Self-sponsorship

Who self-sponsorship suits

It works for professionals who are ready to run a genuine UK business, not for anyone looking for a quick route to a visa.

Unlike the Innovator Founder visa, self-sponsorship works for any genuine business type. The most common sectors are IT and technology, professional services, import/export and trade, healthcare, construction and property, food and hospitality, creative industries, and education and training.

What you need to qualify

The tests the Home Office applies to the company, the role and you.

• Genuine business

  Your company must be a real, trading business with genuine commercial activity, not one created for immigration purposes.

• Qualifying role

  Your job role must be on the eligible occupation list and meet the required skill level — RQF Level 6 standard, or RQF Level 3-5 via the TSL or ISL.

• Salary threshold

  The role must meet the required salary threshold: £41,700 or the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher.

• Financial requirements

  Demonstrate funds to establish and run the business, plus personal maintenance funds.

• HR systems

  Implement proper HR and compliance systems to meet sponsor licence duties.

• English language

  Meet English language requirements through a test or a degree taught in English.

• Operating or trading presence

  The business must have a genuine operating or trading presence in the UK. A licence is refused where the Home Office is not satisfied the organisation is genuinely trading — for example where there is no significant trade with customers or clients, with finance coming mainly from a related company or investors rather than from trading, or where money is moved between linked businesses simply to obtain a licence.

• Not a shell company

  A licence will be refused if there are reasonable grounds to suspect the company exists mainly to facilitate the entry or residence of a person who would not otherwise have permission to work in the UK. A company set up solely around the individual it intends to sponsor will not qualify. There must be a genuine vacancy and a genuine business need for the role.

The genuine business test

A sponsor licence is only granted to a genuine organisation that is operating or trading lawfully in the UK.

Operating or trading is not defined in law and is given its ordinary, plain meaning. Trading broadly means commercial operations by which the organisation provides goods or services to customers for reward. Operating also covers charities and not-for-profit organisations providing a service to clients, customers or service users. Pre-trade activities count where the business has a genuine intention to start commercial trading in the foreseeable future.

If there is no operating or trading presence in the UK, the Home Office will refuse the licence application. If it later finds there is no operating or trading presence after a licence has been granted, it will revoke the licence. Demonstrating real third-party customers, contracts and financial transactions is therefore central to any self-sponsorship plan. Two patterns are called out in the sponsor guidance:

• No significant trade activity — apart from HMRC payments and utility, leasing, insurance or related bills, there is no evidence of financial transactions with customers or clients, and all or most of the finance comes from a related company or private investors rather than from actual trading.
• Circular trading — invoices and contracts are wholly or mainly between entities linked by common ownership or control, or by shared personnel, with little or no genuine third-party activity outside that closed group.

Why applications are refused

Understanding why applications fail helps you prepare a stronger case.

• Business not genuine

  The Home Office determines the company was created solely for immigration purposes without genuine commercial activity. Establish real trading activity, contracts and client relationships before applying.

• Role does not meet requirements

  The job role does not meet the required skill level (RQF Level 6 standard, or RQF Level 3-5 via TSL/ISL) or does not match the stated business activities. Ensure your role is on the eligible occupations list and matches your business operations.

• Salary below threshold

  The proposed salary does not meet the £41,700 minimum or the going rate for your occupation. Budget for a proper salary from day one — this is a strict requirement.

• Insufficient business evidence

  Lack of trading history, contracts, or evidence of genuine business operations. Build up 3-6 months of trading evidence before the sponsor licence application.

• Poor sponsor licence application

  Missing documents, inadequate HR systems, or failure to demonstrate compliance capability. Work with specialists to prepare comprehensive documentation and systems.

• Previous immigration issues

  Past visa refusals, overstays or breaches affecting credibility. Disclose all history honestly and address any concerns proactively.

How it works

A five-stage route from company formation to a granted visa.

Company formation

24-48 hours

Sponsor licence — standard

8-12 weeks

Sponsor licence — priority

10 working days

Certificate of Sponsorship

Same day

Visa decision — standard

3 weeks

Visa decision — priority

5 working days

Visa decision — super priority

24 hours

• Start trading early. Begin business operations 3-6 months before applying for your sponsor licence — real trading history significantly strengthens your application.
• Budget for the full salary. Ensure you have funds to pay yourself the minimum £41,700 salary for at least 12 months before applying.
• Document everything. Keep detailed records of all business activities, client communications, contracts and financial transactions.
• Set up proper systems. Implement HR, record-keeping and right-to-work checking systems before applying for your licence.
• Choose the right SOC code. Select an occupation code that genuinely matches your role and business activities — this affects salary requirements.
• Prepare for a compliance visit. The Home Office may visit your premises, so the business needs a physical presence and proper documentation.
• Use priority services if time is critical, for both the sponsor licence (£750) and the visa application (£500-£1,000).

Costs and salary thresholds

Current fees and costs for self-sponsorship in 2026.

Company formation — Companies House registration

£50-£100

Sponsor licence fee — depends on company size (April 2026)

£611-£1,682

Priority licence processing — optional, reduces to 10 days

£750

Certificate of Sponsorship — per person sponsored (April 2026)

£525

Immigration Skills Charge — small sponsors; £1,320 for large (Dec 2025)

£480 a year

Visa application fee — depends on duration and location (April 2026)

£819-£1,865

Priority visa processing — optional

£500-£1,000

Immigration Health Surcharge — £1,035 x 5 years

£5,175

English test (IELTS) — if required

£195

Professional fees — legal and immigration support

£5,000-£15,000

Working capital — to fund business operations

£10,000+

First year salary reserve — to pay yourself the minimum salary

£41,700+

Estimated total investment is £60,000 - £75,000+, including the first year salary reserve and working capital.

The general salary threshold is £41,700 or the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher. Lower thresholds may apply for new entrants, PhD holders and roles on the Immigration Salary List.

General applicants — or occupation going rate, whichever is higher

£41,700

New entrants — 70% of going rate applies

£33,400 floor

STEM PhD holders — 80% of going rate, PhD relevant to the job

£33,400 floor

Non-STEM PhD holders — 90% of going rate, PhD relevant to the job

£37,500 floor

Postdoctoral researchers — 70% of going rate, SOC 2119 and 2129

£33,400 floor

AHSE national pay scale — £12.82/hr minimum, pay must match the published scale

£25,000 floor

Immigration Salary List — check the specific occupation on the ISL

Lower thresholds

Temporary Shortage List — critical medium-skilled roles

Lower thresholds

Health and Care Worker — exempt from the Immigration Skills Charge and IHS

Standard SW thresholds

Visa extenders — visa granted before April 2024

May retain previous rates

Transitional — Certificate of Sponsorship assigned before 4 April 2024

£29,000 floor

• The going rate is the minimum salary for your specific occupation code (SOC). For many roles, this exceeds £41,700.
• New entrant eligibility: under 26, switching from a Student visa, or professional registration in the last 3 years.
• Health and Care Worker rates apply to eligible professionals sponsored by the NHS, NHS suppliers or CQC-regulated providers. Care worker SOC 6135/6136 closed to new overseas applicants from July 2025.
• Transitional rates freeze going rates at the 2023 SOC 2010 codes (median rather than 25th percentile), provided continuous Skilled Worker or Tier 2 leave is maintained.

Recent immigration changes (2024-2025)

The rules behind these figures have moved several times, and the changes affect budgeting as much as eligibility.

• Jul 2025 — Salary threshold increase to £41,700. The general salary threshold increased from £38,700 to £41,700 on 22nd July 2025. The new entrant floor also increased to £33,400.
• Jul 2025 — Temporary Shortage List introduced. A new temporary list for critical roles, with lower salary thresholds but NO dependants allowed, expiring at the end of 2026.
• Apr 2024 — Going rate updates. Many occupation-specific going rates increased substantially.
• Feb 2024 — Immigration Health Surcharge. The IHS increased from £624 to £1,035 per year — factor this into your budget.
• Jan 2024 — Compliance requirements strengthened. Enhanced scrutiny on sponsor licence applications means thorough preparation is essential.

Once the licence is in place

Sponsor licences no longer expire, but they can be revoked. The duties start the day the licence is granted.

• Record keeping

  Maintain records of all sponsored workers, including contact details, attendance and immigration documents. Ongoing.

• Reporting duties

  Report changes such as address changes, salary changes, or if the worker stops coming to work, within 10-20 days of the change.

• Right to work checks

  Verify and document right to work for all employees, including yourself, before employment starts.

• Salary payments

  Pay yourself at least the minimum salary threshold through PAYE, monthly.

• HR systems

  Maintain compliant HR policies and procedures on an ongoing basis.

• Sponsor Management System

  Keep your SMS account up to date with current information.

Register with HMRC for PAYE and open a UK business bank account straight away, file annual accounts with Companies House and corporation tax returns, and gather evidence of continuous residence and salary payments ahead of settlement. After five years of continuous employment with your company you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, and 12 months after ILR you can apply for naturalisation. Once the licence is active you can also sponsor other skilled workers for the business.