Self-sponsorship involves two distinct legal entities — you, the individual applicant, and your company, the sponsor. Each must meet its own set of requirements independently. This is the key difference from a standard Skilled Worker application — you are building the sponsoring entity from scratch alongside your visa application.
Company Requirements — Sponsor Licence
The company must be genuine
The Home Office assesses whether your business is a real, operating entity — not a vehicle created primarily for immigration purposes. This requires a legitimate Companies House registration, a genuine UK business address, PAYE registration with HMRC, and evidence of trading activity or a credible documented plan. HR systems capable of meeting sponsor compliance duties are also required.
Key personnel
The company must appoint a Level 1 User with access to the Home Office Sponsorship Management System, and an Authorising Officer who is a settled UK resident (British citizen or ILR holder) responsible for the licence. This is a practical barrier for applicants who have no settled UK contacts — the Authorising Officer must be a real individual genuinely exercising oversight. For more on solving this, see our business owner and director guide.
Sector-specific requirements
Some sectors require additional registration before a sponsor licence is granted. Healthcare providers need CQC registration; legal services firms need SRA authorisation; financial services businesses need FCA authorisation. Check what the Home Office requires for your sector before applying.
Personal Requirements — Skilled Worker Visa
Eligible occupation
Your role must appear in Appendix Skilled Occupations — the Home Office list of SOC codes eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship. The SOC code must accurately reflect your actual duties, not just your job title.
Skill level — from 22 July 2025
From 22 July 2025, Skilled Worker sponsorship is generally limited to roles at RQF level 6 (broadly equivalent to a bachelor's degree). Company directors, software engineers, management consultants, accountants, and architects typically sit at RQF 6 or above. Roles at RQF 3–5 can still be sponsored if the occupation appears on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List. Look up your SOC code in Appendix Skilled Occupations to confirm the level.
Salary Requirements
Your salary must meet the higher of two thresholds: the general threshold of £41,700 per year (from 22 July 2025) or the going rate for your SOC code as set out in Appendix Skilled Occupations. Reduced thresholds apply for new entrants (under 26, recent graduates, or switching from Student/Graduate visas): £33,360 general threshold, or 70% of the going rate. The salary must be paid through PAYE — dividends do not count. For a full breakdown, see our salary requirements guide.
English Language Requirement
You must demonstrate English at CEFR level B1 (intermediate) or above. You meet this if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country, hold a degree taught entirely in English from a recognised institution, or pass an approved English language test (IELTS for UKVI, Pearson PTE, Trinity College London).
Financial Maintenance
You must show £1,270 in your personal bank account, held continuously for 28 days before you apply — unless your Certificate of Sponsorship states that your company will certify maintenance. In self-sponsorship you control whether your CoS includes this certification, so it is worth including it to remove the savings requirement.
The Genuine Vacancy Requirement
This is the requirement that causes the most refusals. The Home Office requires that your sponsored role is genuinely needed by the business — not constructed primarily to qualify for a visa. Officers look at whether the role actually exists, whether the SOC code matches your real duties, whether the salary is commercially realistic, and whether there are signs of immigration abuse. The most effective evidence is third-party commercial documentation: signed client contracts, purchase orders, invoices, and correspondence. For a detailed breakdown of refusal grounds, see our success rate guide.
Requirements Specific to Newly Formed Companies
A company with no trading history faces a higher evidential burden. You must demonstrate a detailed, credible business plan covering at least two years; evidence of market research or identified clients; signed pre-agreements or letters of intent; and funding evidence. If the business is investor-funded, show investment documentation; if self-funded, show personal savings or assets. The business plan is scrutinised — vague market claims are not persuasive. Specific named clients, realistic revenue projections, and a credible operational plan are.
For the process of applying step by step, see our how-to-apply guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a dormant shelf company to self-sponsor?
The company does not need to be newly formed, but a dormant company puts you in the same evidential position as a newly formed one. You would need to show current trading or a credible imminent trading plan.
What if my occupation is not on Appendix Skilled Occupations?
You cannot use the Skilled Worker route. Consider alternative routes such as the Global Talent visa (for exceptional talent) or the Innovator Founder visa (for innovative businesses requiring endorsement).
Do I need UK clients specifically?
You do not need UK clients, but you need a genuine reason for UK presence. If all your clients are overseas and your work can be done from anywhere, the Home Office may question why the role needs to be based in the UK.
Is there a minimum trading period before applying for a sponsor licence?
No minimum period is stated in the rules. However, a company with several months of trading history is in a substantially stronger position than one incorporated two weeks before the licence application.
Need personalised advice?
This guide provides general information only. For advice tailored to your circumstances, speak to one of our immigration advisers.
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