- The SmartMove2UK - UK Immigration Law Firm
- info@smartmove2uk.com
If you are seeking to establish a new business or venture in the UK or already own a business there, you might qualify for a Skilled Worker visa through self-sponsorship, where your own UK company sponsors you.
Self-sponsorship in the UK is not a visa category, but this is a pathway for business owners to enter UK to start or join their active UK businesses.
To start this process, your UK business must secure a Skilled Worker sponsor license before you proceed to apply for the self-sponsored Skilled Worker visa.
This pathway not only opens the door to settlement in the UK but also allows eligible applicants to bring along dependent partners and children. Dependent partners are also allowed to work full time*.
The requirements to be eligible to apply as self sponsored skilled worker you will need to provide evidence that:
The specific criteria you must meet to self-sponsor for a Skilled Worker visa can vary based on your personal circumstances.
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Broadly the following steps need to be completed to apply for self sponsor visa:
The first step in the self sponsorship visa process is to incorporate a company in the UK or a company may already have been incorporated/trading in UK.
Can I incorporate a company in the UK if I am outside the UK?
Yes, you can register a company even if you are outside the UK. There is no requirement for the director of a UK company to be British citizen.
Read: A Comprehensive Guide to Registering a UK Company as a Foreigner for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners.
Employers in UK who want to employ migrants from outside the UK are required to be registered on the Home Office Sponsor Licence register.
Once the UK entity is incorporated the company can apply for a Skilled Worker sponsor licence.
When evaluating an application for sponsor licence the Home Office will check that:
The specific document requirements will vary based on the nature of the business.
It is possible for a non-UK resident to open a business bank account in the UK, but the requirements and procedures may vary depending on the bank and individual circumstances.
The Home Office requires that companies applying for sponsor licence are registered with Companies House, have a UK business bank account, be registered for PAYE/NI/VAT. However there is no requirement for the business to be actively trading or a minimum period of incorporation.
Our UK visa experts have successfully helped new start ups to apply for and receive sponsor licences. We have also helped new businesses linked to an existing business overseas to apply for sponsor licence.
We offer support on HR policies and procedures (if required) as part of our full representation service for sponsor licence application which includes conducting a job description analysis, providing a Sponsor Licence Policy guide, providing employers with guidance on Right to Work Checks. We can also offer annual sponsor licence maintenance package.
Once the company’s application for skilled worker sponsor licence is approved the business will be able to apply and assign certificate of sponsorship.
When an applicant has received the Certificate of Sponsorship they can then apply for entry clearance as skilled worker.
In order to apply for skilled worker visa the applicant will need to provide:
Application for entry clearance for Skilled Worker visa can be made up to 3 months before the day you are required to start work in the UK.
For applications outside the UK, the normal processing times are up to 3 weeks, whilst applications within the UK are normally decided in 8 weeks. Applicants can also pay extra for priority and super priority processing where available.
Yes, absolutely. Under the Skilled Worker route, there is no cap on shareholding. You can be appointed as a Director and own 100% of the shares in your UK company while it sponsors your visa.
No, the Home Office does not stipulate a strict minimum turnover. However, your business must be actively trading, demonstrate it is a genuine venture, and have enough capital to pay the £41,700 minimum salary requirement and all related business/licence costs.
There is no formal minimum investment threshold like there was for the old Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa. You simply need enough funds to incorporate the company, apply for the sponsor licence, and cover the ongoing salary and operational costs of the business.
No. Unlike the Innovator Founder Visa, the Self-Sponsorship route does not require your business idea to be endorsed as highly innovative, viable, or scalable by an endorsing body. You can set up a standard trading business (such as a consultancy, IT firm, or retail business).
The visa can be issued for up to 5 years, depending on the duration specified on your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
Yes, the Skilled Worker visa is a direct route to settlement. After spending 5 continuous years in the UK on this visa, you and your dependent family members can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), provided you still meet the salary and English language requirements.
Our UK visa experts regularly assist new and established UK businesses to successfully apply for sponsor licences and then sponsor themselves to live and work in the UK.
We strongly advise applicants to check their eligibility to apply under this route or to evaluate suitable options.
Our UK visa experts have been helping clients for their business expansion to the UK since 2009. Our UK visa experts are proactive in understanding and meeting client requirements and are dedicated to providing clear and reliable UK immigration advice.
If you require assistance for setting up a company in the UK, our UK visa experts can help. We work closely with a number of company formation agents and Accountants who can provide expert advice and assistance to our clients on the process for registering (incorporating) a UK company including tax implications, ownership structures.
Generally we advise business owners to research different banks and their requirements especially for non-UK residents, and contact them directly to find out what documents and information you need to provide to open a business bank account.
We work closely with a number of financial services providers who can provide expert advice and assistance to our clients on the process of opening a UK bank account. Bank account opening is at the sole discretion of the banks and subject to meeting their requirements.
Our UK visa experts work with UK employer to apply for sponsor licence for skilled worker and for global mobility pathways including expansion worker, senior/specialist worker (intra company transfer) routes.
Skilled worker applicants are permitted to apply for their dependents i.e. spouse, unmarried partner, civil partner and children below the age of 18 years to join them as dependents in the UK.
If your application for entry clearance, leave to remain or settlement as a Skilled Worker has been refused, our UK visa experts can advise on the merits of making a fresh application or filing an administrative review.
