Tier 1 Investor visa guide (a fast track to citizenship through investment)

Application process and cost

You must apply online for a Tier 1 (Investor) visa.

You’ll need to have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre (to get a biometric residence permit) as part of your application.

The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.

You must pay £1,623 to apply for a Tier 1 (Investor) visa. The fee is the same if you’re extending or switching visas, or if you’re applying as a family member.

You’ll also have to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your application.

If you’re applying to extend or switch in the UK you can pay an extra £500 for the priority service to get a decision within 5 working days.

Even if you meet all of the conditions of the Tier 1 (Investor) category, there may be other reasons why the Home Office may refuse your application under the general grounds for refusal. For example, this could be because of your previous immigration history.

Condition of leave and settlement

You can come to the UK with a Tier 1 (Investor) visa for a maximum of 3 years and 4 months. You can apply to extend this visa for another 2 years.

You can apply for settlement under Tier 1 (Investor) once you have reached 5 years’ continuous leave in the United Kingdom under the route. However, if you meet additional criteria, you may apply for accelerated ILR after a continuous period of either 2 years or 3 years.

You can:

• work or study
• apply to settle after 2 years if you invest £10 million
• apply to settle after 3 years if you invest £5 million
• apply to settle after 5 years if you invest £2 million

You cannot:

• work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach
• get public funds

You will need to meet some requirements which apply to all Points Based System
settlement applications and some which are specific to Tier 1 (Investor).

When you apply for settlement, you are required to show that you have knowledge of life and language in the United Kingdom before you can be granted (unless you fall under an exemption). You can demonstrate this by passing both the Life in the UK test and holding an English speaking and listening qualification at level B1 or above.

You cannot combine Tier 1 (Investor) leave with leave in any other category to meet the continuous leave requirement.

Your qualifying period can include time from the date your initial application (for entry clearance or leave to remain) was approved.

You can apply for settlement up to 28 days before you will reach the qualifying period. If you apply earlier than that, your application may be refused. Your qualifying period will be the 5, 3 or 2 years immediately before the date you apply for settlement or the 5, 3 or 2 years immediately before the date your settlement application Tier 1 (Investor) is decided, depending on which is most beneficial to you.

You cannot have had more than 180 days’ absence from the United Kingdom during any consecutive 12 months of the qualifying period.

Documents you must provide

When you apply, you’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo).

You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents. You can either upload them into the online service or have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

• a current passport
• your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test
• a criminal record certificate from any country you have stayed in for a total of 12 months or more over the last 10 years

Depending on your circumstances, you may have to provide additional documentation including evidence that:

• you are able to make an investment of £2 million or more in the UK.
• you have money under your control, held in a regulated financial institution, and which is disposable in the UK, amounting to not less than £2 million.
• you have opened an account with a UK regulated bank for the purposes of investing not less than £2 million in the UK
• If you are relying on your partner’s money, you’ll need to provide a certificate of your relationship, or in the case of unmarried or same-sex relationships, proof that you are in a long-term relationship (at least 2 years); a statement from your partner confirming that they will allow you to control the funds in the UK and a letter from a legal adviser stating that the declaration is valid.
• If you have not held the funds for 2 years consecutively before the date of the application, you must also provide evidence of the source of the funds

You’ll need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.

Rights of Appeal and Administrative Review

If your application is refused and you think a mistake has been made, you can request a review of that decision through administrative review.

To make an enquiry you can call our dedicated Immigration enquiry line on: +44(0)7869806506 or by email at info@kassolicitors.uk