Tier 1 Investor visas are reserved for those with a high net worth who are willing and able to make a large financial investment in the United Kingdom. Investor visa holders are allowed to work, study, and conduct business. Additionally, they may be accompanied or joined by dependents. Tier 1 Investor visas often result in permanent residence in the UK after a five-year period. Tier 1 Investor visa holders who invest more money in the UK may qualify for expedited settlement.
Requirements for Tier 1 Investor visas
To qualify for a Tier 1 Investor visa, you must meet the following requirements for UK Investor visas:
- You have at least £2 million in assets, whether they belong to you, your partner, or the two of you jointly;
- The funds are placed in a regulated financial institution.
- Money can be easily transferred to and converted to pounds sterling in the United Kingdom.
- You have opened a bank account with a UK-regulated institution with the intention of investing at least £2 million in the United Kingdom.
- If you have kept your investment money for less than two years, you will need to demonstrate their source and, in all cases, the Home Office will need to be satisfied with their provenance.
- If you are applying for a UK Investor visa from outside the nation, you and your adult dependents must present an overseas criminal record certificate for any country where you have spent at least 12 months in the last decade.
- You will not be required to meet any English language or maintenance funding requirements as a UK Investor visa candidate.
The specific conditions that you must meet will differ according to your circumstances. You may choose to seek expert guidance from an immigration lawyer.
How long is a Tier 1 Investor visa valid in the United Kingdom?
Your initial Tier 1 Investor visa will be valid for three years and four months (if applying from outside the country) or three years and three months (if applying from within the country) (if applying from within the UK).
Within three months of entering the category, you must invest at least £2 million in actively trading UK companies. After that, you’ll need to protect your investment.
As a Tier 1 Investor visa holder, you can extend your stay for an additional two years before qualifying for indefinite leave to remain (settlement) after five years. Additionally, there is an accelerated route to settlement as a Tier 1 Investor migrant after three years (with a minimum investment of £5 million) or two years (with a minimum investment of £10 million).
To settle in the UK as a Tier 1 Investor, you must spend no more than 180 days outside the country in any 12-month period and have sufficient understanding of the English language and life in the UK, unless you are 65 or older.
