If you're on a Skilled Worker visa, a Health & Care Worker visa, or any sponsored work visa in the UK, you've probably been told — or assumed — that you cannot own a business. That is not what the law says.
Since 1 December 2020, when the Skilled Worker visa replaced the old Tier 2 (General) route, there is no restriction on shareholding. Under the previous Tier 2 rules, visa holders could not own more than 10% of their sponsoring employer's shares (unless earning over £159,600/year). That restriction was removed entirely.
Today, a Skilled Worker visa holder can own 100% of the shares in any UK company — including their sponsoring employer.
Source: Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker; removal of the 10% shareholding cap effective 1 December 2020.
Being a director of a company is permitted, but you must ensure your involvement does not constitute "work" outside your sponsored role, unless it falls within the supplementary employment rules.
If your directorship is limited to governance functions — attending board meetings, reviewing financial reports, making strategic decisions — and does not involve day-to-day operational management, it is generally not considered supplementary employment.
The GOV.UK guidance states:
"You can work up to 20 hours a week in another job or for your own business as long as you're still doing the job you're being sponsored for."
The work must meet specific conditions regarding occupation codes and skill levels. Business administration — including preparing invoices, attending meetings, and strategic management — counts towards the 20 hours.
Source: GOV.UK — "Skilled Worker visa: Taking on additional work"
The simplest and most legally secure structure for a sponsored visa holder:
This structure requires no supplementary employment, no additional sponsorship, and no variation to your existing visa.
| Element | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Company ownership | You own shares (permitted, no restriction) |
| Day-to-day management | Hired qualified manager |
| Your role | Director — governance, strategy, oversight |
| Time commitment | Board meetings, financial review — a few hours monthly |
| Income | Dividends from company profits |
| Impact on visa | None — passive shareholding + dividends are not "work" |
This page provides general information about immigration rules as they apply to business ownership. It is not immigration legal advice. Every individual's circumstances are different, and visa conditions can change.
Before proceeding, we recommend:
The key point is this: the assumption that sponsored visa holders cannot own businesses is wrong. The rules permit shareholding, they permit directorship under appropriate conditions, and they permit a business structure where you own the company while qualified staff operate it.
The question isn't whether you're allowed. It's whether you have the right structure.
Browse our available ventures or speak to our team about structuring ownership around your visa conditions.
