Self-Sponsorship in the UK is not a specific type of visa, but rather a way for business owners to stay/live in the UK to run their business. It is a structure that combines two legal UK visa routes namely, Skilled Worker visa and Sponsor Licence.
A faster, smarter path to UK residency, led by UK regulated immigration solicitors and trusted by 200+ business leaders offering you long-term stability and a future built on your own terms.
Your company sponsors your visa legally
100% ownership of your business
Indefinite Leave to Remain in 5 years
Include spouse & Children under 18
Start your own business without needing an employer sponsor
Direct pathway without third-party business endorsements
Full access to UK healthcare and education systems
Decision on an overseas application within three weeks or on an in-country extension within eight weeks, with priority services available.
Build and scale your enterprise independently, with the flexibility to match your vision.
Structured route to Indefinite Leave to Remain
Bring spouse and dependent children under 18
Reduces concerns about visa cancellation.
Developed infrastructure, better justice system, and enhanced safety and security.
Acquire or have an existing UK business, which serves as the legal foundation for your visa and it must fully comply with UK regulations.
Implement HR systems, payroll, and employment compliance frameworks
Apply and obtain your Sponsor Licence from the Home Office
Apply for your Skilled Worker visa through your own company
Progress to Indefinite Leave to Remain after 5 years
Dream It. Do It. Stories of UK Business Success With Us: Real journeys of ambition, resilience, and success—powered by strategic immigration and legal support by A Y & J Solicitors.
A Y & J Solicitors has handled over hundreds of successful Self Sponsorship UK applications, making it a renowned leader in UK immigration law. Each case that we take is handled with meticulous professionalism by our experienced team, meeting every requirement and providing the highest possible likelihood of approval.
Yes, you can definitely sponsor yourself in the UK via certain visa routes like the Self Sponsorship route or the Innovator Founder Visa route. These visa routes allow you to sponsor yourself by letting you set up or run a business in the UK without needing any employer to employ or sponsor you. However, the only catch here is that the eligibility criteria for both of these visa routes is riddled with strictness and they need a thorough documentation for the same.
You may qualify if you:
No. It must be genuine, sustainable, and meet Skilled Worker visa requirements.
Any business can qualify for the self-sponsorship route
Yes — you can switch to the Skilled Worker route (self-sponsorship model) from within the UK if you hold a valid visa such as:
You cannot switch if you are on:
In these cases, you must leave the UK and apply from overseas.
Your job should closely match a job from the following list: click here As you would be working for your own business, you would likely be required to fulfill a job which is at least at a managerial level.
The Applicant must prove that they can read, write, speak and understand English to at least (CEFR) level B1. You can prove your knowledge of English by:
You may be required to provide a CV or evidence of your work experience or qualifications.
To successfully obtain the self-sponsorship visa UK requirements, you must follow a structured process. Here are the 4 main stages involved in the process of self-sponsorship.
The full process usually takes 3 to 6 months, including:
There is no minimum or maximum investment; it can range from £25,000 or more.
Before the Sponsor Licence is submitted to the Home Office.
Yes, your company will need to pay you a guaranteed salary in line with the minimum pay requirements for your sponsored role.
At least four supporting documents showing lawful UK presence, e.g., bank statements, insurance certificate, VAT certificate, HMRC documents, company structure chart.
The company will be required to replace an Authorising Officer (AO).
Since 6 April 2024 most sponsor licences remain valid indefinitely unless surrendered or revoked, except Scale‑up Worker and UK Expansion Worker licences which expire after four years . You must continue trading and meet all sponsor duties including record keeping, reporting and right‑to‑work checks and notify the Home Office within 20 working days of stopping trading or major changes to avoid revocation . If your licence ends you cannot assign Certificates of Sponsorship and any sponsored migrants (including yourself under self‑sponsorship) will have their leave curtailed with a 60‑day notice to switch sponsors or leave the UK . To remain in the UK you must secure a new Skilled Worker sponsor or switch into another route such as Start‑up, Innovator Founder or Global Talent before your curtailed leave expires.
Yes
Common examples include Managing Director, Director of Operations, or other relevant roles.
You may be one of the majority shareholders in the UK business, and the job title may range from Managing Director, Director of Operations, and any other relevant role you may take to run your business.
Yes, your spouse/partner and children under 18 can join you as dependants.
Yes, after 5 continuous years as a Skilled Worker.
You may be required to extend/renew your visa if the length of your sponsorship is less than 5 years. If your CoS is for 5 years, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) at the end of this period. If your CoS is for less than 5 years, you may be required to extend your visa to reach 5 years along with meeting the requirements for ILR. If an ILR is not desirable, you can continue to extend your visa. The company must still need to have a job position vacant for the renewal.
Once you have completed five years in the UK as a skilled worker, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.
The main challenges are setting up the business and obtaining the relevant documents, going through the compliance visit with the home office (if any) as well as justifying to the Home Office that this is a genuine vacancy.
Depending on the reasons for refusal, we may be able to assist with an Administrative Review, or you may be eligible to apply again and rectify the reasons for refusal.
Applicants are required to obtain ‘points’ when applying for a skilled worker visa. Points can be obtained for the meeting the English requirement, having an offer from an approved sponsor (this can be your own company under self-sponsorship route), having a job at an appropriate skill level and meeting the salary threshold.
How can A Y & J Solicitors help?
We offer
Self‑sponsorship means your company holds its own sponsor licence and you sponsor yourself to work in the UK. In practice, your business assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship to your role under the Skilled Worker route. Then, you meet all record‑keeping and reporting duties as both employer and employee. This setup gives you full control over your visa status and compliance.
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