role. The job must also be eligible under the Graduate Trainee route.
The employee must have worked continuously outside the UK for the sponsor or another business within the sponsor group for at least three months immediately before applying. The visa is normally granted for the period stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days, or for 12 months, whichever is shorter.
The UK Graduate Trainee visa is different from the Graduate visa. The Graduate visa is for people in the UK who have successfully completed an eligible course while holding Student or Tier 4 permission and want to remain in the UK to work or look for work. By contrast, the Graduate Trainee visa is for existing overseas employees assigned to their employer’s UK branch as part of a structured graduate training programme.
Eligibility Criteria for Graduate Trainee Route Visa
The key sponsor and applicant requirements for the UK Graduate Trainee visa are set out below.
Sponsor Requirements
- The UK sponsor must hold a valid sponsor licence authorising it to sponsor workers under the Global Business Mobility – Graduate Trainee route. The overseas employer and the UK sponsor must form part of the same sponsor group, normally through common ownership or control, or an eligible joint venture.
- The UK sponsor must also assign the applicant a valid Certificate of Sponsorship containing details of the proposed UK placement.
Applicant Requirements
- The applicant must be an existing employee who has worked continuously outside the UK for the sponsor group for at least three months immediately before applying.
- The applicant must normally be paid at least £27,300 per year or 70% of the applicable going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher. Different going-rate rules apply to certain healthcare and education occupations, where the full applicable going rate must normally be paid.
- The proposed job must form part of a structured graduate training programme with clearly defined progression towards a managerial or specialist role within the sponsor organisation. The job must also have an eligible four-digit SOC 2020 occupation code, and the sponsor must select the code that most accurately reflects the applicant’s duties.
Application Process Explained Step-by-Step
The step-by-step process of the Graduate Trainee visa UK is given below:
| Step | Details |
| Apply Outside the UK | You must submit the Graduate Trainee visa application online from outside the UK. |
| When to Apply | You can apply up to three months before the employment start date shown on your Certificate of Sponsorship. |
| Prepare Documents | Gather required documents, including CoS and proof of funds. |
| Identity Verification | Provide biometrics at a visa centre or use the ‘ID Check’ app |
| Decision Timeline | Usually within 3 weeks with faster decisions available for a fee |
Reasons a Graduate Trainee Visa Application May Be Refused
A UK Graduate Trainee visa application may be refused for the following reasons:
- providing incomplete, inconsistent or inaccurate information;
- failing to submit the documents needed to establish eligibility;
- having incorrect or inconsistent details on the Certificate of Sponsorship;
- not meeting the applicable salary or eligible occupation requirements;
- failing to complete the required three months of continuous overseas employment;
- not having a valid Certificate of Sponsorship;
- applying from inside the UK or while the Certificate of Sponsorship is no longer valid;
- failing to meet the financial requirement, where applicable; or
- failing to satisfy the suitability requirements.
Sunrise Solicitors can assist with refused Graduate Trainee visa applications and provide legal guidance at every stage of the application process. Our legal team can assess your circumstances and provide free advice based on the relevant Immigration Rules and Home Office guidance.
With professional legal support, you can reduce the risk of avoidable errors and submit your application with greater confidence. Contact Sunrise Solicitors today for free initial immigration advice and to book an appointment with one of our experienced solicitors.
How Long You Can Stay
- Under the Graduate Trainee route, you can normally stay in the UK for the period stated on your Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days, or for 12 months from the employment start date, whichever is shorter.
- You cannot spend more than a total of five years in the UK during any six-year period under the Graduate Trainee route and the other specified Global Business Mobility or former intra-company routes.
- You cannot extend a Graduate Trainee visa from inside the UK. You may be able to apply for a new Graduate Trainee visa from outside the UK if you continue to meet the eligibility requirements and have not reached the maximum permitted stay.
Costs Associated with Graduate Trainee Route Visa
The main costs associated with a UK Graduate Trainee visa application are set out below:
- The Graduate Trainee visa application fee is £340 for each applicant.
- The Immigration Health Surcharge is usually £1,035 per year for each applicant.
- You must normally have at least £1,270 in your bank account for 28 consecutive days. The final day of that period must fall within 31 days before your application. You will not normally need to provide these funds if your sponsor certifies maintenance on your Certificate of Sponsorship.
- Home Office fees are reviewed periodically, so applicants should check the current charges before applying.
Documents Required for Application
The documents and information required for a UK Graduate Trainee visa application will depend on the applicant’s circumstances and may include:
- your Certificate of Sponsorship reference number;
- a valid passport or another document confirming your identity and nationality;
- your job title, annual salary and occupation code;
- your employer’s name and sponsor licence number;
- evidence of sufficient personal savings, unless your sponsor has certified maintenance;
- tuberculosis test results, where required;
- evidence that you worked for your employer outside the UK for at least three months immediately before applying, if requested;
- details of your structured graduate training programme, if requested;
- a valid ATAS certificate, if your employer confirms that it is required;
- evidence of your relationship with any partner or child applying as your dependant; and
- certified translations of documents that are not in English or Welsh.
Bringing Your Partner and Children to the UK
An eligible partner and dependent children can apply to accompany or join a Graduate Trainee visa holder in the UK. Each dependant must make a separate application and meet the relevant relationship, financial and suitability requirements.
Partner Eligibility
To qualify as a dependant, the applicant must prove that they have an eligible relationship with the main Graduate Trainee visa applicant. Both partners must normally be aged 18 or over.
The applicant may qualify if they are married or in a civil partnership recognised in the UK, or if they have lived together in a relationship similar to marriage or civil partnership for at least two years.
A partner may also qualify where the couple has been in a relationship for at least two years but cannot live together because of work, study or cultural circumstances. They must provide evidence of their continuing commitment to one another.
Children Eligibility
A child applying as a dependant for the first time must normally be under 18. A child aged 18 or over may continue as a dependant if they were previously granted permission as a dependent child and are not leading an independent life.
The child must normally live with their parent, unless they are living away from home for full-time education. They must not be married or in a civil partnership.
The family must normally show maintenance funds of £315 for the first dependent child and £200 for each additional child. A further £285 is required for a dependant partner. The money must normally be held for at least 28 consecutive days, with the final day falling within 31 days before the application.
Financial evidence is not normally required where the dependant has held valid UK permission for at least 12 months or the main applicant’s employer has certified maintenance on the Certificate of Sponsorship.
Each child must complete a separate application and prove their identity using the UK Immigration: ID Check app or by providing biometric information at a visa application
centre. Their application must be linked to the main applicant using the GWF or UAN reference number.
A child born in the UK does not automatically become a British citizen merely because they were born here. The parents must apply for the child’s dependant permission if they want to travel outside the UK and return with the child. A full UK birth certificate showing the names of both parents must be provided with the application.
Rights and Restrictions for Dependants
An eligible dependant may:
- live in the UK for the period permitted by their visa;
- undertake full-time or part-time employment, self-employment or voluntary work;
- study in the UK, subject to any applicable ATAS requirement; and
- travel outside the UK and return while their permission remains valid.
A dependant cannot:
- work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach;
- access public funds; or
- claim the State Pension.
A dependant partner’s visa will normally end on the same date as the main Graduate Trainee visa holder’s visa. A child’s visa will end on the earlier date if their parents have different visa expiry dates.
Switching to the Graduate Trainee Visa
According to the UK Home Office it is not allowed to switch to the Graduate Trainee visa from within the UK. Before applying for the graduate trainee visa route the applicants must have worked for their employer outside the UK for at least 3 months. For this reason, the applicant is not allowed to apply from within the UK and must apply for this visa from outside the UK.
How Sunrise Solicitors Can Assist
Sunrise Solicitors provides legal advice and assistance with Graduate Trainee visa applications. Our immigration solicitors can assess your eligibility, review your Certificate
of Sponsorship and supporting documents, and help you prepare an application that addresses the relevant Immigration Rules and Home Office guidance.
We take a client-focused approach and provide clear, practical and honest advice throughout the application process. Contact Sunrise Solicitors today for free initial immigration advice and to book an appointment with one of our experienced solicitors.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the processing time for the Graduate Trainee visa?
Once you have applied online, proved your identity and submitted the required documents, you will usually receive a decision within three weeks. A faster decision service may be available for an additional fee, subject to availability and eligibility.
2. Can dependants join the main applicant on the Graduate Trainee visa?
Yes. An eligible partner and children can apply to accompany or join the main Graduate Trainee visa applicant as dependants. Each family member must submit a separate application.
3. What are the financial requirements for dependants?
You must normally show £285 for a dependant partner, £315 for the first dependent child and £200 for each additional child. The money must usually be held for at least 28 consecutive days, with the final day falling within 31 days before the application. You may not need to provide financial evidence if an applicable exemption applies or the sponsor certifies maintenance.
4. Can I switch to the Graduate Trainee visa from within the UK?
No. You cannot switch to the Graduate Trainee visa from inside the UK. You must apply online from outside the UK.
5. How long can I stay in the UK on the Graduate Trainee visa?
You can stay for the period stated on your Certificate of Sponsorship plus 14 days, or for 12 months, whichever is shorter. Time spent under certain other Global Business Mobility and former intra-company routes may count towards the maximum permitted stay.
6. Can I extend my Graduate Trainee visa from inside the UK?
No. You cannot extend a Graduate Trainee visa from inside the UK. However, you may be able to apply for a new Graduate Trainee visa from outside the UK if you continue to meet the eligibility requirements and have not reached the maximum permitted stay.
