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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.