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Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)

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Scoring points for being registered as a company director or as self-employed

This page explains how you can score points for being registered as a company director or as self-employed, if you are applying to extend your permission to stay in the UK under Tier 1 (Entrepreneur).

You will score 20 points if you have:

  • registered with HM Revenue & Customs as self-employed; or
  • registered a new business in which you are a director; or
  • registered as a director of an existing business.

If you are currently in the UK under Tier 1 (Entrepreneur), you must have registered no more than 6 months after your 'specified date' (see below).

If you do not register within 6 months, we may cancel your permission to stay (also known as curtailment of leave) in the UK.

You will need to send us evidence to prove that you meet these requirements. The Documents required section explains what you will need to send.

If you are currently in the UK as a business person or an innovator, you do not have to provide this evidence, but you must be registered at the time when you make your extension application.

What is your 'specified date'?

If you are currently in the UK under Tier 1 (Entrepreneur), your specified date can be:

  • the date when you entered the UK, if you applied to Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) from abroad and can produce evidence of your arrival date; or
  • the date when you were awarded a visa or permission to stay in the UK under Tier 1 (Entrepreneur).

Normally we will take your specified date to be the date when you were awarded a visa or permission to stay. This date will be shown on:

  • the stamp or vignette in your passport, if you applied to Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) from abroad; or
  • the approval document that we sent to confirm your permission to stay, If you applied under Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) from inside 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 this date.