The Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) visa was replaced by Global Business Mobility (GBM) routes in April 2022. Whether you can get ILR depends on which GBM sub-route you are on. Most GBM routes do not lead to ILR. Only the Senior or Specialist Worker route can lead to settlement — and only in eligible occupations.
Key Facts at a Glance
| GBM Route | Leads to ILR? |
|---|---|
| Senior or Specialist Worker | Yes — in eligible occupations, after 5 years |
| Graduate Trainee | No |
| UK Expansion Worker | No |
| Service Supplier | No |
| Secondment Worker | No |
Quick Overview
✅ The Senior or Specialist Worker route within Global Business Mobility can lead to ILR
✅ ILR on the Senior or Specialist Worker route requires 5 years of continuous lawful residence
⚠️ Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier, and Secondment Worker routes do NOT lead to ILR
⚠️ The old ICT visa was abolished in April 2022 — all new applicants use Global Business Mobility routes
⚠️ Even on the Senior or Specialist Worker route, not all occupation codes are eligible for ILR
📌 If you want to settle in the UK through an intra-company route, confirm your route eligibility at the time of application
💡 Switching from a GBM route to a Skilled Worker visa before your qualifying period ends is an option for some workers
Many workers who enter the UK on company transfer routes assume they are on a path to settlement. For most GBM routes, that is not the case. Understanding which route you are on — and what it leads to — is essential.
If you want to explore a route that definitively leads to ILR, the Skilled Worker visa is the most straightforward option.
What Was the ICT Visa?
The Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) visa was the main route for multinational company employees transferring to the UK. It was designed for experienced staff sent from overseas offices to UK operations.
The ICT visa had two main categories:
- Short-term — up to 5 years, no ILR pathway
- Long Service — could lead to ILR after 5 years in senior/specialist roles
From April 2022, the ICT visa was abolished. It was replaced by the Global Business Mobility routes.
What Are the Global Business Mobility Routes?
Global Business Mobility replaced the ICT visa system with five separate sub-routes:
1. Senior or Specialist Worker For established employees of multinational companies sent to the UK in senior or specialist roles. This is the replacement for the ICT Long Service route. It can lead to ILR in eligible occupations after 5 years.
2. Graduate Trainee For recent graduates taking part in a structured development programme. Time on this route does not count toward ILR — it cannot lead to settlement.
3. UK Expansion Worker For workers setting up a new UK branch of an overseas business. No ILR pathway.
4. Service Supplier For workers providing services under international trade agreements. No ILR pathway.
5. Secondment Worker For workers on secondment from an overseas employer to a UK entity. No ILR pathway.
Senior or Specialist Worker — The ILR Route
If you are on the Senior or Specialist Worker route, ILR may be possible after 5 years of continuous lawful residence.
Conditions:
- 5 years of continuous qualifying residence
- Must remain in an eligible occupation throughout
- Standard absence rules apply (no more than 180 days in any 12-month rolling period)
- Life in the UK test required unless exempt
The Senior or Specialist Worker route (Global Business Mobility) is a temporary worker route and does not lead directly to ILR or settlement for most applicants. Settlement is generally only available via the 10-year long residence route after accumulating 10 years of continuous lawful residence in the UK.
If your occupation code is not on the eligible list for settlement, you cannot get ILR through this route — even after 5 years.
What If You Were on the Old ICT Visa?
If you entered the UK on the old ICT visa before April 2022, your situation depends on when your visa was issued and which category you were in.
- ICT Long Service: May have transitioned to Senior or Specialist Worker conditions. Time on the old ICT Long Service route may count toward the 5-year qualifying period for ILR.
- ICT Short Service: No ILR pathway existed. If you switched to Global Business Mobility or another qualifying route, time on the qualifying route counts from the switch date.
The old ICT (Intra-Company Transfer) visa was closed to new applicants from 11 April 2022 and replaced by the Senior or Specialist Worker route. If you held an ICT visa before that date, your time on the ICT route may count toward long residence, but does not count toward settlement on the Senior or Specialist Worker route. Get legal advice if you are approaching the 10-year long residence threshold.
If you were on the old ICT route and are approaching 5 years, get legal advice to confirm whether your time qualifies.
Switching to Skilled Worker for ILR
Workers on GBM routes that do not lead to ILR often switch to the Skilled Worker visa to build a settlement pathway.
This requires:
- Finding an employer willing to sponsor you on a Skilled Worker visa
- Your role meeting the Skilled Worker salary threshold and occupation code requirements
- Applying to switch from your GBM route to Skilled Worker
The 5-year ILR qualifying period begins from the date the Skilled Worker visa is granted. Time on the GBM route generally does not count toward the Skilled Worker qualifying period.
Common Mistakes
❌ Assuming any GBM route leads to ILR Only the Senior or Specialist Worker route can lead to ILR — and only in eligible occupations. Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier, and Secondment Worker are not settlement routes.
❌ Not checking occupation code eligibility on Senior or Specialist Worker Even if you are on the Senior or Specialist Worker route, your specific occupation code must be eligible for ILR. Not all Senior or Specialist Worker roles qualify. Check before assuming.
❌ Assuming time on any GBM route counts toward ILR Time on Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier, or Secondment Worker does not count toward ILR qualifying periods. Only Senior or Specialist Worker time may count — and only in eligible roles.
❌ Not considering a Skilled Worker switch If you are on a GBM route that does not lead to ILR and you want to stay in the UK permanently, switching to Skilled Worker is the most common solution. Do not wait until your GBM visa expires to explore this.
❌ Relying on old ICT visa guidance The ICT visa no longer exists. If you are reading guidance from before April 2022, it may not reflect current rules. Always check current GOV.UK guidance.
Expert Tips
1. Confirm your specific GBM sub-route and its settlement eligibility before your visa is issued. Do not assume any company transfer route leads to ILR. Check at the point of application.
2. If you are on Senior or Specialist Worker, verify your occupation code is eligible for ILR. The Home Office publishes the eligible occupation codes. Confirm before you plan your 5-year timeline.
3. Consider switching to Skilled Worker early if you want to settle. The Skilled Worker visa has a direct, well-established path to ILR after 5 years. If your company is a licensed Skilled Worker sponsor, a switch may be possible.
4. If you were on the old ICT Long Service route, get legal advice before assuming your time counts. Transitional arrangements are complex. A specialist adviser can confirm whether your qualifying period has accumulated correctly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the ICT visa lead to ILR?
The ICT visa was abolished in April 2022. For people who had an ICT Long Service visa, the route may have led to ILR — but transitional arrangements apply. For the current Global Business Mobility routes, only the Senior or Specialist Worker route can lead to ILR.
Which Global Business Mobility route leads to ILR?
Only the Senior or Specialist Worker route can lead to ILR, and only in eligible occupations after 5 years. Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier, and Secondment Worker routes do not lead to ILR.
How many years on Global Business Mobility before ILR?
For the Senior or Specialist Worker route, 5 years of continuous lawful residence in an eligible occupation. Other GBM routes do not lead to ILR regardless of time spent.
Can I switch from Global Business Mobility to Skilled Worker?
Yes — if you meet the Skilled Worker requirements. You need a sponsor licence, a Certificate of Sponsorship, and the role must meet current salary thresholds. The Skilled Worker qualifying period for ILR starts from the switch date.
What happened to ICT visa holders after April 2022?
Most ICT visa holders were transitioned to the corresponding Global Business Mobility route. Specific transitional arrangements apply depending on which ICT category the visa was in. Get legal advice if you held an ICT visa before April 2022 and have questions about ILR eligibility.
How This Aligns With Official Guidance
The Global Business Mobility routes, their ILR eligibility, and the transition from ICT are set out in the Immigration Rules (Appendix Global Business Mobility) and Home Office guidance on GOV.UK.
Official Resources
- Global Business Mobility visas — GOV.UK — overview of all GBM sub-routes
- Indefinite Leave to Remain — GOV.UK — qualifying routes for settlement
Our Free Tools
The Life in the UK test is required for ILR. Use the free practice questions to prepare. Check your qualifying period with the absence calculator before applying.
Last reviewed: May 2026 — figures correct at time of publication. Always check GOV.UK for the latest Global Business Mobility guidance and occupation code eligibility for ILR.