INVESTOR VISA
Tier 1 Investor route is now closed to new applicants.
The Tier 1 Investor visa allows high net worth individuals to relocate to the UK providing them with a substantial financial investment of a minimum of £2 million in qualifying investments.
Your Investor Visa will be valid for 3 years, after which you may be able to extend it for another 2 years. Once you have reached your 5-year qualifying period on your Investor visa, you should be able to apply to settle in the UK. An accelerated route to settlement after 2 or 3 years is also available for individuals wishing to invest above the minimum investment threshold (minimum investment level varies for accelerated settlement).
Investments
Your £2 million investment is the price paid by you as an investor, rather than the market value. This money must belong either to you or your partner (spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner).
The investment funds must be held in one or more regulated financial institutions and they must be readily available to be transferred to and invested in the UK. If your funds are held in the UK bank, your bank will need to confirm that all required due diligence checks have been carried out in respect of your funds.
If your investment funds have been held for less than 2 years, you will need to declare the source of these funds.
Other requirements
As with most visa categories, you must be at least 18 years old to apply and meet the English Language requirement.
Once you receive your Investor visa, you should note that the following conditions will apply to your stay in the UK in this category.
You will be permitted the following activities on your Investor visa:
- Study, work or engage in business activities in the UK
- Bring your dependent family members
You will not be able to do the following in the UK on your Investor visa:
- Claim public funds (most benefits)
- Work as a professional sportsperson
- Work as a doctor or dentist in training*
*subject to certain exemptions
Fairmont Lawyers can help you navigate the investment requirements and provide you with professional legal assistance every step of the way to obtain an Investor visa
FAQ
The current visa application fee for a Representative of an Overseas Businessvisa (from October 2021) is £1,623 for all applications regardless of where you make an application (plus £19.20 for biometric enrolment if you are in the UK). The Immigration Healthcare Surcharge (IHS) is £624 per each year of the visa unless you are exempt. The fees are the same for your dependents. The Home Office reviews its fees and these may be subject to increase in the future.
It takes around:
- 3 weeks if you apply from outside the UK
- 8 weeks if you apply from inside the UK
However, some delays may occur depending on your individual circumstances or the Home Office/UKVI.
You may be able to choose Priority Service, subject to availability. You will need to pay an additional fee to use this service, and the cost depends on the visa center.
Yes, you may be able to settle in the UK in:
- after two years if you invest £10 million
- after three years if you invest £5 million
Your dependent family members will need to wait five years before they are eligible for settlement in the UK