The Ultimate Guide to Self-Sponsorship in the UK: 2025 for Entrepreneurs & Innovators

For foreign entrepreneurs and business owners dreaming of launching or expanding their venture in the UK, the concept of self-sponsorship in the UK is a powerful pathway. This immigration strategy allows you to effectively be both the employer and the employee, enabling you to secure a long-term visa and run your own business. While it is not a specific visa category, it’s a strategic use of the Skilled Worker visa route. At Conroy Baker Ltd., we specialize in navigating this complex process, ensuring you meet all legal requirements and set your business up for success.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about self-sponsorship in the UK in 2025, from key requirements and the application process to the benefits and pitfalls to avoid.

To successfully self-sponsor a UK Skilled Worker visa, both you (the employee) and your company (the sponsor) must meet specific criteria.

• Job Role: The job you will be performing must be a genuine, skilled role, typically at RQF Level 6 or above. The role must also meet the minimum salary threshold. As of July 2025, the standard salary threshold is £41,700 per year or the “going rate” for the specific occupation, whichever is higher.
• English Language Proficiency: You must prove your English language ability to at least CEFR Level B1, typically by passing an approved test or holding a degree taught in English.
• Financial Maintenance: You must have sufficient personal funds (£1,270) to support yourself in the UK, unless your sponsoring company confirms it will cover your maintenance costs during your first month.

• UK-Based Entity: The business must be a registered, legitimate trading company in the UK, such as a private limited company.
• Sponsor Licence: The company must apply for and be granted a Sponsor Licence by the UK Home Office. This licence allows the company to sponsor skilled workers, including you. The Home Office will scrutinize the company to ensure it is genuine and has the necessary HR and compliance systems in place.
• Key Personnel: The company must appoint at least one settled UK resident (a British citizen, or someone with Indefinite Leave to Remain) to the role of “Authorising Officer” and a “Level 1 User” to manage the Sponsorship Management System (SMS).

The process of self-sponsorship in the UK is meticulous and requires a strategic approach. Here are the key steps:

• Step 1: Establish a UK Company
  This is the first and most critical step. You must register a private limited company with Companies House, establish a genuine UK address, and set up a business bank account. A solid business plan is essential to demonstrate your company’s viability to the Home Office.
• Step 2: Apply for a Sponsor Licence
  The newly-formed company must apply to the Home Office for a Sponsor Licence. This application requires submitting a range of supporting documents to prove the business’s legitimacy.

  Common reasons for refusal include:

  • Lack of a genuine UK trading presence.
  • Failure to submit the required documents within the five-day deadline.
  • The business’s stated turnover or employee numbers don’t match official records.
• Step 3: Issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
  Once the Sponsor Licence is approved, the company can assign a CoS to you. The CoS is an electronic document that confirms the job offer and your role. The description of your job on the CoS is critical, as it must clearly link to an eligible occupation code and meet the salary requirements.
• Step 4: Apply for the Skilled Worker Visa
  With the CoS, you can submit your visa application. This includes providing your personal documents, proof of English language ability, and evidence of funds.

While the Innovator Founder visa is another route for entrepreneurs, self-sponsorship in the UK offers some distinct advantages:

• No Endorsement Needed: Unlike the Innovator Founder visa, you do not need to secure an endorsement from an approved body for self-sponsorship in the UK.
• Path to Settlement: Both routes lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). However, the Innovator Founder route has specific business milestones you must achieve, whereas the self-sponsorship route simply requires you to meet standard Skilled Worker ILR requirements, such as continuous employment and a minimum salary.
• Business Flexibility: The Innovator Founder visa requires a business idea that is “innovative, viable, and scalable.” The self-sponsorship route has no such requirement, allowing you to set up a wider range of businesses.

The cost of self-sponsorship in the UK is a significant factor. Here is a breakdown of the key fees you can expect in 2025:

• Sponsor Licence Application Fee: £574 (for small sponsors) or £1,579 (for medium/large sponsors).
• Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Fee: £525 per worker.
• Immigration Skills Charge (ISC): This is a mandatory charge for sponsors. For small sponsors, it is £364 per year for the first worker.
• Skilled Worker Visa Application Fee: This varies depending on the job, location, and length of visa. It can range from approximately £700 to £1,500.
• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): This is paid upfront for the duration of the visa. As of 2025, the rate for a Skilled Worker is £1,035 per year.

These costs can add up quickly, which is why working with a firm like Conroy Baker Ltd. is essential to ensure your application is successful and you don’t lose these substantial fees.

The single biggest risk in the self-sponsorship in the UK route is proving the genuineness of your business and the job vacancy to the Home Office. Caseworkers are trained to identify “sham” companies created solely for immigration purposes. Our UK Immigration & Business Lawyers can help you prepare for this scrutiny by ensuring:

• A Robust Business Plan: Your business plan must clearly outline your company’s structure, market demand, financial projections, and the genuine need for your role within the company.
• Demonstrable UK Presence: You must have a clear UK office address and a functioning UK bank account.
• No “Cooling-Off Period” Issues: If your company had a previously refused or revoked Sponsor Licence, it may be subject to a “cooling-off period” of 6 or 12 months before it can reapply.

Client Profile: Raj, a software engineer from India, wanted to launch a tech startup in London focused on AI-driven market analysis. He had a viable business idea but didn’t qualify for the Innovator Founder visa as he didn’t have an endorsement.

The Challenge: Raj needed to secure a long-term visa to run his business without meeting the stringent “innovation” criteria.

Our Solution: Conroy Baker Ltd. provided a complete solution. We helped Raj:

• Incorporate his company with Companies House.
• Draft a comprehensive business plan that met the Home Office’s genuineness requirements.
• Apply for a Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence for his new company.
• Prepare the final visa application, ensuring all documentation was meticulous and the application met the salary and skills criteria.

The Outcome: Within a few months, Raj’s company was granted a Sponsor Licence, and his Skilled Worker visa was approved. He is now successfully running his business in London, with a clear path to Indefinite Leave to Remain. This example showcases the power of the self-sponsorship in the UK route when handled by expert professionals.

Your journey doesn’t end when the visa is granted. An “ultimate guide” must highlight your ongoing responsibilities as a sponsor. You are required to:

• Report any changes to the Home Office, such as a change in your company’s address or structure.
• Maintain accurate records of your sponsored workers.
• Keep up-to-date with your reporting duties via the Sponsorship Management System (SMS).

Failing to comply with these duties can lead to the suspension or revocation of your Sponsor Licence. Our UK Immigration & Business Lawyers offer continued support and auditing services to ensure you remain compliant.

As leading UK Immigration & Business Lawyers, Conroy Baker Ltd. has a proven track record of helping entrepreneurs and innovators achieve their goals in the UK. We offer an integrated service that goes beyond just legal advice, providing strategic business support and compliance guidance in London, Birmingham, and Manchester. Our expertise in self-sponsorship in the UK ensures a smooth, stress-free process and a high chance of success.

We also offer the CBL Growth Campus, a unique service that provides additional support for startups, including workspace, company formation assistance, and guidance on raising capital.