World Wide Work Permit Limited has received numerous queries from talented people across the globe who aspire to work in the UK, but have difficulties finding a sponsor. We would like to tell you that there’s another way that you can fulfill your career in the UK without relying on others. You can be your own sponsor, sounds exciting!
All you need to do is to set up a business in the UK and apply for a sponsor licence to sponsor yourself.
Why is Self-Sponsorship possible?
Previously, if you held more than a 10% shareholding of the company, you couldn’t apply for a Tier 2 visa. However, since the Skilled Worker Visa scheme replaced the Tier 2 visa (Dec 2020), there are no restrictions on shareholdings anymore. This means you can come to the UK as a Skilled Worker even if you are the only shareholder.
Who is suitable for Self-Sponsorship?
Do you have a company in the UK; or
You’ve purchased a business in the UK, and you have sufficient resources (skills and finances) to support your business in the UK; or
You are planning to set up a business in the UK, and have the financial ability to do so.
Are there any financial requirements for this route?
No, there’s no exact number required for how much money you need to have for your business. As long as you have sufficient funds to support the establishment of the business.
Unlike the Innovator Visa, you’ll need a minimum of £50,000 in investment funds for your business.
How does it work?
First, set up a company in the UK
Apply for a sponsor license
Get the sponsor license and sponsor yourself
What do you need?
A business in the UK
The documents required for the Sponsor Licence application
An Authorising Officer in the UK
A robust HR system
What are the business requirements?
There are no restrictions on the type of business for a self-sponsor, as long as it’s a legal business in the UK. You can open a coffee shop, restaurant, tech company, etc.
Unlike the Start-up Visa, you’ll need a business idea that needs to be different from any others in the market. You also need to have an endorsing body(universities, trusts, governing bodies) to approve your business idea.
What’s the procedure for Self Sponsorship?
In summary, the procedure is to set up a business and apply for a sponsor license for your business, and then sponsor yourself as a skilled worker.
You can follow our step-by-step guide below.
Step 1: Establish a business in the UK
To know how to start a business in the UK, please read the UK government websitehere.
Step 2: Apply for a Sponsor License
There are certain documents required for a sponsor license application, you’ll need a minimum 4 of the following:
PAYEE OR Account Office reference letter from HMRC
Copy of regulatory approval, i.e., Health & Safety star rating for food business, ACCA, SRA
VAT Certificate (if registered)
SIGNED Annual accounts (if the business is over 18 months old)
If you want to know more about how to apply for a sponsor license, please read our blog here.
Step 3: Appointing an Authorising Officer
You must appoint an Authorising Officer (AO) during the application stage.
The person needs to be your employee whom the Home Office will contact in regard to the application. Any suitable employee for this role, such as managers/directors, or employee with good communication skills who has knowledge of this application.
It is better to appoint someone who is a British citizen or someone who has an Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK to act as your Authorizing Officer.
Step 4: Have a robust HR system in place
As a mandatory requirement for sponsor license applications, you must have a robust HR system in place to prove that you are able to comply with the sponsor duties for your skilled workers.
If you don’t have an HR system, World Wide Work Permit provides a one-stop solution, namely WwwpHr software which is designed around the sponsor license guidance from the Home Office. We have hundreds of clients who have managed to comply with the rules and have been issued their licenses and visas using our bespoke HR software.
Step 5: Getting your Sponsor Licence
It usually takes around 8 weeks to get a decision from the Home Office.
However, it might take longer if the Home Office wants to conduct further checks on your business or wants to visit your company address. If you need assistance in preparing a Home Office visit, please contact us.
Step 6: Assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to a skilled worker
After your license is granted, you’re able to assign a CoS to an employee of the company that you wish to sponsor. For more info about CoS please click here.
As there are no restrictions for the shareholdings of a skilled worker, you can assign a CoS to yourself, so that you can use the CoS to apply for a skilled worker visa. World Wide Work Permit can assist you with the CoS allocation and visa application.
Step 7: Applying for a Skilled Worker Visa
After you have assigned the CoS to yourself, you can use the CoS to apply for a Skilled Worker Visa. This Visa allows you to work in the UK legally.
There are documents required for applying for a Skilled Worker Visa, please click here for more information.
We can:
Evaluate an organization’s sponsorship needs.
Determine the appropriate type of sponsorship license.
Check the organization’s previous business performance.
Recommend mandatory and supporting documents based on the nature of the organization.
Assist organizations to respond to Home Office questions correctly.
Provide guidance on sponsorship-related fees.
Help fast-track organizations to the Home Office.
Provide expert support for first-time sponsorship license applicants, renewals, suspensions, and revocations.
How can World Wide Work Permit help?
At World Wide Work Permit we have been working closely with hundreds of small to medium size enterprises to apply for their Sponsor Licences and Skilled Worker Visas successfully.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at: info@wwwp.guru
