Is 'Self-sponsorship' Possible Under The Immigration Rules?

Historically, the Home Office were wary of allowing those who hold shares in a company to be sponsored or obtain a visa on that basis. Under the Skilled Worker's predecessor route, Tier 2 (General), there was a cap of 10% shareholding on sponsored workers. Even routes such as 'Representative of an Overseas Business' did not allow the sole representative to be a majority shareholder or otherwise have majority control in the business. The rules have been relaxed somewhat, with no cap in shareholding appearing in either the Skilled Worker or Expansion Worker routes (which has replaced Representative of an Overseas Business).

The term 'self-sponsorship' by itself is misleading. Whilst it is now possible for a worker to be sponsored by a company they own or have shares in, it still requires a level of oversight separate from that worker. At a minimum, you need at least one settled employee or 'office holder' – typically a director or company secretary - based in the UK,