Understanding Self-Sponsorship Visa for the UK
What is Self-Sponsorship?. It means sponsoring yourself through your business to work in the UK.
Who Qualifies for Self-Sponsorship? Anyone, if you have:
- Have experience, skills, or qualifications in the business they want to establish.
- Have enough money to support their proposed business in the UK.
- Ideally, have a person settled in the UK or a British citizen to take on the responsibilities of the Authorising Officer.
- Must have an approved English language test at Level B1 if required.
The Process:
Stage 1 – Establish a UK Company and Apply for a Sponsor Licence
- Register your UK company with the help of a registered UK accountant.
- If you’re a non-UK resident, appoint a UK-based director initially.
Stage 2 – Create and Provide Your UK Company with a Human Resources Pack
- Prepare policies and procedures to sponsor you as a skilled worker.
Stage 3 – Get a Certificate of Sponsorship and Apply for Skilled Worker Visa
- After approval of your UK company sponsor license, you’ll need a Certificate of Sponsorship.
Advantages of Self-Sponsorship:
- Ideal for business people who want to start or expand their business in the UK.
- It may take years to find an employer to sponsor you, but this visa is a better alternative. Even if you have a sponsor but end up losing your job, you’ll have only 60 days to find another sponsor. This situation could force you to go back home, terminate your accommodation agreement early, and disrupt your children’s education if you have any. You’d then need to look for a new sponsor in your home country. However, with this visa, you become your own boss and won’t have to worry about losing your job. You can manage your own company without external employer sponsorship concerns.
Qualifications for Self-Sponsorship: Applicants should have:
- Knowledge, skills, or qualifications in their business field.
- A business concept or a pre-existing UK business to grow.
- Sufficient financial resources for the UK business.
Applying for a Sponsor Licence:
- Provide supporting documents showing the company’s lawful presence in the UK.
- Documents may include bank statements, insurance certificates, VAT certificates, and more.
Other Information:
- No minimum or maximum investment requirement for the UK business.
- You can be a 100% shareholder and director of the UK business. You can have full control of your day-to-day banking and payments.
Can I Bring My Family? You can bring your partner – spouse and children under 18 years old.
How Long is the Visa Valid? The initial visa can be issued for any period from 1 year and up to a maximum of 5 years.