Tier 1 Investor Visa

Fresh applicants cannot make an application for the Tier 1 Investor Visa anymore. However, every holder of this visa, may apply for an extension of visa or apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Tier 1 investors can apply for more leave to remain until February 17, 2026, and those wishing to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) can apply until February 17, 2028.

Contact Rees Clayton’s immigration attorneys for a free consultation at 02033939272 or fill out an online form when you want more information.

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Our experienced Tier 1 Investor Visa Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

What is the Tier 1 Investor Visa UK?

The Tier 1 Investor visa category is intended for high-net-worth individuals who are capable and willing to make a considerable financial investment in the UK. Investor visa holders are authorised to engage in business, pursue education, and work. Additionally, they may be accompanied or joined by their dependents. 

Settlement in the UK is typically the result of the Tier 1 Investor visa after a five-year period. Investor visa holders who invest a greater amount in the UK are eligible for accelerated settlement.

The Tier 1 Investor route is predicated on the applicant’s capacity to invest the necessary amount in the UK. The English Language requirement is not mandatory for the Investor visa, in contrast to many other immigration routes.

Tier 1 Investor Visa

Eligibility Criteria for a UK Investor Visa

In order to be eligible for a UK Investor visa, the following investment visa UK requirements must be met:

  • At least £2 million in funds is owned by you, your companion, or the two of you jointly.
  • The funds are stored in a registered financial institution
  • The funds are readily transferable to the UK and can be converted to pounds sterling.
  • You have established a bank account with a UK-regulated bank with the intention of investing a minimum of £2 million in the UK.
  • If you have held the money you invested for less than two years, you will be required to provide evidence of their origin. The Home Office must be satisfied with the provenance of your funds in all cases.

If you are applying from overseas, you and your adult dependents must present the overseas criminal record certificate for each country where you have lived for at least 12 months within the last ten years.

Proof of English language proficiency or maintenance funds are not necessary.

For personalised advice, we recommend consulting with an immigration expert. Contact us at 02033939272 for expert guidance.

Our experienced Tier 1 Investor Visa Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

UK Investor Visa: Two-year requirement

According to the UK Investor Visa regulations, the investment funds are not required to have been held for a minimum of two years. You may still be eligible for this visa if your investment funds have been in your possession for less than two years, provided that the funds were obtained from one of the following sources:

  • A gift that has been given to you (and/or your spouse, civil partner, or unmarried companion) within the past two years.
  • The earnings from the sale of assets, such as a business or property, within two years of the date of your application.
  • Business funds (or those of your spouse, civil partner, or unmarried companion).
  • Inheritance received within the last two years or 
  • A divorce settlement within the two years prior to your application.
  • Monetary prises or gains, or any other source that can be independently confirmed and recorded.

You will not be required to provide specific evidence regarding the source of your investment funds if you have held them for a period of two years or longer. 

Furthermore, an independent audit of your financial or business interests is not necessary when applying for the Investor Visa. 

Nevertheless, you are still required to provide the Home Office with evidence that your funds were legally acquired.

Our experienced Tier 1 Investor Visa Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

UK Investor Visa Application Processing Time

The majority of visa application centres located outside of the UK provide a priority service that enables Investor Visa applicants to receive a decision on their entry clearance within five working days.

A standard 8-week consideration or a priority 5-working-day service are the two processing options available to Tier 1 Investors who are applying for additional leave to remain in the UK.

When applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the United Kingdom, petitioners have the option of selecting either a standard processing time of six months or a priority service that provides a decision within ten working days.

Our experienced Tier 1 Investor Visa Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

Duration and Extension of the Tier 1 UK Investor Visa

The first visa to be issued in the UK is the Investor Visa which is given for a period of 3 years and 4 months in case the applicant is outside the UK; and for the period of 3 years in case the applicant is within the UK.

Upon entering the visa category, a person needs to invest at least £2 million in trading companies in the UK and keep investing at that level for three months to be eligible.

You may stay for another two years under the provisions of the Tier 1 Investor visa category. ILR can be sought five years after a person’s arrival in this country provided that (s)he qualifies for it. It is also important to note that it is possible to get a fast-track to settlement, which makes it possible to apply for ILR after three years in case the investor is willing to invest £5 million or after two years if the investor will invest £10 million.

To be qualified for settlement, one should not be away from the UK for more than 180 days in any calendar year. In addition, you must show that you have a knowledge of the English language and the way of life in the UK, for a candidate less than 65 years of age.

Extension of the Tier 1 Investor Visa 

Your eligibility requirements for a Tier 1 Investor Visa extension depend on whether your initial visa was granted prior to March 29, 2019, or from November 6, 2014, to March 28, 2019

You can contact us to learn more about investment visa UK requirements. Consulting with our knowledgeable immigration attorney can ensure that your request for an extension of stay complies with all the hard and fast rules set out in the Immigration Rules.

Tier 1 Investor Visa ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain)

ILR may be available to a Tier 1 Investor visa holder after spending two, three, or five years in the United Kingdom. The specific guidelines for ILR shall depend on the judgment of the visa approval date and the investment to be made by the applicant. 

For more details, contact us at 02033939272 to speak with our team of specialists on how to approach your extension or ILR as we guide you throughout the process. We are here to provide specialised support at every step if needed

Our experienced Tier 1 Investor Visa Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

How Rees Clayton Can Help You with Your Investor Visa?

The UK has quite complex rules concerning immigration, and it equally has high standards for the documents that should be provided in a successful Investor Visa application. If you pay for some legal advice, you can be sure that your application will be perfect, all the technicalities that are necessary to fill are going to be filled and the appearance of it is going to be appropriate.

At Rees Clayton, the immigration solicitors fully integrate with investors, wealth managers, and large financial institutions in devising and presenting complicated, yet acceptable, visa applications, for the investor and his/her dependents. Our UK investor visa lawyers fully understand the immigration regimes in relation to investors and are well-equipped to handle the formulations of the Home Office.

We pride ourselves on our appreciation of the uniqueness of your needs and our commitment to a proactive and friendly approach to the delivery of reliable, clear, and appropriate advice to Rees Clayton. Our mission is to make sure that the visa application exercise is performed well.

To find out more and get individual consultation, you can directly contact Rees Clayton for help.

Our experienced Tier 1 Investor Visa Solicitors can help you with your immigration process.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions & Answer

The UK Tier 1 Investor Visa allows individuals to invest a significant amount of money in the United Kingdom, providing a pathway for potential investors to establish themselves in the country. To be eligible for this visa, the applicants have to invest at least £2 million in eligible Investments in the UK. 

This visa provides the fastest way of getting permanent access to the United Kingdom.

The eligible applicant should have at least £2 million to invest for him/herself and his/her family in the UK investment funds. These funds must be freely transferable to the UK and held in a regulated financial institution. 

Opening a bank account in the UK is also necessary in order to make the necessary investments in UK companies that are actively traded.

The minimum investment requirement for the UK Investor Visa is £2 million. Nevertheless, there are no limitations on the source of the funds, provided that the source is legally and adequately documented.

The Investor Visa UK is typically valid for 3 years and 4 months (if applying from outside the UK). After this period, you can apply for an extension or indefinite leave to remain (ILR) depending on the total amount of your investment.

The only eligible investment visa UK requirements include share capital and loan capital in active, trading UK companies. Investments in property management, offshore companies, or open-ended investment companies are not permitted.

After holding your Tier 1 Investor Visa for a period of 2, 3, or 5 years, you may be eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). The exact time frame depends on the amount of investment you made: £5 million can lead to ILR in 3 years, and £10 million in 2 years.

You can apply to extend your UK Investor Visa for an additional 2 years, provided you meet the necessary requirements, including maintaining your investment in qualifying UK companies. Your extension application should be submitted before your current visa expires.

Yes, it is possible to register for a Tier 1 Investor Visa in the UK despite not having previously resided in the country. Nevertheless, it is imperative that you satisfy the requisite investment and documentation requirements, including demonstrating the source of your funds and showing that your investment is in active UK businesses.

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About Us

Rees Clayton Immigration is an authorised trading style of Rees Clayton Solicitors, a UK-based firm specialising in personal and business immigration services. Rees Clayton Solicitors are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), under SRA Number 635563.

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