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Global Mobility Services
Our Global Mobility services make sure you’re fully compliant with UK tax and payroll regulations as you bring employees into the UK, whether for short-term visits, secondments, long-term assignments, or permanent relocations.
We’ve advised over 2000 overseas-owned businesses scaling into the UK. From pre-arrival planning to final payroll submissions, you have structured support at every stageds.
3000+
companies helped successfully scale to the UK
25+
years of experience
52
employees all under one roof
CIPD & CIPP
qualified
Our Global Mobility Solutions
When staff move into or out of the UK, businesses must consider income tax, National Insurance, payroll reporting, and employment structures. With increasingly tight control around individuals moving into the UK, Goodwille can support you with everything you need to consider.
Our team at Goodwille supports overseas-owned UK companies with advice, registrations, and ongoing compliance for internationally mobile employees.
Global Mobility Strategy and Advisory
Global mobility is not only an HR or payroll issue. It affects income tax, National Insurance, corporate risk and internal policy design.
Our advisory support includes:
- Reviewing tax residency position before relocation
- Assessing UK income tax exposure
- Advising on social security coverage and certificate requirements
- Reviewing secondment agreements and employment contracts
- Advising on PAYE and reporting obligations
- Identifying available exemptions and reliefs
- Advising on staff benefits and UK reporting requirements
Taking advice before an employee arrives in the UK reduces compliance risk and may create planning opportunities. We help you decide the right structure before payroll begins.
Secondment and Assignment Support
Secondments and temporary assignments require careful structuring. The tax and payroll positions can differ depending on duration, employment contract and where costs are borne.
We support with:
- Reviewing secondment agreements
- Assessing host versus home payroll obligations
- Advising on cost recharge arrangements
- Reviewing permanent establishment risk
- Determining PAYE withholding requirements
- Advising on short-term business visitor reporting
Where employees remain employed overseas but work in the UK, we assess whether UK PAYE must operate and how this interacts with double tax treaties.
Our approach ensures your secondment arrangements align with UK tax rules and your wider group structure.
Sponsorships and Visas
If you’re looking to bring employees to the UK from overseas, it’s essential to ensure the correct immigration permissions are in place before they begin work. In many cases, this means obtaining a Sponsor Licence and supporting employees through the visa application process.
We support with:
- Sponsor Licence applications
- Skilled Worker visa applications
- UK Expansion Worker Visa (Global Business Mobility)
- Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS)
- Guidance on sponsorship eligibility and visa routes
- Right-to-work checks
PAYE Registration and Ongoing Tax Compliance
Once your employees are working in the UK, ensuring that payroll and reporting are handled correctly is essential to avoid any compliance issues.
Alongside keeping you compliant with local employment laws, we manage:
- PAYE registration with HM Revenue & Customs
- Setting up UK payroll processes
- Calculating and reporting PAYE income tax
- Calculating and reporting National Insurance contributions
- Reporting benefits in kind
- Applying available exemptions and reliefs
- Ensuring payroll aligns with your global mobility policy and employment contracts
End of Assignment and Deregistration
When an assignment ends or employment ceases, UK compliance does not automatically close.
We support with:
- Final payroll submissions
- Year-end reporting
- Deregistering PAYE where appropriate
- Advising on repatriation tax implications
- Reviewing final benefit reporting
This closes off UK tax and payroll obligations cleanly and reduces the risk of future HMRC queries.
Global Mobility for Overseas-Owned UK Companies
We’re here to guide you through each step of managing employees from overseas. Whether you’re hiring for your UK subsidiary, seconding employees, or rotating staff across borders, we ensure everything runs smoothly.
Our experts help with:
- Hiring and onboarding inbound talent for UK subsidiaries.
- Structuring secondments and assignments for the relocation process while managing tax and payroll.
- Scaling leadership teams in the UK with full compliance.
- Ensuring tax compliance and managing payroll for your globally mobile workforce.
Supporting You With Global Mobility Challenges
Moving employees across borders opens up real opportunities for your business – but it also brings a level of complexity that’s easy to underestimate.
Here’s how we help businesses like yours manage global mobility challenges:
Short-term business travellers: We make it easy to manage employees working on international assignments, ensuring everything from tax to compliance is covered.
Non-resident directors: You’ll gain the assurance that directors living outside the UK meet all necessary tax and social security requirements.
Flexible and ad-hoc travel: Managing employees’ fluctuating travel schedules becomes simple, with compliance taken care of no matter where they are or how often they travel.
Why Choose Goodwille’s Global Workforce Solutions?
With over 25 years of experience helping businesses expand into the UK, we’ve supported companies from a wide range of countries. We’re here to guide you through the UK’s cultural differences, giving you a stronger position as you enter the market and the peace of mind that your business is fully compliant.
You’ll work with one experienced partner who stays with you through every stage – from setting up your entity to handling payroll, HR, and global mobility – so you always have a steady point of contact and everything stays connected.
Whether you’re already operating in multiple countries or entering international markets for the first time, we look forward to working with you and supporting your next step into the UK.
How our Corporation Tax services work
This structured approach keeps your corporation tax position clear, compliant and aligned with your business objectives.
We review your supply chain, Incoterms and import flows.
We complete EORI and Duty Deferment Account setup.
We oversee import VAT, customs duty and deferment statements.
We manage HMRC correspondence and ongoing compliance.
Global Mobility Success Stories
See how we’ve helped businesses with their global mobility to the UK.
Assisting Position Green with Visas and Employment Contracts
“Goodwille played a crucial role in helping us overcome these obstacles, ensuring that our contracts were compliant with local laws and assisting with visa applications to retain key talent.”
Supporting Visiba Care with the Movement of People
“We had been active in the UK market for a couple of years, but we wanted to grow faster and move Visiba Care to the next level. For this reason, we engaged Goodwille as our local partner in the UK. They helped us take control of our corporate responsibilities, implement scalable accounting processes, and ensure everything relating to our employees is taken care of. Trying to run these administrative things from abroad was never easy when we were not clear on our responsibilities.”
Movement of People Support for Fabrique
“Goodwille provides us with a service which is both professional and personal. It is important that we have a good relationship with them and that they are able to understand our special needs. Having worked with a service provider previously, I have no hesitation in recommending the Goodwille service offering. They are alert and observant and have also taken their time to understand the core of our business and our needs.”
Need help with your Global Mobility?
Speak to a specialist today. Get immediate answers to your global mobility questions and find out how we can help you get trading quickly.
Get in Touch
Meet Our HR Manager
Jacqui Brown
As our HR Manager, Jacqui provides high quality and compliant HR advice across the full spectrum of HR services for a portfolio of Goodwille clients. She offers pragmatic advice on technical matters relating to HR issues including employee relations, organisation design, policies and procedures, implementation of new contracts and staff handbooks, benefits and salary levels, recruitment and training solutions.
Finance FAQ’s
How can moving employees to the UK give you a competitive edge?
Having people on the ground in the UK as part of your international workforce can make a real difference to how quickly you win business and build trust in the market. It gives you a local presence that helps you respond faster to clients and compete more effectively with UK-based companies.
What is a Global Mobility program?
A Global Mobility program is a strategic approach that helps companies manage relocating employees across borders. Alongside handling global payroll, it ensures that your employees’ moves are compliant with tax regulations and in line with immigration processes. This program helps you to manage risk and prevent financial penalties, keeping your business on track as you scale internationally.
What is the minimum salary for a Global Mobility visa in the UK?
The minimum salary for a UK Global Business Mobility visa depends on the visa category and the applicant’s role. HM Home Office sets specific thresholds for different pathways:
- Senior or Specialist Worker – Typically £41,500 per year.
- Graduate Trainee – Usually £23,040 per year.
- UK Expansion Worker – Often £41,500 per year, depending on role and assignment.
- Service Supplier – Minimum £41,500 per year or as defined by your contract.
Salary thresholds may be pro-rated for part-time roles or temporary assignments. Additional requirements may include English language proficiency and a UK sponsoring employer.
What are the tax implications of working abroad for UK tax purposes?
UK employees working abroad may have tax obligations in both the UK and the host country. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) considers factors such as residency, duration of stay, and income source to determine tax liability.
Key points:
- UK tax residency – UK residents are generally taxed on worldwide income, including earnings abroad.
- Double taxation relief – The UK has agreements with many countries to avoid double taxation; foreign tax paid can often be credited against UK tax.
- National Insurance contributions (NICs) – Employees may continue to pay UK NICs under certain social security agreements.
- Employer obligations – Employers may need to operate PAYE in the host country and comply with local reporting requirements.
- Foreign-owned UK companies sending employees overseas should assess cross-border payroll, social security, and permanent establishment risks to remain compliant.
How does a double tax treaty affect working abroad?
A double tax treaty (DTT) is an agreement between the UK and another country that prevents the same income from being taxed twice. For UK employees working abroad, DTTs determine which country has the primary right to tax different types of income.
Key points:
- Income allocation – Salary, bonuses, and benefits may be taxed in the host country or the UK depending on treaty rules.
- Tax credits – UK residents can often claim relief for foreign tax paid to avoid double taxation.
- Residency tie-breakers – Treaties include rules to determine residency if an individual could be considered resident in both countries.
- Social security – Some treaties coordinate national insurance contributions to prevent duplication.
- Foreign-owned UK companies must consider DTTs when assigning employees abroad to optimise tax efficiency and ensure compliance with both UK and host country rules.
What is the Global Business Mobility visa in the UK?
The Global Business Mobility (GBM) visa is a UK immigration route that allows overseas employees to work in the UK temporarily for a sponsoring organisation. It replaced certain previous visa categories to simplify international staff transfers.
Key points:
- Supports intra-company transfers, graduate trainees, senior or specialist workers, and service suppliers.
- Applicants must have a UK sponsor and meet salary, skill, and English language requirements.
- Duration varies by category, typically from 12 months to 5 years, depending on role and visa type.
- Enables foreign-owned companies to assign employees to the UK legally while complying with immigration and tax obligations.
How do companies manage Global Business Mobility visas?
Managing Global Business Mobility visa requirements includes these steps:
- Sponsorship compliance – Maintain an active UK sponsor licence and assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) for each employee.
- Eligibility checks – Verify employee qualifications, role, salary thresholds, and English language requirements.
- Visa application support – Assist employees with online applications, document submission, and fee payment.
- Tracking and reporting – Monitor visa durations, renewals, and any changes in role or location.
- Cross-border payroll and tax planning – Ensure PAYE obligations, National Insurance, and tax compliance are met in the UK and home country.
Foreign-owned UK companies often use immigration specialists or global mobility platforms to streamline compliance and manage multiple employee assignments efficiently.
How can moving employees to the UK give you a competitive edge?
Having people on the ground in the UK as part of your international workforce can make a real difference to how quickly you win business and build trust in the market. It gives you a local presence that helps you respond faster to clients and compete more effectively with UK-based companies.
What is a Global Mobility program?
A Global Mobility program is a strategic approach that helps companies manage relocating employees across borders. Alongside handling global payroll, it ensures that your employees’ moves are compliant with tax regulations and in line with immigration processes. This program helps you to manage risk and prevent financial penalties, keeping your business on track as you scale internationally.
What is the minimum salary for a Global Mobility visa in the UK?
The minimum salary for a UK Global Business Mobility visa depends on the visa category and the applicant’s role. HM Home Office sets specific thresholds for different pathways:
- Senior or Specialist Worker – Typically £41,500 per year.
- Graduate Trainee – Usually £23,040 per year.
- UK Expansion Worker – Often £41,500 per year, depending on role and assignment.
- Service Supplier – Minimum £41,500 per year or as defined by your contract.
Salary thresholds may be pro-rated for part-time roles or temporary assignments. Additional requirements may include English language proficiency and a UK sponsoring employer.
What are the tax implications of working abroad for UK tax purposes?
UK employees working abroad may have tax obligations in both the UK and the host country. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) considers factors such as residency, duration of stay, and income source to determine tax liability.
Key points:
- UK tax residency – UK residents are generally taxed on worldwide income, including earnings abroad.
- Double taxation relief – The UK has agreements with many countries to avoid double taxation; foreign tax paid can often be credited against UK tax.
- National Insurance contributions (NICs) – Employees may continue to pay UK NICs under certain social security agreements.
- Employer obligations – Employers may need to operate PAYE in the host country and comply with local reporting requirements.
- Foreign-owned UK companies sending employees overseas should assess cross-border payroll, social security, and permanent establishment risks to remain compliant.
How does a double tax treaty affect working abroad?
A double tax treaty (DTT) is an agreement between the UK and another country that prevents the same income from being taxed twice. For UK employees working abroad, DTTs determine which country has the primary right to tax different types of income.
Key points:
- Income allocation – Salary, bonuses, and benefits may be taxed in the host country or the UK depending on treaty rules.
- Tax credits – UK residents can often claim relief for foreign tax paid to avoid double taxation.
- Residency tie-breakers – Treaties include rules to determine residency if an individual could be considered resident in both countries.
- Social security – Some treaties coordinate national insurance contributions to prevent duplication.
- Foreign-owned UK companies must consider DTTs when assigning employees abroad to optimise tax efficiency and ensure compliance with both UK and host country rules.
What is the Global Business Mobility visa in the UK?
The Global Business Mobility (GBM) visa is a UK immigration route that allows overseas employees to work in the UK temporarily for a sponsoring organisation. It replaced certain previous visa categories to simplify international staff transfers.
Key points:
- Supports intra-company transfers, graduate trainees, senior or specialist workers, and service suppliers.
- Applicants must have a UK sponsor and meet salary, skill, and English language requirements.
- Duration varies by category, typically from 12 months to 5 years, depending on role and visa type.
- Enables foreign-owned companies to assign employees to the UK legally while complying with immigration and tax obligations.
How do companies manage Global Business Mobility visas?
Managing Global Business Mobility visa requirements includes these steps:
- Sponsorship compliance – Maintain an active UK sponsor licence and assign Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) for each employee.
- Eligibility checks – Verify employee qualifications, role, salary thresholds, and English language requirements.
- Visa application support – Assist employees with online applications, document submission, and fee payment.
- Tracking and reporting – Monitor visa durations, renewals, and any changes in role or location.
- Cross-border payroll and tax planning – Ensure PAYE obligations, National Insurance, and tax compliance are met in the UK and home country.
Foreign-owned UK companies often use immigration specialists or global mobility platforms to streamline compliance and manage multiple employee assignments efficiently.