For ambitious Indian entrepreneurs, the world is your oyster. But sometimes, borders can feel like insurmountable walls, limiting your ability to expand your reach and realize your full potential. Enter the UK Self Sponsorship Visa – a game-changer for Indian businesses seeking a springboard into the dynamic UK market. Please read the article to gain a better understanding...

1. UK SELF
SPONSORSHIP
VISA

2. TABLE OF CONTENT
• What is UK Self Sponsorship Visa
• What are the requirements for a Self-Sponsorship Visa
• UK Self Sponsorship Visa
• What are the steps in the self sponsor visa process?
Step 1: Incorporate a company in UK
Step 2: Apply for a Sponsor Licence
Step 3: Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
Step 4: Apply for entry clearance Skilled Worker Visa
• Self-Sponsorship Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
• How can The SmartMove2UK help with self sponsorship visa?
• Contact UK Self Sponsorship Visa Consultant in India
• The SmartMove2UK Can Also Help With:

3. WHAT IS UK SELF
SPONSORSHIP VISA
Self-sponsorship in the UK is not a visa category,
but this is a pathway for business owners to enter
UK to start or join their active UK businesses.
To start this process, your UK business must secure
a Skilled Worker sponsor license before you
proceed to apply for the self-sponsored Skilled
Worker visa.
This pathway not only opens the door to
settlement in the UK but also allows eligible
applicants to bring along dependent partners and
children. Dependent partners are also allowed to
work full time*.

4. WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR A SELF-SPONSORSHIP VISA
The requirements to be eligible to apply as self sponsored
skilled worker you will need to provide evidence that:
• You are at least 18 years old;
• There is a UK company that is active;
• The UK company holds a Skilled Worker sponsor licence;
• You have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from the company;
• The job offer is a genuine vacancy;
• Your role is at the appropriate skill level;
• The salary requirements are met;
• You meet the English language requirement i.e. at least CEFR
Level B1 (~UKVI IELTS Band 4.0);
The requirements to be eligible to apply as self sponsored
skilled worker you will need to provide evidence that:

5. Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship
to the applicant
Incorporate a company in UK
Apply for a sponsor licence
WHAT ARE THE STEPS
IN THE SELF SPONSOR
VISA PROCESS?
Broadly the following steps need to be
completed to apply for self sponsor
visa:
Apply for entry clearance (or switch) to
Skilled Worker visa

6. STEP 1: INCORPORATE A COMPANY IN UK
The first step in the self sponsorship visa
process is to incorporate a company in the UK
or a company may already have been
incorporated/trading in UK.
Can I incorporate a company in the UK if I am
outside the UK?
Yes, you can register a company even if you
are outside the UK. There is no requirement
for the director of a UK company to be British
citizen.

7. STEP 2: APPLY FOR A SPONSOR LICENCE
Employers in UK who want to employ migrants from outside the UK are
required to be registered on the Home Office Sponsor Licence register.
What are the requirements for a Sponsor Licence?
Once the UK entity is incorporated the company can apply for a Skilled Worker sponsor licence.
When evaluating an application for sponsor licence the Home Office will check that:
• The UK business is genuine and is carrying out/intends to carry out lawful business activities; and
• The UK business has adequate processes and is capable of performing its sponsor duties effectively; and
• The UK business has a genuine vacancy which meets the salary and skill level requirements of the Skilled
Worker route.

8. The company will typically need to provide (at least 4)
• Current, corporate bank account with a bank registered by the Financial Conduct Authority and the
Prudential Regulation Authority in the UK;
• Evidence that the business has registered with HMRC as an employer for PAYE and National
Insurance;
• Evidence that the business has registered for VAT;
• Evidence that the business has employer’s liability insurance cover;
• Evidence of ownership or lease of business premises by the business;
• Recent annual accounts of the business
• Evidence of CT600/603 for corporation tax
• UTR number
The specific document requirements will vary based on the nature of the business.
STEP 2: APPLY FOR A SPONSOR LICENCE

9. It is possible for a non-UK resident to open a business bank account in the UK, but the
requirements and procedures may vary depending on the bank and individual circumstances.
Is there a minimum period that the UK business has to be trading
for to be eligible for sponsor licence?
The Home Office requires that companies applying for sponsor licence are registered with Companies
House, have a UK business bank account, be registered for PAYE/NI/VAT. However there is no
requirement for the business to be actively trading or a minimum period of incorporation.
Opening a business bank account if you are a non UK resident
STEP 2: APPLY FOR A SPONSOR LICENCE

10. STEP 3: ASSIGN A CERTIFICATE OF
SPONSORSHIP (COS)
Once the company’s application for skilled worker sponsor licence is approved the
business will be able to apply and assign certificate of sponsorship.

11. STEP 4: APPLY FOR ENTRY CLEARANCE
SKILLED WORKER VISA
When an applicant has received the Certificate of Sponsorship they can then apply for
entry clearance as skilled worker.

12. STEP 4: APPLY FOR ENTRY CLEARANCE
SKILLED WORKER VISA
What are the requirements of skilled worker visa?
In order to apply for skilled worker visa the applicant will need to provide:
• Valid Certificate of Sponsorship;
• Evidence that they meet English language requirement at least CEFR Level B1 (~ Band 4.0 or higher on IELTS for
UKVI).;
• Evidence that they can support themselves (and their dependents) without recourse to public funds;
• A Police clearance certificate/Criminal record certificate (if required);
• Valid TB certificate from approved testing centre (if required).
Application for entry clearance for Skilled Worker visa can be made up to 3 months before the day you are required to
start work in the UK.
For applications outside the UK, the normal processing times are 15 working days, whilst applications within the UK are
normally decided in 8 weeks. Applicants can also pay extra for priority and super priority processing where available.

13. Our UK visa experts regularly assist new and established UK businesses to successfully apply for sponsor licences and then
sponsor themselves to live and work in the UK.
We strongly advise applicants to check their eligibility to apply under this route or to evaluate suitable options.
Our UK visa experts have been helping clients for their business expansion to the UK since 2009. Our UK visa experts are
proactive in understanding and meeting client requirements and are dedicated to providing clear and reliable UK
immigration advice.
HOW CAN THE
SMARTMOVE2UK
HELP WITH SELF
SPONSORSHIP
VISA?
+91 9819127002 info@smartmove2uk.com