Theoretically self sponsorship refers to making an application for your own business to sponsor yourself, as opposed to having a separate UK sponsor. However, there is no such thing as ‘self sponsorship’ and there is certainly not a UK self sponsorship visa category. Instead, self sponsorship refers to using your company to sponsor you through an existing UK visa route (the Skilled Worker visa).
As mentioned, technically there is no such thing as self sponsorship. However, you can set-up a company in the UK with the intention that it will trade and use this company to sponsor yourself as part of a Skilled Worker visa. To be eligible for self sponsorship you must:
Have a suitable and attainable business plan or you have identified a business in the UK you wish to take over.
Have the relevant experience or qualifications required to set up or take over a business in the UK.
Meet the English language requirements (able to speak and understand English to Level B1 on the CEFR scale, as determined by passing an approved English language test).
Have the required resources to set up a business in the UK - whilst there is no minimum or maximum investment criteria you are required to have sufficient funds to set up a business.
Have an Authorising Officer in your business, this person should either be a British citizen or someone who is settled in the UK.
However, before you apply to self sponsor yourself (apply for a skilled worker visa), the company which you wish to set-up in the UK must first apply for a sponsor licence.
To apply for a sponsor licence, a UK company will need to providing the following evidence (as a minimum) in support of the application:
Latest corporate bank statement
Employers Liability Insurance
Proof of business premises
HMRC registrations (minimum registration for PAYE)
As a newly registered company with little trading history in the UK there is a chance that the company will be selected for a pre-registration audit by the UKVI. This audit is a check done by the UKVI to ensure that they are satisfied that the business has adequate systems and processes in place to satisfy the duties of a sponsor. Whilst Paragon Law can help for the preparation of this UKVI audit, the audit itself will take place at the company business premises where the UKVI officers would expect to meet with the person employed by the business to discuss the sponsorship application.
After you have obtained a sponsor licence you will be able to apply for a skilled worker visa which will enable you to work and live in the UK. When applying for a skilled worker visa you will be required to provide the following:
Your certificate of sponsorship reference number.
Evidence that you meet the English language requirements.
A valid passport or another valid document which shows your identity and nationality.
Your job title, annual salary, and job occupation code.
The name of your employer and their sponsor licence number (this can be found on their certificate of sponsorship).
In addition to these documents, you may also be required to provide the following:
Evidence that you meet the financial requirement (if necessary).
A tuberculosis test result (if from a listed country).
A criminal record check (if applying for entry clearance of being sponsored for a job in a certain sector).
A valid ATAS certificate (if applying for a job researching a sensitive subject in a listed occupation).