UK Visas for Businessmen & Investors

At present, the options for overseas entrepreneurs wishing to start a business in the UK are rather limited.
Tier 1 Entrepreneur route was closed to new entrants in 2019. It remains open for visa extensions and applications for indefinite leave to remain.

Global talent visa is the new route introduced in 2020 for high achievers who are free to start any business of their choice or take up employment in the UK outside the sponsorship system.
There is still a route for representatives of overseas businesses seconded to the UK to operate the UK-based branch of the business. An overseas business can only have one representative under this immigration scheme, although other employees of the business can be brought over as sponsored employees.

The rules for investors are rather demanding financially, but this category permits accelerated settlement in the UK and offers other perks, such as unrestricted access to employment market and an opportunity to set up and manage your own business without the requirement to report to the endorsing bodies or achieve the prerequisite number of created job posts, revenue or income.

This route was replaced by Start-up and Innovator visas which appear more geared at high tech than any other area of enterprise.

UK Investor Visa

This visa is for people with high net worth who would like to make a substantial financial investment in the UK. There is no requirement of any English language ability or to show any maintenance funds whilst in the UK, and this visa also allows to work in the UK.

Anyone arriving in the UK and wishing to enter as an investor migrant would need a valid entry clearance. It is also a key requirement for the applicant to have assets and investments wholly under their control.

If this is of interest to you, please read on for further details.

 Summary of Investor Visa Requirements

In brief, the applicant must:

  • have money of their own and under their control, held in a regulated financial institution and disposable in the UK, amounting to not less than £2 million
  • have opened an account with a UK regulated bank for the purposes of investing not less than £2 million in the UK
  • unconditional written consent of the sponsoring government or agency would be required if they are currently or were being sponsored by a government or international scholarship agency

The main requirement to be eligible to apply

The applicant must have £2 million or more, that is their own money, and a UK regulated bank account. They must invest the entirety of the £2 million sum in the UK.

Money ownership explained

The £2 million must be owned solely by the applicant. However, it may be jointly owned with a partner (spouse, civil partner, unmarried or same sex partner). If this applies to you, then please remember that if the £2 million sum is jointly owned, you must have control of the sum – the unrestricted right to transfer and dispose, in order to be able to qualify for an Investor Visa. Evidence of the relationship and permission to use the joint funds will be necessary.

UK Bank Account

Although it is usually necessary to have a visa in order to open a UK bank account, there are special institutions which may allow applicants to open a UK bank account if they do not hold a visa. This would depend on personal circumstances. Personalised advice may be needed. Please contact us to find out how we can help you.

Form of UK Investment

The applicant must make an investment (of £2 million or above) in the UK in the form of UK share capital or loan capital. Purchasing stocks or other investments by using borrowed funds is not allowed.

Transferring funds to the UK

Please remember that if the funds are held outside the UK, they must be transferred to the UK, and if approval is required, you must have approval by the time you apply.

If the funds are held outside the UK, they must be transferred legally (in compliance with the regulations of the country in which they are held). Additionally, an investment through an offshore company or trust is not allowed.

Extending current Investor Visa

If you already have an Investor visa and wish to extend it, the application process will depend on whether the leave was granted before 6 November 2014, between 6 November and 28 March 2019, or after 29 March 2019. Please contact us for further information on how we can help you.

Accelerated Indefinite Leave to Remain

The applicant can normally become eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after 5 years of continuous residence in the UK, however you can reach ILR stage earlier if you increase the level of investment – this is the accelerated ILR.

Where the applicant entered the UK, had a continuous residence of 2 years, and had money of their own under their control in the UK, amounting to at least £10 million, they will be eligible for an accelerated ILR.

Where the applicant entered the UK, had a continuous residence of 3 years, and had money of their own under their control in the UK, amounting to at least £5 million, they will be eligible for an accelerated ILR.

Entrepreneur Visa

Tier 1 Entrepreneur – close down schedule

The Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) category closed to new entrants on 29 March 2019. It remains open for those who have or have had leave in the last 12 months in the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) category, or in the Start-up category having previously held leave in the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) category. If this applies, you can make an application for entry clearance or leave to remain until 5 July 2021.

If you already have leave to remain in Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) category you will be able to make an extension application until 5 April 2023 and settlement application until 5 April 2025.

For those who have switched from Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) or Start-up categories, the deadline to make an extension application is 5 July 2025 and indefinite leave to remain application can be made until 5 July 2027.