UK Business Immigration Service

Business immigration refers to the range of UK visa routes that enable individuals to enter or remain in the UK for the purpose of conducting business, working, investing, or establishing a commercial presence. The UK offers several routes tailored to different business objectives, including the Skilled Worker visa, Global Business Mobility routes, Innovator Founder visa, Global Talent visa, and the Standard Visitor visa for short-term business activities such as attending meetings, conferences, or negotiations. Each route has specific eligibility criteria, including requirements relating to sponsorship, salary thresholds, English language proficiency, and financial evidence. The correct route depends on your individual circumstances, the nature of your business activity, and whether you intend to stay short-term or settle permanently in the UK. 

Sterling & Wells offers UK business immigration services (Sponsor Licences, Certificates of Sponsorship, and visa applications) alongside professional accounting and payroll, VAT, corporate structure and advisory, tax compliance services. All services are managed in a coordinated way to ensure your immigration setup and financial compliance work well together.

Eligibility depends on the specific visa route. For the Standard Visitor visa (business purposes), you must be visiting for permitted activities such as attending meetings, conferences, or training, and must intend to leave the UK within 6 months. For longer-term routes such as the Innovator Founder visa, you need an endorsed innovative business idea. For the Global Business Mobility routes, you must be an existing employee of an overseas business being transferred to a linked UK entity. For the Skilled Worker visa (including self-sponsorship), you need a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed UK employer. Each route has distinct requirements around sponsorship, endorsement, investment funds, salary, and English language proficiency.

The timeline heavily depends on the complexity of your business structure and how quickly your organisation can collate the mandatory supporting documents. Once submitted, standard Home Office processing takes several weeks, though expedited priority services are often available for certain routes. Proper preparation and accurate document submission are critical to ensuring the fastest possible turnaround.

Sponsorship costs vary significantly based on your organisation’s size, charitable status, and the exact duration of the worker’s visa. Key employer costs include the initial licence application fee, Certificate of Sponsorship assignment fees, and the mandatory Immigration Skills Charge. Employers are strictly prohibited by law from passing the licence or certificate costs onto the sponsored worker.