UK Visa Routes for Entrepreneurs and Skilled Individuals (UK Guide 2026)

Self-Sponsorship under the Skilled Worker Route

Although there is no official “self-sponsorship” visa, this route allows individuals to set up a UK business and sponsor themselves under the Skilled Worker category. 

How it works

• The individual establishes a UK company
• The company applies for a Sponsor Licence (SPL)
• The business sponsors the individual as a Skilled Worker

The Self-Sponsorship route is appropriate for entrepreneurs or business owners who genuinely intend to run a UK business which has an eligible role for sponsorship. For such individuals, this route offers greater control and independence from third-party employers.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, applicants must:

• Genuinely intend, and be able, to undertake the sponsored role
• Have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
• Be sponsored for a role on the eligible occupation list
• Meet the minimum salary requirement for the role
• Meet the English language requirement
• Meet the financial requirement
  
  

Additional Considerations for Self-Sponsorship Route

Where sponsorship is through the applicant’s own business, the Home Office will closely assess:

• Whether the business is genuine and has a trading presence in the UK
• Whether the role is legitimate, aligning with an eligible occupation code and not created solely for immigration purposes
• Whether the business can pay the required salary
• Whether sponsor compliance systems are in place
  
  

Application Fees and Processing Times

The visa application fee for those applying for entry clearance from outside the UK:

• £819 for a visa for up to 3 years
• £1618 for a visa for more than 3 years. 

For those applying from within the UK, the fee is: 

• £943 for a visa for up to 3 years
• £1865 for a visa for more than 3 years. 

For those whose job is on the Immigration Salary List, the fee is: 

• £628 for a visa for up to 3 years
• £1235 for a visa for more than 3 years.

A decision on the application usually takes:

• 3 weeks for those applying from abroad
• 8 weeks for those applying from within the UK
• 1 week for those who have opted for priority service for an additional fee of £500
  
  

Conditions of Stay

Skilled Worker Visa holders can:

• Work in an eligible job
• Study and
• Bring their partner and children as dependants, if they meet the eligibility requirements
• Undertake supplementary work in certain circumstances
• Travel abroad and return to the UK
• Apply for settlement in the UK (also known as ‘Indefinite Leave to Remain’) if applicants have lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the other eligibility requirements
• Do voluntary work

Restrictions include:

• No access to public funds
• No job or employer changes without updating the visa

Considering self-sponsorship in the UK?

Need guidance on setting up a business and sponsoring yourself in the UK?

Speak to our corporate immigration team today for tailored advice.

Global Talent Visa

The Global Talent visa is a non-sponsored route for individuals recognised as leaders or potential leaders in an eligible field.

Who is the Global Talent Visa for?

This route is ideal for:

• Researchers and academics
• Tech professionals
• Founders and innovators
• Artists and creatives
  
  

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Work in an eligible field
  • Academia or Research
  • Arts and culture
  • Digital technology
• And either: 
  • Hold an eligible prestigious prize, or
  • Obtain endorsement from the relevant approved body confirming they are a leader or potential leader in their field.
• The Academia or Research and Arts & Culture fields in turn have additional sub-routes.
  
  

Detailed evidential requirements vary by field and can be found in our previous article Global Talent Visa: Eligibility, Requirements and Application Process.

Key Features of the Global Talent Visa

• No sponsorship or job offer required
• Flexibility to work, be self-employed, or set up a business in the UK
• No minimum salary or English language requirement
  
  

Application Process

The application process is two-staged:

• Stage 1 - Application for endorsement: The application for endorsement could take approximately between 2 to 8 weeks depending on the field in question.
• Stage 2 - Application for Global Talent visa: In all cases, the visa application may be submitted at the same time as the application for endorsement, or after the endorsement is confirmed.
  • Out-of-country applications: 3 weeks
  • In-country applications: 8 weeks 
    
    

Application Fees

The endorsement and application fees are the same under all the three fields of the Global Talent route.

• Application fee: £766
  • If applying based on an endorsement, the fee is payable in two parts:
    • £561 when you apply for the endorsement
    • £205 when you apply for the visa itself
  • If applying based on an eligible prize thus avoiding the need for an endorsement, the full fee of £766 is paid at once.
• Immigration Health Surcharge: £1035 per year, per person.
  
  

Conditions of Stay

With a Global Talent visa, applicants can:

• Choose their visa duration (up to 5 years)
• Be an employee, self-employed and a director of a company
• Change or stop doing their job without telling the Home Office
• Bring ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible
• Travel abroad and return to the UK

If wanting to stay longer in the UK, applicants can:

• Renew the visa as many times so long as they meet the eligibility criteria for extending stay
• Apply to settle permanently in the UK

Restrictions

• Limited access to public funds
• No work as a sportsperson

Interested in the Global Talent Visa?

The Global Talent route has specific eligibility and evidential requirements that vary depending on your field and whether you are applying as a recognised leader or emerging talent.

Explore our detailed guide to learn more.

Innovator Founder Visa

This immigration route is designed for entrepreneurs seeking to establish and run an innovative, viable, and scalable business in the UK.

The route is best suited to founders with a genuinely original, growth-oriented business idea rather than a conventional trading business.

Eligibility Requirements for Innovator Founder Visa

Applicants must:

• Have a business plan, endorsed by an approved endorsing body as involving an innovative, viable and scalable business venture.
• Meet the English language requirement.  
• Meet the financial requirement.
• Whilst there is no minimum investment threshold in the rules, where the applicant is setting up a new business, they must satisfy the endorsing body that they have sufficient funding and explain the source of that funding.
  
  

Key Business Criteria

With respect to the innovative, viable and scalable elements of the business plan, the requirements are:

• That the applicant has a genuine, original business plan which meets new or existing market needs and/or creates a competitive advantage; and
• That the business plan is realistic and achievable based on the applicant’s available resources; and
• That the applicant has, or is actively developing, the necessary skills, knowledge, experience, and market awareness to successfully run the business; and
• That there is evidence of structured planning and of potential for job creation and growth into national and international markets.
  
  

Application Fees and Processing Times

Processing Times

A decision on the application usually takes:

• 3 weeks for those applying from abroad
• 8 weeks for those applying from within the UK
  
  

Application Fee

• The application fee depends on whether the application is being submitted from within the UK or from abroad.
  • For entry clearance applications from abroad, the fee is £1357.
  • For in-country applications, the fee is £1693. 
• Immigration Health Surcharge of £1035 per year applies
• An endorsement fee of £1,000 to get an endorsement from an approved endorsing body. If successful, there is also a fee of £500 each time an applicant meets with their endorsing body. Applicants need to meet at least twice during their stay in the UK. The fees are paid directly to the endorsing body.
  
  

Conditions of Stay

With an Innovator Visa applicants can:

• Set up a business or several businesses
• Work for their business - this includes being employed as a director, or self-employed as a member of a business partnership
• Do work outside their business, as long as it’s a job needing at least a level 3 qualification
• Bring ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible
• Travel abroad and return to the UK
• Apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) if one has lived in the UK for 3 years and meet the other eligibility requirements

Restrictions:

• No access to public funds
• Cannot work as a professional sportsperson, for example a sports coach

🚀 Have an Innovative Business Idea?

The Innovator Founder route is designed for entrepreneurs with innovative, viable and scalable business ventures. Our immigration solicitors can help assess your business concept and guide you through the endorsement and application process.

UK Expansion Worker Visa

This route is for an overseas business sending a senior manager or specialist employee to the UK to establish a branch or subsidiary before the UK business has started trading. 

The route is designed for established overseas companies expanding into the UK, rather than independent founders starting a new business from scratch.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Hold a valid CoS from the sponsoring employer
• Already work for the overseas business
• Have worked for the overseas business outside the UK for at least 12 months, subject to certain exceptions; namely that the applicant is:
  • Earning over £73,900
  • A Japanese national doing work for a Japanese company that is expanding to the UK
  • A national or permanent resident of Australia doing work for an Australian company that is expanding to the UK
• Be coming to do a job on the eligible occupation list
• Meet the salary requirement for the role.
  
  

Application Process and Fees

• A decision on the application usually takes:
  • 3 weeks for those applying from abroad
  • 8 weeks for those applying from within the UK
• Application fee: £340
• Immigration Health Surcharge: £1,035 per year
  
  

Conditions of Stay

With a UK Expansion Worker visa one can:

• Work for their sponsor in the job described in the certificate of sponsorship
• Study
• Bring their partner and children as ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible
• Travel abroad and return to the UK
• Do voluntary work

Restrictions:

• Limited access to public funds
• This route does not lead directly to settlement (ILR)
• No job changes unless eligible and without updating the visa
• No second job

🏢 Expanding Your Business into the UK?

Planning to establish a UK branch or subsidiary? Our corporate immigration solicitors can advise on sponsor licence requirements, the UK Expansion Worker route and the wider immigration considerations for your UK expansion plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best UK visa for entrepreneurs?

The most suitable visa depends on your circumstances. Many entrepreneurs consider the Innovator Founder route or self-sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route.

Can I sponsor myself for a UK visa?

There is no formal self-sponsorship visa, but individuals can set up a UK business and sponsor themselves under the Skilled Worker route.

What is the Global Talent visa?

A visa for individuals recognised as leaders or potential leaders in fields such as academia, arts, or digital technology.

Is there a visa for expanding a business into the UK?

Yes, the UK Expansion Worker visa allows overseas businesses to establish a UK presence.

Which UK visa leads to settlement?

Skilled Worker, Global Talent, and Innovator Founder visas can lead to settlement, subject to meeting requirements.