UK Self-Sponsorship Visa
Set up a UK company, obtain a sponsor licence and sponsor yourself on the Skilled Worker visa — with a path to settlement.
Check your eligibility before you pay any fee
UK self-sponsorship is not a separate visa — it is a way to use the Skilled Worker route as a business owner. You set up a UK company, the company obtains a sponsor licence from the Home Office, and it then assigns you a Certificate of Sponsorship for a genuine role in the business.
The Home Office scrutinises these applications closely. The business must be genuine and trading, with a credible plan, real operations and the means to pay your salary. The sponsor licence also needs an Authorising Officer and Key Contact who are based in the UK, so the structure of your management team matters from the start.
The Skilled Worker visa is granted for up to five years and can be extended. Under the current rules settlement (indefinite leave to remain) is available after five years; the government has consulted on extending qualifying periods, so we confirm the position for your timeline at consultation.
Eligibility & requirements
- A genuine, trading UK business with a real need for your role
- A sponsor licence held by that company
- A UK-based Authorising Officer and key personnel for the licence
- A role at RQF level 6 (degree level) or eligible for a shortage exception, paid at least the going rate and the general threshold
- English at B1 level and funds to support yourself on arrival
How the process works
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01
Business plan and structure
We assess your plan and design the company, its management and its hiring so it can support a sponsor licence.
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02
Company set-up
Incorporation, bank account, registered office, payroll and HMRC registrations.
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03
Sponsor licence
We prepare and file the licence application with the documents the Home Office expects.
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04
Certificate of Sponsorship
Once licensed, the company assigns you a CoS for your role at the right occupation code and salary.
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05
Skilled Worker visa
We lodge your visa and your family’s, and set up the compliance duties the company keeps as a licensed sponsor.
UK Self-Sponsorship FAQs
Yes — your UK company sponsors you. It must be a genuine business with a sponsor licence, and the role must meet the Skilled Worker skill and salary rules.
The Authorising Officer and Key Contact must be based in the UK. Founders abroad usually appoint a UK-based director or manager to fill those roles at the licence stage.
Your spouse or partner and children under 18 can apply as your dependants. Your partner can work in the UK.
Skilled Worker leave can count towards indefinite leave to remain, and then British citizenship, provided the residence and other requirements in force at the time are met.
SA Global Citizenship is a team of immigration advisors with over 20 years of experience, serving clients from South Asia, the Middle East, Europe, the Caribbean and the USA.
- Personal guidance. One advisor matches the route to your family and budget, and tells you if another programme fits better.
- Full application support. Forms, notarisation, legalisation and every government query, handled for you.
- Transparent payments. Government and due diligence fees go directly to official accounts at set milestones. We never hold client investment funds.
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K+
Successful Immigration Clients
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Years of Immigration Excellence
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Global Offices
How to Get United Kingdom Business immigration
Here is what you do next and what we do for you. Most clients go from first call to submitted application in two to four weeks.
Book a consultation
At our Dubai, Lahore or Karachi office, or online. Bring a list of the family members you want to include.
Get your eligibility result
A written route recommendation with an itemised cost, before any government fee is paid.
We prepare your file
Your dedicated legal expert completes the forms and guides you through the documents only you can obtain.
We submit for you
Your application goes to the government and we manage it through to approval and payment.
Ready to start your United Kingdom application?
Book a strategic consultation and get a clear, obligation-free plan for your family’s mobility.