AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
Once you have indefinite leave to remain, there is no immigration restriction on the work you do: GOV.UK says ILR gives you the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as you like. You can freelance, run a company or work for Nigerian clients without a sponsor; what still applies is UK tax registration, and the rule that ILR lapses if you spend more than 2 continuous years outside the UK.
For many Nigerians in the UK, ILR is the point at which side projects become a business. Sponsored work visas tie you to an employer and set limits on other work; ILR removes those conditions. The questions that follow are practical: how to set up, how to get paid, and how much time you can spend in Nigeria with clients.
What ILR allows
GOV.UK's settlement page says ILR "gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you're eligible", and that you can use it to apply for British citizenship. The page places no restriction on work or self-employment. Home Office guidance on public funds confirms that ILR does not carry a no-recourse-to-public-funds condition, except where a maintenance undertaking was given, for example for some adult dependent relatives.
| Before ILR (typical work visa) | After ILR |
|---|---|
| Work tied to a sponsor and role | Any work, any employer or none |
| Self-employment limited or not allowed | Self-employment allowed |
| No recourse to public funds | Public funds if eligible |
| Visa expiry date | No expiry, but can lapse after long absence |
Setting up to freelance
- Choose a structure. Sole trader or limited company. GOV.UK says a sole trader can start trading before registering and must register for Self Assessment if they earn more than £1,000 from self-employment in a tax year.
- Register with HMRC. You receive a 10-digit UTR, which Nigerian clients may ask for (see the TIN question).
- Decide how clients pay. Naira, sterling or dollars, and into which account.
- Plan for Nigerian withholding tax on payments from Nigerian companies.
Working from Nigeria: the 2-year rule
Freelancing for Nigerian clients may mean long stays in Lagos or Abuja. GOV.UK's Returning Resident visa page says you lose ILR if you have been outside the UK for 2 continuous years (5 years for EU Settlement Scheme settled status). If that happens, you may be able to regain it with a Returning Resident visa by showing strong ties to the UK; the fee shown on the page in October 2026 is £726. Shorter absences do not affect ILR itself, but long absences can affect a later citizenship application and your UK tax residence.
Tax residence is a separate test
ILR is about immigration; tax residence is decided by HMRC's Statutory Residence Test. If you spend much of the year in Nigeria, you could become tax resident there or stop being UK resident, which changes where your freelance income is taxed. GOV.UK's foreign income pages explain that UK residents pay UK tax on foreign income. Read working from Nigeria while UK tax resident before planning a long stay.
Worked example
Example only. Chika gets ILR in March and leaves her salaried job in June to consult for three Nigerian fintechs. She registers as a sole trader, receives £38,000 in fees in the first tax year, and spends 70 days in Lagos across four trips. Her ILR is unaffected; she remains UK resident and reports all £38,000 on her UK return, claiming credit for any Nigerian WHT that the treaty allowed Nigeria to charge.
What to check first
- Your eVisa shows indefinite leave, with no conditions attached.
- You are registered for Self Assessment once income passes £1,000.
- Your contracts say where you do the work.
- You track days outside the UK if you plan long stays in Nigeria.
Getting paid by Nigerian clients
With the immigration question settled, the friction moves to payment. Nigerian companies often prefer to pay in naira by local transfer, and many will deduct withholding tax before paying a foreign supplier. Agree three things in writing before you start: the currency of the fee, whether the fee is gross or net of Nigerian tax, and the date payment is due. If you invoice in sterling and the client pays in naira, say whose exchange rate applies and on what day, so a shortfall does not become a dispute.
- Ask for a WHT receipt with every payment from a Nigerian company.
- Keep a running record of each naira receipt and its sterling value when you convert.
- Send your UTR and, if you have one, your Nigerian Tax ID with your first invoice.
- For regular Nigerian income, consider an HMRC certificate of residence (how to apply).
Sole trader or company?
ILR does not change the choice between trading as a sole trader and setting up a limited company; it simply makes both available without visa questions. The decision turns on profit levels, liability and how you want to take money out, and on whether Nigerian clients are happier contracting with a company. Many start as sole traders and incorporate once income is steady.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme Business Account can hold NGN, GBP, USD and EUR with local details, so Nigerian clients pay in naira to a Nigerian account number while UK clients pay into sterling. Invoicing and the Finance agent help keep a clean income record for your first Self Assessment return. See also registering as self-employed.
Questions people ask
Can I be self-employed with ILR?
Yes. GOV.UK says ILR gives the right to work, and sets no restriction on self-employment.
Do I lose ILR if I work in Nigeria for long periods?
ILR lapses after 2 continuous years outside the UK, per GOV.UK. Shorter trips do not cancel it.
Do I need to tell the Home Office I am freelancing?
Nothing on the GOV.UK pages we read requires it. You do need to register with HMRC.
Can I claim benefits while freelancing on ILR?
ILR carries no public funds restriction (unless a maintenance undertaking was given); eligibility depends on each benefit's rules.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Settle in the UK (indefinite leave to remain) · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Returning Resident visa · accessed Oct 2026
- Home Office: Public funds caseworker guidance (9 Apr 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Set up as a sole trader (updated 5 Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Tax on foreign income (updated 1 Oct 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.