Start Your Business Immigration Journey in the UK with Our Immigration Support
Starting your business journey in the UK can be a big step, and we’re here to help you every step of the way. Our team offers clear and simple guidance on business immigration, making sure you understand the process from start to finish. We assist with everything you need to set up, from choosing the right visa to handling paperwork. With our support, you’ll have a smoother path to starting your business in the UK, so you can focus on what matters – growing your dream. Let’s make your business journey easier and successful together!
Comprehensive UK Business Immigration Services
We offer UK business immigration services to help you start your journey in the UK smoothly. Our team is here to guide you through every step, from understanding which visa you need to filling out the necessary forms. We know that applying for a visa can be confusing, so we break it down into simple parts to make it easier for you.
Whether you’re looking to set up a new business, expand an existing one, or invest in the UK, we provide personalized support tailored to your needs. We’ll help you navigate the rules and requirements so you can focus on getting your business off the ground. With our help, you can feel confident and ready to take on new opportunities in the UK. Let’s work together to make your business dreams a reality.
Our Key Highlights
Innovator Founder visa
If you have a business idea different from anything in the market, and an approved endorsing body endorses it, you can apply for an Innovator Founder visa provided that you meet the other requirements. You have to pay the application fees and healthcare surcharge as part of your application.
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)
This visa route allows non-EEA nationals to set up, takeover or become a director of a business in the UK. An entrepreneur must either have access to £200,000 from a variety of sources or £50,000 from very specific sources.
£50,000 Route
An entrepreneur will need to show that they have access to the sum of £50,000 from any of the following bodies:
- one or more UK Seed Funding Competitions, listed as endorsed on the Department for International Trade (DIT) pages of the GOV.UK website; or
- one or more UK Government Departments, or Devolved Government Departments in Scotland,
Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)
This route is for graduates who are identified as having an outstanding business idea that they wish to develop and then put that idea into practice in the UK. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) endorses graduates from the UK as having a genuine and credible business idea. The Department for International Trade (DIT), endorses individuals who got their qualification from outside of the UK.
There are 2000 places available for Graduate Entrepreneurs per year; the year runs from 6th April to the 5th April the following year. The places are allocated as follows: 1900 For HEIs to endorse graduates and 100 For DIT to endorse overseas graduates.
An applicant can make an entry clearance application or switch in the UK from Tier 4 student visa or a Tier 2 (General) visa (special conditions apply). There is an English language and maintenance requirements for this visa.
Tier 1 (Investor)
This visa category allows a non-European citizen and their family members to reside in the United Kingdom for an investment of £2 million into the UK economy. There is no English language or maintenance requirement to be met by the Applicant. An Applicant is eligible to work study or engage into business activities in the UK whilst on this visa category. Eligibility Criteria
An applicant is required to invest £2 million in the UK, the money must be entirely under their control i.e. the money belongs to you and you are free to use it for the investment. It can be held by the applicant alone or jointly with a partner/spouse; there should be no restrictions from the partner in relation to the use of the funds. The money should have been held in a financial institution that is regulated
Sponsor
In relation to study or work, means the person or organisation licensed by the Home Office that the Certificate of Sponsorship or Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies records as being the sponsor for a person.
Sponsor licence
Means a licence granted by the Home Office to a person who, by virtue of such a grant, is licensed as a sponsor in relation to applications to study or work in the UK.
When you need a sponsor licence:
You will usually need a sponsor licence to employ someone to work for you if they are not a settled worker or do not have other immigration permission allowing them to work for you.
To sponsor a worker, you must hold a valid sponsor licence for the route on which you intend to sponsor them. If you do not already hold the relevant licence, you must apply for, and be granted, one before you can sponsor the worker.
How you can get a sponsor licence:
- To get a licence as an employer, you cannot have:
- Unspent criminal convictions for immigration offences or certain other crimes, such as fraud or money laundering;
- Had a sponsor licence revoked in the last 12 months
- You can sponsor a worker if the job they’re going to do:
- Complies with the UK minimum wage and working time regulations – the worker’s visa may be refused and you may lose your sponsor Licence if it does not
- Meets the other criteria needed for their visa
- You’ll need appropriate systems in place to monitor sponsored workers and people to manage sponsorship in your business.
What is sponsorship management system?
- You need to appoint people within your business to manage the sponsorship process when you apply for a licence.
The main tool they’ll use is the sponsorship management system (SMS).
The roles are:
- Authorising officer – a senior and competent person responsible for the actions of staff and representatives who use the SMS
- Key contact – your main point of contact with UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)
- Level 1 user – responsible for all day-to-day management of your licence using the SMS
These roles can be filled by the same person or different people.You can also appoint an optional level 2 user once you have your licence. This is an SMS user with more restricted access than a level 1 user, for example they cannot withdraw a certificate of sponsorship.
Sponsor Licence Application fees:
You need to pay a fee when you apply. The fee depends on the type of licence you’re applying for and what type of organisation you are.
Fee for a small business licence is £536; and fee for a medium or large business licence is £1,476.
You’re usually a small sponsor if at least 2 of the following apply:
- Your annual turnover is £10.2 million or less
- Your total assets are worth £5.1 million or less
- You have 50 employees or fewer
Certificate of Sponsorship:
After granting a sponsor licence you must assign a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) to the worker so they can make a successful application for permission to enter or stay in the UK. You will have to pay a fee for each CoS you assign. If you are sponsoring a Skilled Worker or a Senior or Specialist Worker, you will normally need to pay the Immigration Skills Charge for each worker you sponsor.
Types of Certificates of Sponsorship:
There are 2 types of CoS:
- ‘Defined’ CoS: these are for Skilled Workers applying for entry clearance (a visa) from outside the UK
- ‘Undefined’ CoS: these are:
- CoS assigned to Skilled Workers applying for permission to stay from within the UK
- CoS assigned to workers on all other routes, whether applying for entry clearance, permission to enter or permission to stay
Your responsibilities as a sponsor:
You must:
- Check that your foreign workers have the necessary skills, qualifications or professional accreditations to do their jobs, and keep copies of documents showing this
- Only assign certificates of sponsorship to workers when the job is suitable for sponsorship
- Tell UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) if your sponsored workers are not complying with the conditions of their visa
- Comply with UK employment law for jobs you’re offering
- Meet any specific requirements for workers under 18, scale-up workers or offshore workers
Your licence may be downgraded, suspended or withdrawn if you do not fulfil these responsibilities.
To speak to an immigration lawyer for expert advice, Please contact on 07828694424.