Sadly not. It's just another way of obtaining a Tier 2 (General) visa, which comes with all the restrictions I have described. Telling somebody they can stick a

Sadly not. It's just another way of obtaining a Tier 2 (General) visa, which comes with all the restrictions I have described. Telling somebody they can stick around for 5/6 years, contributing taxes and economic growth, starting a family, etc. but that they can't start their own business, and they may be told to leave in the end through no fault of their own, is a very lopsided proposal. EDIT: prior to 2010, there was a highly skilled migrant programme. You would be allowed to perform any kind of work in the UK, provided you met certain requirements. So you could arrive, work a highly skilled position and build a side business. Sure, it could fail, but at least that's through your own fault and you'd be working on it from day 1 so you'd find out sooner or later if you should remain or not. Today, you cannot do this. You have to hang around for 5/6 years, hope you get indefinite leave to remain (ILR), and only then are you allowed to start a business. But you might be refused ILR, and then you have to leave. It's a nonsensical policy when you consider people's private lives are involved.