UK Tier 1 investor visa is a long-term settlement visa for affluent foreigners who want to move to Great Britain. The minimum amount you must invest is £2 million, and the more you invest the quicker you will be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR). The earliest you can settle in the UK is 2 years, and become a British citizen – 5 years.

To qualify for a Tier 1 Investor visa, you must invest money in a UK-registered company or companies, pass due diligence checks and open an investment account. In exchange for your generous contribution, you will get almost unlimited freedom as to what you can do in the UK. The first visa is issued for 3 years and four months and, unless you are eligible to apply for ILR at that point, it can be extended for another 2 years.

Requirements for Tier 1 Investor visa

• You can submit a UK visa application for Tier 1 investor visa if you are over 18.
• You must have access to £2 to £10 million or more.
• The money must be held in a foreign or UK bank account. The key thing is to have it readily transferrable to be used in the UK.
• If on the date of application you have had your money on a bank account for less than 2 years, you must prove that it was sourced legally by way of inheritance or business dividends.
• If you use your spouse’s or partner’s funds, a marriage certificate must be provided, or evidence of living together, along with a sponsor’s letter giving you free access to the funds.
• You must open an investment account in a regulated financial institution in the UK and obtain a letter from an authorised bank official.
• UK banks conduct background checks on all potential clients which is in your interest.
• You must provide a criminal record certificate covering the last 10 years and any country where you have spent more than 12 months.
• You might be required to do a tuberculosis test for Tier 1 Investor visa application if you are from a listed country.

What you cannot do in the UK on an investor visa

There are only a few limitations on investors’ professional activities in the United Kingdom:

• They cannot work as doctors or dentists without relevant education and/or experience in the UK.
• They cannot earn money as professional sportsmen or coaches as those fall under different visa categories.
• Irrespective of their occupation, they cannot apply for social benefits.

Benefits of UK investor visa

• It is one of the fastest UK visa applications. The whole process – from submitting an application to getting a visa – does not take more than 3 months. Home Office would normally make a decision on your application within 15 days. You can speed it up by paying an extra £500 for a priority service.
• Your spouse or unmarried partner as well as minor children can be included in your UK investor visa application.
• You do not need to demonstrate your work experience, provide proof of education or take an English test.
• You and your family can work, do business, study or do nothing in the UK while enjoying the comforts and safety of everyday life in a modern European country. Your investment will buy you access to high standards of healthcare, education and security.
• It is profitable to invest in shares of UK companies. You will be the one making decisions about where to invest, and you will always stay in control. After your visa expires or you get an indefinite leave to remain, you can sell the shares and get your money back, and potentially with a gain, if you.
• UK investor visa is valid for 3 years and 4 months if you apply outside the UK and 3 years if you apply in the country. It can be extended for another 2 years or you can apply for settlement straight away, depending on how much you have invested.
• If you invest more than £5,000,000, you can apply for British citizenship after 5 years of having lived in Great Britain. It makes a UK investor visa one of the fastest routes to UK passport.