UK Business Visa for Indian Citizens

Jun 27, 2024

Moving to the UK to set up a new business venture offers a truly exciting opportunity for many Indian entrepreneurs. Before you go too far, it is essential to do your homework. Understanding the best visa for your needs, how to maximise your chance of receiving a positive decision, and researching how to establish a profitable and sustainable business in the UK will transform your chances of success. An immigration visa is a key prerequisite to establishing a business in the UK as an Indian national. Once you have your visa, the sky is the limit. Under the UK’s current visa system, there are several different visa types catering for different needs, including the UK Innovator Founder visa, the Global Mobility visa, the visitor visa, and the Self-Sponsorship route.

This guide will help you understand the different types of UK business visas available to Indian nationals and how to choose the right one for your needs.

Types of Visas to Open a New Business in the UK

UK Innovator Founder Visa

The UK Innovator Founder Visa is for Indian businesspeople looking to establish an innovative business in the UK. As an Innovator Founder visa holder, you will be able to bring your immediate family members with you and stay for up to 3 years. However, you can only apply for Settlement if your business still meets endorsement checkpoints during that period. Consequently, this route provides an accelerated route to settlement compared to the normal 5 years of continuous residence required. Moreover, to be eligible for this UK business visa, you must:

Have a new, innovative, viable, and scalable business idea
Get an approved endorsing body to endorse your business idea
Be able to speak, read, write and understand English at a minimum CEFR B2 level or equivalent, and
Must have £1,270 in savings to support yourself while in the UK.

Self-Sponsorship Route

For Indian entrepreneurs who do not fit into the above categories, the Self-Sponsorship route may be the perfect option. Self-Sponsorship is not a separate visa type but involves setting up a UK company, obtaining a Skilled Worker sponsor licence for that company, issuing yourself a Certificate of Sponsorship, and then applying under the Skilled Worker route. Furthermore, to be eligible for the UK business visa route of Self-Sponsorship, you will need to:

1. Establish a UK Business

This may involve registering your business with Companies House, setting up a bank account, and finding suitable premises

2. Sponsor Licence

Once you have established your business, you can apply for a sponsor licence. To do so, you will need to put in place the necessary systems and processes to sponsor overseas workers. Additionally, the application fee is £574 for small and £1,579 for large companies.

3. Skilled Worker Visa

Once the company issues you a Certificate of Sponsorship for your business, you can apply for a Skilled Worker visa. This comes with a fee of £769 (upto three years) and £1,519 (over three years) from outside the UK.

If you need more detailed guidance on the Self-Sponsorship route, download this free ultimate guide.

Types of UK Business Visas to Expand My Current Business in the UK Market

If you still need clarification, watch this comprehensive video that explains the entire Self-Sponsorship Route process.

Global Business Mobility (GBM) – Expansion Worker Visa

For Indian citizens with an existing business in India who wish to expand their operations into the UK, the Global Business Mobility (GBM) Expansion Worker Visa is ideal. This visa allows established businesses to send workers to the UK to set up a branch or subsidiary here. To make a successful GBM Expansion Worker visa, you must

Hold a valid certificate of sponsorship from your employer
Worked for your employer outside the UK for at least one year
Have an eligible job and
Receive a salary of at least £48,500 per year or the ‘going rate’ for your job – whichever is higher.

Moreover, The UK Expansion Worker visa grants up to 1 year initially, extendable once for 12 months, totalling a maximum of 2 years. It does not lead directly to settlement; holders must switch into another eligible route (e.g. Skilled Worker or Innovator Founder) for ILR eligibility. To stay for longer than 2 years in total, you can switch to a different visa type.

Types of UK Business Visas to Visit the UK for a Business Meeting

UK Visitor Visa

If your purpose is to visit the UK for no longer than 6 months for business meetings, conferences, or signing contracts, the UK Visitor Visa will most likely meet your needs. Moreover, the application process is very straightforward and quick, allowing Indian nationals to come here on business at short notice.

Specifically, you can use a UK visitor visa for any of the following business activities:

Attend interviews, meetings, conferences and seminars
Negotiate and sign deals and contracts
Attend trade fairs to promote your business
Receive work-related training if you’re employed overseas, and the training is not available in your home country
Provide a one-off or short series of talks as long as they’re not for profit or a commercial event
Perform site visits and inspections
Oversee the delivery of goods and services provided by a UK company to your overseas company or organisation
Provide training or share knowledge on internal projects with UK employees of the company you work for overseas, and
Install, dismantle, repair, service or advise on equipment, computer software and hardware, if your overseas company has a contract with a UK company or organisation.

While an invitation letter from the UK host may support the application, it is not strictly mandatory; applicants must show they will leave at the end of their visit and can support themselves, among other requirements

Types of UK Business Visas for Visiting the UK on a Temporary Business Project

India Young Professionals Scheme visa

The India Young Professionals Scheme visa allows Indian citizens aged between 18 and 30 years old to live and work in the UK for a period of up to 2 years. First, to apply under this scheme, applicants have to enter a ballot. Then, the Home Office randomly selects applicants periodically from the pool and invites them to submit a full application. Moreover, the scheme is currently capped at 3,000 people.

India Young Professionals Scheme visa applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria before entering the ballot:

be an Indian national aged between 18 and 30 years old
have an age of 18 years or over on the date they plan to travel to the UK
Applicants must hold a UK-recognised bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional qualification as defined by ECCTIS
must have £2,530 in savings to support themselves during their time in the UK (this must have been held for at least 28 consecutive days), and
not have any child dependents

Once applicants have applied online, proved their identity and provided any required documents, a decision is normally made within 3 weeks.

If granted, the visa allows holders to study, work in most jobs, be self-employed and set up a company.

Tips for Making a Successful UK Business Visa Application from India

Prepare a Strong Visa Application

To increase the chances of your UK business visa application being approved by the Home Office first time, it is important to clearly outline your business plan. This includes highlighting market viability, financial projections, and the innovative aspects of your business. Putting together your business plan and financial projections should not be rushed; it is important to take your time and ensure that you meet the requirements for endorsement.

Another key to success is taking the time to gather all necessary documents required for your business visa to the UK from India, such as financial statements, business endorsements, and evidence of your business activities in India and the UK. If necessary, ensure that these are translated into English, as failure to do so may result in your application being delayed. Make sure that the documents are presented logically and clearly so that the case officer deciding your application can easily find the information they require.

To ensure that you have the strongest possible application, have yours prepared by an experienced UK immigration Solicitor who can handle the process on your behalf and deal with any questions or queries raised by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

Understand the Common Reasons for Rejection

Understanding the common business visa application pitfalls can help you avoid them in the first place. The most common reasons for rejection are as follows:

Simply Not Meeting the Eligibility Criteria

Make sure that you meet all of the criteria before you apply. If you are not sure, speak to an immigration Solicitor. Even if the best application will be refused if you do not meet a small aspect of the eligibility requirements.

Incomplete Applications

Always make sure that all sections of your application are filled out completely and accurately.

Not Following the Correct Process

Don’t cut corners when making your visa application. Not completing each step in the right order is likely to lead to rejection.

No Genuine Intent to Start a Business:

Suspicion that you do not have a genuine intention to set up a business in the UK

Insufficient Funds

Demonstrate that you have the necessary financial resources to support your stay and business activities.

Lack of Clear Business Purpose

Your business plan must be well-defined and show a clear purpose and benefit to the UK economy.

Errors and Mistakes

Ticking the wrong box or any other minor error may result in your application being refused – have your application checked by an immigration Solicitor before it is submitted.

Success Story – Establishing a Business in the UK as a Foreign National

A Y & J Solicitors has helped many overseas businesses successfully gain the permission needed to establish a new branch or subsidiary in the UK. In one such case, we assisted a Director of a thriving UK IT consultancy and subsidiary of a US company in making a successful application for a UK sponsor licence, allowing him to recruit staff here. We ensured that all requirements were met and offered detailed advice on managing and recording sponsored workers.

Our clear, strategic support helped our client navigate the complexities, resulting in the successful approval of the sponsor licence with an A-rating. Mr X continues to rely on A Y & J Solicitors for further skilled worker visa applications. More details of how we helped Mr X establish a branch in the UK can be found here.

How to Get UK Business Visa from India?

First, for the Innovator Founder visa, pick a standout business idea and get an approved body to back it. Next, visit GOV.UK and fill in the Innovator Founder form. Pay £1,274, prove you have at least £1,270 in savings, and upload your endorsement letter, business plan, and English test. Then book a biometric appointment and wait for your visa decision.

Alternatively, if you prefer the Self-Sponsorship option, you must contact A Y & J Solicitors. Since Self-Sponsorship isn’t an official Home Office route, you need expert legal guidance to assist you through the entire process. A Y & J will help you incorporate a UK company and help prepare the documents required for a sponsor licence application. After you secure the licence, issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to yourself and complete your Skilled Worker application on GOV.UK. Throughout this process, A Y & J Solicitors handles every detail, making sure your UK company meets all Home Office requirements.

How Much Money Do You Need for an UK Business Visa?

When applying for an Innovator Founder visa, you pay a £1,274 application fee and show £1,270 in savings. Alternatively, you can choose Self-Sponsorship: first, set up a UK company and apply for a sponsor licence (£573 for small businesses or £1,476 for large companies). Next, assign yourself a Certificate of Sponsorship and apply for a Skilled Worker visa (£769 for up to three years or £1,519 for over three years). Since Self-Sponsorship isn’t an official Home Office route, you’ll need about £20,000 in legal fees to guide you through every step. Both routes let your family join you and lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years.

Final Words

Moving to the UK for business can be a rewarding experience. By choosing the right visa and preparing a strong application, you can make your entrepreneurial dreams a reality. In this guide, we have covered the key points for Indian nationals looking to set up a business in the UK, including the types of business visas available, tips for making a successful application, the common reasons for rejection, and some useful resources.

Still confused about what visa route to take or unable to find a visa route? Get a free assessment with one of our experts at A Y & J Solicitors.

At A Y & J Solicitors, we have handled over 100s of successful Self-Sponsorship applications. With a 95% success rate, we have achieved an overall track record of 5,000+ successful immigration and visa cases through our result-driven approach to every application. We take on each client with the genuine intention to provide our undivided care and attention to their case. We guide you through every step of your Self-Sponsorship process, so you can trust the experts to manage your application and work toward your success.

Why A Y & J Solicitors?

With over thousands of successful immigration cases to our name, A Y & J Solicitors has built its reputation on trust, care, and real results. Over the 15+ years of working in UK immigration law, we’ve helped individuals and businesses confidently navigate sponsor licences, visas, and ILR applications. We’re proud to be recognised by The Legal 500, but it’s our clients’ peace of mind that matters most. When you work with us, you get clear advice, honest support, and a team that’s truly on your side.

A Y & J Solicitors

A Y & J Solicitors is a multi-award winning, 14+ years experienced, recommended by Legal 500, boutique UK immigration law firm based in Central London. Having assisted 5000+ clients, we are well equipped to help you with our ‘In It To Win It’ approach. For your assurance and confidence, we are pleased to share our trust rating of 4.9/5 based on 1000+ reviews on Trustpilot & Google.

UK Business Visa for Indian Citizens

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