Self-Sponsorship Visa UK: Step-by-Step Overview

MSD Solicitors
Dec 30, 2025
4 min read

There is no official UK visa called the “Self-Sponsorship Visa.” Instead, self-sponsorship allows you to work and live in the UK by having your own UK company sponsor you for a Skilled Worker Visa. To do this, you must set up or own a genuine UK business, apply for a Sponsor Licence, give yourself a real job inside that business, and then apply for the Skilled Worker Visa using a Certificate of Sponsorship. This process gives you more control over your career, but you must follow every rule set by the Home Office. Getting support from immigration specialists like MSD Solicitors makes this process clearer, safer, and more likely to succeed.

What Self-Sponsorship Really Means

Self-sponsorship is not a new visa. It uses the Skilled Worker Visa route. Instead of another company sponsoring you, your own UK company becomes the sponsor. However, the business must be legal, active, and 100% according to the rules and regulations set by the UK Government. Additionally, the Skilled Worker requirements, like salary, job level, and English language proficiency, must also be met.

Self-Sponsorship Visa UK: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Set up or own a genuine UK company

You must own or control a real UK business. It must trade, keep records, pay taxes, and follow normal business rules. It cannot exist only for visa purposes.

Step 2: Apply for a Sponsor Licence for your company

Under UK law, a company must have a sponsor licence to apply for a Sponsorship Visa. So, your company must apply for a sponsor licence if it doesn’t have one for sponsoring you.

Step 3: Create a real job role inside the company

To meet the rules set for the Skilled Worker Visa, you must have a matching job. By matching the job, it means the salary level that matches that job level.

Step 4: Assign a Certificate of Sponsorship to yourself

After the Sponsor Licence is granted, the business can issue a Certificate of Sponsorship to you, which confirms your job and salary.

Step 5: Apply for the Skilled Worker Visa

Once you have a certificate of sponsorship, apply for the Skilled Worker Visa by submitting your worker visa application. The following are requirements for applying for a skilled worker visa in the UK:

English at the CEFR B1 level
Salary that meets the Skilled Worker rules and regulations
A genuine Certificate of Sponsorship
Enough funds (as specified)

After approval, you can live and work in the UK for your own business.

Step 6: Work and grow your business in the UK

Once your visa is approved, you must focus on running the business, doing the job listed on your Certificate of Sponsorship, keeping your records up to date, and following every sponsor duty set by the Home Office.

Step 7: After 5 years, apply for settlement (ILR)

Once you have acquired the Skilled Worker Visa, you can apply for the Indefinite Leave to Remain after 5 years under this route.

Facts About the Self-Sponsored Visa

Requirement	What It Means	Why It Matters
UK Company	A real trading business	The business becomes the sponsor
Sponsor Licence	Permission to sponsor workers	Needed to issue CoS
Certificate of Sponsorship	Job confirmation for visa	Required for Skilled Worker
Skill Level	Job must match approved roles	Ensures the route is genuine
Salary	Must meet set thresholds	Home Office checks fairness
English Level	CEFR B1 minimum	UK visa requirement
Compliance	Records, reporting, duties	Prevents licence problems

How MSD Solicitors Can Help

MSD Solicitors are UK immigration specialists who advise on Skilled Worker Visa applications, Sponsor Licence applications, business immigration, appeals, and legal guidance. Their professional team helps you prepare the sponsor licence paperwork (if eligible) and support your Skilled Worker Visa application. Using their services, you can minimise mistakes while saving a lot of time. Additionally, their services include the following:

Skilled Worker Visa support
Sponsor Licence applications
Business immigration advice
Appeals and visa refusals
General UK immigration guidance

Common Mistakes to Avoid

These mistakes can contribute to the refusal or loss of the sponsor licence:

Setting up a company only for the visa
Creating a job that does not match the Skilled Worker rules
Ignoring sponsor duties
Not paying the correct salary
Not keeping business records
Not seeking legal advice when unsure

Conclusion

In the UK, self-sponsorship is a path for the individuals who want to work in the UK through their own businesses. It is not a separate visa, but an innovative way for the Skilled Worker route using which, a company you own or work for. If you follow all the rules and regulations and get professional advise from local experts like MSD Solicitors, there’s a high chance that you can build your business, and apply for the permanent settlement in the UK.