Sponsors of Secondment Workers should note that guidance version 04/26 reduces the overseas work requirement from 12 to 6 months for applications made on or after 8 April 2026.
Key facts
- Who: Sponsors of workers on the Global Business Mobility (GBM) routes. The overseas work change applies to Secondment Workers.
- From: 8 April 2026 (applications for entry clearance or permission to stay made on or after that date, unless otherwise stated)
- Source: Sponsor a Global Business Mobility worker
The Home Office has published version 04/26 of its guidance for sponsors of GBM workers. It reflects changes to the Immigration Rules set out in Statement of Changes HC 1691, published on 5 March 2026. Unless otherwise stated, the changes apply to applications for entry clearance or permission to stay made on or after 8 April 2026.
Secondment Workers. Section GBM5, on the overseas work requirement for GBM workers, has been restructured and redrafted for clarity. It is also updated to reflect that the overseas work requirement for Secondment Workers has been reduced from 12 to 6 months for applications made on or after 8 April 2026.
Service Suppliers and the UK-India agreement. Paragraphs GBM4.26 (former GBM4.27), GBM4.42 and GBM4.43 (former GBM4.41 and GBM4.42) are updated to make provision for sponsoring Service Suppliers under the UK-India Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) when it comes into force. The guidance says sponsors should note a combined annual quota of 1,800 for certain occupations under this agreement, set out in new paragraphs GBM4.44 to GBM4.46. It states that the CETA is not in force at the date of publication, and tells sponsors to check the "Service Supplier visa: eligible trade agreements and sectors" page on GOV.UK for confirmation of when it comes into force.
Other changes.
- GBM4.2 and the sub-heading above GBM4.19 (former GBM4.20): the "genuineness" requirement is relabelled the "genuine intention" requirement.
- Former GBM4.12: an empty paragraph is deleted.
- GBM4.27 and GBM4.28: paragraph numbers are assigned to previously unnumbered paragraphs.
- GBM6.16: a minor drafting amendment aligns it with the wording in the Immigration Rules.
- Other minor housekeeping changes are made.
The guidance gives the previous paragraph numbers where they differ. Where paragraphs were inserted or deleted, later paragraphs in that section have been renumbered unless otherwise indicated.
What this means for applicants
For Secondment Workers who apply for entry clearance or permission to stay on or after 8 April 2026, the overseas work requirement is reduced from 12 to 6 months. The detail is in section GBM5 of version 04/26.
Sponsors interested in sponsoring Service Suppliers under the UK-India CETA should note that the guidance says the agreement is not in force at the date of publication. It directs them to the "Service Supplier visa: eligible trade agreements and sectors" page on GOV.UK for confirmation of when it comes into force.
Related guide
Sources
- Sponsor a Global Business Mobility worker, Home Office, version 04/26, valid from 8 April 2026