Since March 29, 2019, the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur route has been closed to fresh applicants. It is kept here rather for archive purposes.
If you are a student wishing to change your visa status from a student visa or if you intend to visit the UK to start up a business, we suggest you consider the Start-up visa or the Innovator visa.
For expert guidance on any type of UK business visa, contact our seasoned team at 02033939272.
Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Visa UK was a specialised route designed for students who graduated in the UK under a Student Visa and aimed to establish a successful business in the country. Applicants were required to meet specific criteria, including a university endorsement, a solid business plan, and sufficient funds to support themselves.
The Graduate Entrepreneur Visa was initially granted for one year, with the option to extend it for an additional year. During this period, visa holders could work part-time, up to 20 hours per week, to support themselves. This visa often served as a pathway to the Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa, which could lead to permanent residency in the UK. It was specifically tailored for graduates with promising business plans expected to become profitable within one to two years, making it an excellent opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs.
To apply for a Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur visa UK, you must meet the following conditions:
You require sponsorship from either the UK Trade and Investment or from a recognised UK Higher Education Institution (HEI). It is pertinent to understand the fact that HEIs are subjected to limitations on the number of endorsements that can be provided within a specific time period, especially in accordance with the Home Office criteria. Today, there are only 1,900 seats for annual intake.
This means that applicants have to be young graduates with a realistic business venture idea. This is a compulsory condition in order to obtain an endorsement from a particular higher learning institution.
A bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD must be obtained and have been approved. If you have obtained your degree from a university outside the United Kingdom your degree has to be accredited by the UK NARIC equivalent to a UK degree.
The applicant must show they meet the English language requirement and have enough funds for their visa. However, unlike the standard Entrepreneur visa, you don’t need to show investment funds.
By meeting the following stipulations, you will be in a good position to be granted the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur visa and begin a new future in the UK as an entrepreneur.
The Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur visa is granted for one year but can sometimes be extended for another year. To be able to make the application for this tier 1 graduate entrepreneur visa extension, you should continue to get the endorsement of your supporting Higher Education Institution as well as the Department for International Trade, proving you made substantive progress with the development of your business.
After your business is set up, the holder may migrate from a Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur visa to a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa to progress the business in the UK further. Transition in 2006 consequently presents a key advantage because you can access a new minimum level of £50,000 as opposed to £200,000 of the original SEIS.
For more information or support, please do not hesitate to contact us at 02033939272.
With the closure of the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Visa, there are still several pathways available for graduate business professionals who wish to stay in the UK and start a business:
The UK Start-up visa is for individuals who are new entrepreneurs and want to establish a business in the UK for the first time. You do not need to be a graduate or have secured any initial funding. However, you will need to have an innovative, viable, and scalable business idea that has been approved by an endorsing body.
Start-up visas are one-off visas, valid for 2 years and the category does not lead directly to settlement in the UK. However, Start-up visa holders may extend their stay in the Innovator visa category and qualify for ILR three years later. Start-up visa applicants can bring their partner and any children under the age of 18 to the UK.
The Innovator Visa is designed for business persons and industry innovators. Still, it is an appropriate path for those who are currently holding a Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Visa or Start-up Visa. If your business is flourishing, you can opt for this route, as it provides a route to the ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) status.
Anyone who cannot start or continue a business right after graduation can look for work visas such as the Skilled Worker Visa or the Global Talent Visa. These visas allow you to work in the UK and provide the opportunity to switch to a Start-Up or Innovator Visa when you’re ready to start or take over a business.
For more help, contact us and our solicitors will assist you in identifying the right visa option suited for your specific circumstances.
As the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Visa has been closed, it is impossible to request the tier 1 graduate entrepreneur visa extension of the Graduate Entrepreneur Visa. Besides, with all Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visas expiring on the 5th of April, 2023, it is only possible to extend one’s stay in the country through a switch to another category.
In case you are not sure what options are available to you, or if you would like help changing to an appropriate visa, Just let us know how we can guide you on the right decision.
Today’s graduate entrepreneurs can opt for a 3-year Innovator Visa, which acts as a route to ILR. However, one must fulfill other requirements to get the ILR such as the Life in the UK Test.
It is a major leap to switch from being a visa holder to getting a valid permit to live in the UK. There is a need for compliance with measures that can guarantee your application to give your business long-term sustainability.
Our seasoned ILR solicitors are ready to expertly prepare and enhance your application. Get in touch now to secure your future in the UK.
While Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur applicants benefit from a more liberal approach compared to Tier 1 Entrepreneur applicants. For example, they are allowed to work in their employer’s business and also in their own business venture. However, there are specific restrictions:
Most business activities are allowed, except those directly related to construction. Property development and management are permitted.
The Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur visa does not provide a route to ILR, as it only allows a stay of up to 2 years. However, it is one of the ways to get to ILR by having a chance to change to the Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa, which enables applicants to meet less investment criteria. This can ultimately result in the ability to secure a permanent residence if they are able to progress their business venture in the UK.
If you no longer wish to continue with the Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa, you may switch to a Tier 2 General visa, provided you meet the requirements.
Also, the time that a person spends under a Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur visa may be credited towards the Long Residence route to ILR for individuals who have been residing in the UK for a long time.
For more information or help on this procedure, you are welcome to ask an expert for help.
At Rees Clayton, we have assisted many individuals with the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur application process as well as helped secure the recommendation. We also provide business support services such as writing unique business plans that are necessary for your application.
Furthermore, we have assisted many clients in changing from the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur visa to the Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa or to any other visa most suitable to their case.
Should you need some advice with your options or are not sure where to go next, do not hesitate to contact us for further help.
In order to be qualified for the Graduate Entrepreneur Visa the applicant should be a national of any country that is not a member of EEA, should have a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, or higher, and should have endorsement from a suitable Home country institution.
This is a points-based application, and you can earn the 75 required points by:
A couple of major differences exist between the Graduate Entrepreneur Visa and the Entrepreneur Visa. The Graduate Entrepreneur Visa is specifically for individuals with:
The applicant for the Entrepreneur Visa needs to prove the nature of their past experience before applying for the visa and has to justify how his or her education will enable him or her to run the business successfully in the United Kingdom. The Entrepreneur Visa is issued for a more extended time (up to 39 months), while the Graduate Entrepreneur Visa, is for only 12 months. This is also true with the Entrepreneur Visa which demands that the applicant also provides evidence of available resources to fund the business that they intend to undertake in the United Kingdom.
Yes, Students who have graduated from any university outside the UK are allowed to apply for a Graduate Entrepreneur Visa under the Sirius global graduates program. However, you are required to have your application supported by the Department of International Trade (DIT) before submission.