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Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)

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Evidence of being registered as a director or as self-employed

This page describes the documents that you must provide as evidence that you are registered as a director or as self-employed, if you are applying to extend your permission to stay in the UK under Tier 1 (Entrepreneur).

For more information about this requirement, see the Claiming points for being registered page.

If you are self-employed

If you are self-employed, you must provide:

  • your original welcome letter from HM Revenue & Customs, containing your unique taxpayer reference number (if you registered as self-employed); or
  • your HMRC Exception Certificate (if applicable).

You must provide the original, dated document.

HM Revenue & Customs will issue the welcome letter or the small earnings certificate at any time up to 6 weeks after the date of first contact with you.

If you are currently in the UK under Tier 1 (Entrepreneur), we will accept a letter or certificate that is dated up to 8 calendar months after your 'specified date'. The Claiming points for being registered page explains what your specified date is. For example, if your specified date is 1 May 2011, the letter or certificate must be dated on or before 30 September 2011. If you provide documents dated more than 8 calendar months after your specified date, we will not award you any points.

If you are currently in the UK as a business person or an innovator, there is not time limit on the date of your welcome letter or certificate. You will score points if you can show that you are registered at the time when you apply to extend your permission to stay.

More information

  • Evidence to establish your date of entry to the UK

    If you want your specified date to be the date when you entered the UK under Tier 1 (Entrepreneur), you must provide evidence to establish your date of entry.

    Acceptable evidence includes:

    • a passport containing the visa stamped on entry to the UK
    • flight tickets
    • your boarding card

    If you cannot provide any of these pieces of evidence, you can supply other documents for us to consider.

See also

Policy & Law

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