Tier 1 Entrepreneur

The Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa is for business people who are outside the UK, or possibly already in the UK, who want to start a business in the UK or invest in an already-existing business in the UK. To successfully apply for the visa the applicant has to show that they have at least £200,000 available to invest in the business. If the application is successful the visa will be granted for a period of three years or slightly more.

When the visa is near to expiry the applicant may be able to apply to extend their visa. To do so successfully they must be able to show that they have invested their funds in the business appropriately and that they have met any relevant requirements for registering the business. They must also show that they have created at least two full-time jobs for settled workers in the UK.

As the rules stand at present, a Tier 1 Entrepreneur may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years in that capacity or, under an accelerated route, after three years. There are two accelerated routes for indefinite leave to remain: (i) if the business has created at least ten new full-time jobs or (ii) if the business has made income of at least £5m over the three-year period.

There is also an English language requirement for the Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa, and dependants may be included in the application.