The UK is an extremely popular destination for Malaysian entrepreneurs and businesspeople who want to diversify their business interests and set up a commercial venture in Europe. The UK comprises England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, all of which have thriving business centres. For example, the technology hubs in Manchester and Birmingham are booming, offering superb prospects for IT software and hardware businesses. The UK’s green economy is also ramping up, offering boundless opportunities for business people and investors who want to become early adopters in this area. The UK’s educational excellence and strong commercial relationships with countries worldwide make it an unparalleled business location for Malaysian nationals.
If you are contemplating moving from Malaysia to the UK to start a new business venture in 2024 or beyond, you will need a business visa first. The good news is that the UK offers a wide range of business visas catering for different needs.
At A Y & J Solicitors in London, we’ve helped thousands of new and experienced business owners from around the world move to the UK, including Malaysia. We understand the typical challenges that come along with business visa applications for Malaysian business people and know how to mitigate them. We will walk you through the steps, showing you how to secure your business endorsement, business visa, and/or sponsor licence. Instead of going it alone, let our lawyers take the weight off your shoulders so you can rest easy knowing you’ll be able to bring your business and your family to the UK.
Relocating from Malaysia to the UK to start a new business can be an intimidating yet deeply rewarding endeavour. By choosing the right visa and preparing a strong application, you can transform your entrepreneurial aspirations into reality.
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.
Having previously secured a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Entry Clearance with the help of A Y & J Solicitors, Mr H asked for assistance with his visa extension application. We prepared a detailed checklist of required documents and handled the documentation, including a thorough legal representation letter and an online application. Mr H needed to demonstrate a minimum £200,000 investment in his business and the creation of two full-time jobs, leveraging a Covid-19 concession for the latter. Despite additional information requests from the UKVI, the application was meticulously managed and ultimately successful, resulting in the grant of Mr H’s Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Extension visa.
To find out more information about Mr. H’s story, please click here.
Kate Corey, Founder of 6 Degrees
We are specialists in immigration law and have supported more than 4,000 business owners and professionals around the globe to successfully navigate the British system. We work quickly, always responding to any queries within 24 working hours. We work closely with the Home Office to pre-empt issues before they jeopardise sponsorship applications or breach compliance. We manage all United Kingdom immigration matters, including visa applications under the new points-based immigration system, Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), Spouse Visas, nationality, and more. We also handle complex appeal cases, administrative reviews, judicial reviews, and many immigration challenges involving European Union law and human rights.
A Y & J Solicitors has more than 1,200 positive client reviews across Google and Trustpilot and is listed in The Legal top 500 best UK law firms, so you can rest assured your immigration challenges are in safe hands when you take these three simple steps:
"AYJ Solicitors is truly in a league of its own, providing unparalleled professionalism and exceptional service from beginning to end. I can’t thank Aileen, Syed, and Diana enough for their relentless support during my application process. Aileen is nothing short of phenomenal—a true treasure! Her dedication, patience, and expertise are simply extraordinary. She handled every detail with precision and care, always making me feel like I was her top priority. Aileen’s kindness and warmth were a constant source of reassurance, and I’m beyond grateful for her. Syed, too, was remarkable—his prompt responses, and unshakable commitment exceeded all my expectations. He was a true pillar of support, guiding me with insight and care every step of the way. This dynamic team worked with such grace, efficiency, and dedication—it truly felt like having a dream team by my side. They didn’t just meet my expectations; they far surpassed them. AYJ Solicitors exceeded all my hopes, and I couldn’t recommend them highly enough!"
"I cannot compliment AY&J enough, in particular Ikra Ahmed. We had the pleasure of being given Ikra as our case worker and without her I am not sure we would have got the result we wanted. AY&J provided a clear and articulate description of the service they would be providing, while also being honest on the likelihood of our outcome. Seems to be efficiently run and well managed. Shoutout to Anmol for supporting. Ikra, truly great. She was with us every step of the way and was truly accessible if and when we needed her. She was incredibly knowledgeable and well versed in the requirements and she was confident in the best steps to take. Not only was she a great case worker but she was also a lovely person. A big thank you to AY&J and Ikra, truly so helpful."
"I worked with Amy Felix-George and she was amazing. She was very professional providing me with prompt and very well explained replies to my emails. I would highly recommend the agency I have been working with for the past 5 years."
"The consultants are very clear and meticulous in their documentation and communication. Kept me informed and updated at every point of the process and responded swiftly to my enquiries. I will certainly recommend them to anyone who requires legal services."
"We reached out to AY&J Solicitors for help with both our company’s sponsorship licence and skilled worker visa application, and they were excellent. The team, led by Diana and including Purvaja, Aishu, and Syed, supported us every step of the way with great knowledge. A special thanks to Purvaja for her outstanding support. I’d highly recommend AY&J to anyone needing this kind of service. Thank you all for your hard work!"
"Very confident and smart team of experts. This was our second time using AY&J solicitor and they resolved our matter with utmost professionalism. Our case was very complicated and required micro detailing and it was handled in most helpful manner. Thankyou Mehak, Nagina and Diana for the hardwork and assistance, without you it would have not been possible. Keep up the good work and looking forward working with you again in the future, all the best! Abid and Ali Mehboob"
The most popular immigration routes for Malaysian business people include the following:
Understanding the differences between each visa and the eligibility requirements and benefits is essential. Choosing the best visa for your needs and those of your family will significantly enhance your chance of creating a successful business enterprise here.
The UK Innovator Founder Visa is suitable for business people who want to move from Malaysia to the UK to establish a new innovative business. The better option for those with an existing business may be the Global Business Mobility Expansion Worker visa (see below).
By choosing the UK Innovator Founder Visa, you can bring your partner and children and remain for up to 3 years. At this point, you can extend your visa or apply for accelerated Indefinite Leave to Remain (which generally takes 5 years on most visas), allowing you to settle permanently and later gain citizenship.
To consider this route, you must have an innovative, viable, and scalable business idea endorsed by an endorsing body in the UK. In addition, you must meet the English language requirements and have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family.
For those with an existing business in Malaysia (or their representatives), the Global Business Mobility (GBM) Expansion Worker Visa enables holders to come to the UK to set up a branch or subsidiary. If this option appeals to you, you must have:
If granted, your GBM Expansion Worker visa will allow you to stay for up to 12 months. You can then apply for an extension for another 12 months (up to a maximum of 2 years). If you wish to stay beyond the initial 2 years, you can switch to another visa type, allowing you to stay longer and eventually settle indefinitely.
You can apply for a UK Visitor visa to come from Malaysia to the UK for a business meeting. The UK Visitor visa is not just for tourists and those visiting family; it can also be used by business people. The UK Visitor Visa is ideal for business people who wish to travel from Malaysia to the UK at short notice for no more than 6 months to attend business meetings or conferences or sign contracts. Applicants need to submit an invitation letter from the UK business (or businesses) they will be visiting during their time here.
You can use a UK Visitor visa as a Malaysia citizen for business purposes if you intend to come to the UK for up to 6 months to:
The Self-sponsorship route is ideal for Malaysian business people who want to establish their own business in the UK and sponsor themselves. You might consider this route if you usually need a work visa but prefer to work for yourself. In other words, it puts you in control rather than an employer. To apply under the Self-Sponsorship route as a citizen of Malaysia, you will need to:
The immigration Solicitors at A Y & J have helped many overseas business people make successful self-sponsorship applications and can do the same for you. We will explain the process and the requirements, help you secure a sponsor licence, and then prepare and submit your Skilled Worker visa application for you and your family.
Ready to Secure Your Self-Sponsorship UK Visa Route? Discover the key to your successful self-sponsorship journey with our exclusive resources:
On-Demand Webinar: “What is Self-Sponsorship Visa UK? How to Apply, Eligibility Criteria & Requirements”
Access our valuable resources today and pave the way to your self-sponsorship UK visa!
10-Step Process: How We Help Our Clients Secure Self-Sponsorship in the UK
Comprehensive Guide on How to Apply for the Self-Sponsorship Route
Here are some simple but essential tips to significantly boost our chances of getting a positive decision on your visa on the first attempt, saving you time and money:
Even the most minor visa application errors or mistakes can lead to immediate refusal, resulting in disappointment, inconvenience, wasted time, and financial loss. To make sure that your application is approved the first time with no delay, it is important to avoid the most common reasons for rejection, as follows:
be tempted to rush your visa, endorsement, or sponsor licence application. If you are short on time, hand the process over to a UK-based immigration Solicitor who will greatly enhance your chances of securing a UK business visa and successfully starting your company in the UK.
Application help
