The UK is increasingly popular as a destination for international business owners seeking to establish residency due to its robust and diverse economy, the ease of doing business, and the work and educational opportunities for family members. There are several ways to secure residency in the UK, including the Innovator Founder Visa and the self-sponsorship route. The self-sponsorship route, in particular, is a relatively new immigration route that offers a number of distinct advantages over more traditional immigration pathways to residency in the UK. In this article, we will discuss how entrepreneurs can manage their international business interests while maintaining immediate and long-term UK residency.
International business management
Managing a business across geographies – best practices for UK visa holders
As all international business people know, managing a business across multiple countries comes with a range of challenges, including the complexity of logistics, regulatory differences, time zone differences, and cultural nuances. For some UK visa holders, including those on an Innovator Founder visa or those on the self-sponsorship route, there is an additional challenge of needing to maintain operations in their home country while establishing a presence in the UK. Many of these challenges can be overcome by adhering to the following best practices:
- Establish strong communication channels
When managing business operations across different time zones, it is important to have strong communication channels to ensure continuity. This can be achieved in many ways, including using the latest collaboration tools such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom. These tools allow those in different countries to stay connected and in alignment with key business goals.
- Tailor business strategies to local markets
It is well known in business that what works in one market may not necessarily work in another. Depending on your business model, you may need to ensure that your products, services, and marketing approaches are tailored to fit the local demands of each market, e.g. food tastes differ considerably between countries.
- Legal and regulatory compliance
Perhaps the greatest challenge for global businesses is keeping up with the differing rules and laws in each country. UK visa entrepreneurs may need to comply with both UK regulations and those in the other countries where they operate. For example, you may need to adhere to the food safety regulations in the UK, the EU, and the US, all of which may be different, meaning that you may need to adapt your recipes for each market.
If you choose the self-sponsored immigration route, securing suitable legal support and guidance will be vital in managing the complexity of operations across borders.
Global business management strategies with the self-sponsored route
The UK’s self-sponsored route is particularly beneficial for business owners who need the flexibility of being able to travel frequently to maintain operations in multiple countries oversee their business interests in the UK while holding residency in the UK.
One of the main reasons for this flexibility is that self-sponsored individuals are not accountable to a sponsor. As long as they are adhering to the immigration rules in the UK, they can continue to remain in the UK. Entrepreneurs are free to focus on managing the legal requirements in both the UK and their home countries.
The fact that self-sponsored individuals do not need to hold sponsorship from an employer also means they are free to travel between the UK and other countries, ensuring they can oversee operations globally. This freedom is invaluable for business owners who need to be present in multiple markets to ensure growth and expansion.
Overcoming challenges of international business expansion through the self-sponsored route
The self-sponsored route provides several advantages for entrepreneurs looking to expand into the UK:
- Easier to get UK residency – One of the biggest hurdles for international entrepreneurs expanding into the UK is getting permanent residency. Unlike other visa routes, which are specifically intended to facilitate international business expansion into the UK, such as the Expansion Worker visa, the self-sponsored route provides a direct pathway to permanent residency in the UK. After 5 years, it is possible to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) without needing to switch to a different visa route.
- No corporate sponsorship is needed – Other business-focused visas, such as the Innovator Founder visa, require entrepreneurs to have a job offer from a corporate sponsor. With the self-sponsored route, however, entrepreneurs have the freedom to set up and manage their own businesses in the UK and overseas without being sponsored.
- Easier to balance global operations – Managing a business in two or more countries requires constant attention and resources. The self-sponsored route allows entrepreneurs to balance their global operations while keeping their right to reside in the UK.
Even on the self-sponsorship route, it is important not to spend too much time outside of the UK running your other businesses. This is because there is a ‘continuous’ residency requirement when applying for permanent residency. Under this rule, absences of no more than 180 days are allowed in a consecutive 12-month period.
Securing a stable future in the UK
How the self-sponsored route secures UK residency for entrepreneurs
The self-sponsored route not only provides residency (and later permanent residency) to the primary visa holder but also extends these benefits to their immediate family members. This allows business owners to settle in the UK with their spouses and children, assuring them a stable future. This is particularly beneficial and advantageous for international business people who are looking to build a permanent base in the UK while managing their global ventures.
UK business visa options for high-income entrepreneurs – Why choose the self-sponsored route?
As we have established so far, for high-income entrepreneurs, there are several visa options available for entering the UK market, including the self-sponsorship route, Skilled Worker visa, Innovator Founder visa, and Expansion Worker visa. The self-sponsored route, however, stands out for its flexibility and lack of restrictions compared to other routes. Unlike the Skilled Worker visa, self-sponsorship allows entrepreneurs to set up and manage their own businesses without being sponsored by another business entity; instead, they sponsor themselves. This is particularly attractive for high-income individuals who want autonomy over their life and business.
International entrepreneurs are also increasingly choosing the self-sponsorship over the Innovator Founder visa because there is no need to secure endorsement for a viable, innovative and new business idea. This removes much of the pressure of having to maintain these requirements to keep the visa and when applying for ILR. Another reason is that other visas, such as the Expansion Worker visa, which are specifically geared towards international expansion into the UK, do not offer permanent residence. Instead, Expansion Worker visa holders have to apply to switch to a different visa type at a later date that qualifies them for permanent residency. As such, this can significantly increase the level of uncertainty and the time and cost to get ILR.
Building a legacy through UK business investment via the self-sponsored route
By investing in or expanding a business in the UK, entrepreneurs can create a foundation for long-term success, ensuring that future generations can benefit from their efforts. The self-sponsorship route, in particular, allows international business owners to settle in the UK with their families, providing access to the UK’s education and healthcare systems, which are highly regarded worldwide.
Market Diversification
Entering the UK market from India using the self-sponsored route
For international entrepreneurs from India and South Asia, the UK offers enormous opportunities in sectors such as technology, including software development and AI. The self-sponsored route simplifies the process of entering the UK market by offering residency and business rights. Indian entrepreneurs can use the self-sponsored route to set up a business in the UK, and by adjusting to the local regulations, they can benefit from the UK’s strong business environment.
UK business opportunities for US investors with the self-sponsored route
US investors seeking to diversify their businesses into the UK can benefit greatly from the self-sponsored route. It offers a direct pathway to UK residency and allows for easy business expansion without the need for a corporate sponsor. The opportunities offered by US investors in the UK are vast in the areas of finance, technology, and healthcare. Again, the Self-Sponsored Route enables investors to benefit from these opportunities while securing UK residency. The UK is now the fourth largest investor in AI in the world, offering vast untapped investment and business opportunities.
UK expansion for Singaporean entrepreneurs – Why the Self-Sponsored route is the best choice
Entrepreneurs from Singapore looking to expand into the UK can benefit from the self-sponsored route, particularly in industries such as fintech and real estate. Self-sponsorship also offers a flexible and attractive option for market diversification for Singaporean business people.
Final words
The self-sponsored route is ideal for entrepreneurs seeking to manage international business operations, secure UK residency, and diversify into new markets. It offers many advantages, including the ability to set up businesses in the UK without a corporate sponsor, long-term residency for entrepreneurs and their families, and the chance to build a lasting legacy through business investment. If you are interested in this route, it is important to find a trusted immigration lawyer specialising in self-sponsorship to ensure a smooth application process and long-term business and personal success in the UK market.
A Y & J Solicitors is a specialist immigration law firm with extensive experience with all types of visa applications. We have an in-depth understanding of immigration law and are professional and results-focused. For assistance with your visa application or any other UK immigration law concerns, please contact us on +44 20 7404 7933 or contact us today. We’re here to help!
