The Entrepreneur visa category (Tier 1) is for foreign nationals who wish to come to the UK in order to establish a new business or to join and invest in an existing one. The Entrepreneur visa applicant’s immediate family members may accompany them to the UK under the Entrepreneur category. This includes the primary applicant’s partner and minor children. Notably, one of the advantages of this category is that the applicant’s children will be eligible to attend school in the United Kingdom.
This visa category offers a path to permanent residency and citizenship in the United Kingdom.
What type of work is permissible for an Entrepreneur visa holder?
Entrepreneur visa holders are not permitted to seek or accept paid employment in the UK unless they are employed by the business or enterprises they founded, joined, or acquired.
How does one become eligible for an entrepreneur visa?
To be eligible for an entrepreneur visa, applicants must be at least 16 years old and earn at least 95 points on the following criteria:
- They have sufficient investment capital (75 points); and
- English proficiency (10 points) and
- Capacity to meet the UK’s maintenance standards (10 points)
To meet the funding criteria, the applicant must have access to one of the following:
- At least £200,000, with all funds readily available for use and held in a regulated financial institution; or
- At least £50,000 from one of the following sources is available:
- 1 or more registered venture capital firms with the Financial Services Authority; or
- 1 or more UK entrepreneurial seed funding competitions listed on the UK Trade and Investment website as sponsored, or 1 or more UK government agencies that have made funds available for the express goal of launching or expanding a UK business.
How long is the validity of an Entrepreneur visa?
Entrepreneur visas are issued during a three-year and four-month period. This can be extended for an additional two years if certain criteria are met. For additional information about entrepreneur visa extensions, see the section below.
