The UK Tier 1 Investor Visa at a glance
Discover everything you need to know about the UK’s Tier 1 Investor Visa Program below, or feel free to get in touch for a free, confidential consultation.
Rising socio-economic and political instability around the world has led to an increasing number of high net worth (HNW) foreign investors and their families opting to make the UK their home in 2022.
Boasting world-class infrastructure, a strategic location and some of the world’s top education institutions, the UK is an excellent choice for affluent families seeking to give their children access to a top-tier education and a wealth of job market opportunities.
Given the suspension of the UK Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa in March of 2019, the Tier 1 Investor Visa has become the residency option of choice for foreign families seeking to obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and/or eventual British citizenship.
The Tier 1 Investor Program requires a minimum investment of £2 million in qualifying bond or equity instruments. The investment must be maintained for a minimum of 5 years, and Her Majesty’s Home Office requires that applicants settle in the UK. (The minimum annual in-country stay is 183 days or more.)
Below, we explore this class-leading residency program in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While you can acquire a property for personal use or letting purposes, your program investment cannot be in property or property development focused financial instruments.
You can invest in UK fixed income bonds, share capital, or loan capital in UK registered companies that meet the program’s definition of “active and trading”.
The UK government option, however, has been scrapped as an eligible investment instrument.
Yes, there are. As of 2022, the following 3 investment options exist for fast-tracking your citizenship application under the program:
| Time To ILR and Citizenship | Investment Requirement |
|---|---|
| 5 Years to ILR (6 years to citizenship) | £2 million |
| 3 Years to ILR (4 years to citizenship) | £5 million |
| 2 Years to ILR (3 years to citizenship) | £10 million |
While Russia, China and Hong Kong have long accounted for the bulk of applicants for the Tier 1 Investor Visa, in recent years, the number of Americans and European applicants has been climbing steadily as well. Canadian, Indian and Brazilian high net worth and ultra high net worth individuals also tend to favor the program.
North Korean nationals are not eligible to apply for the program. All other nationalities are eligible, however 1 in 4 Iranian applicants were rejected in recent years, while 22% of Pakistani nationals’ applications were unsuccessful. In contrast, Brazilians have been the only nation to enjoy a 100% application success rate.
Why choose the UK Tier 1 Investor Visa?
GET UK RESIDENCY, FAST
The Tier 1 Investor Visa offers a streamlined application process and simple program requirements. The entire process can be completed in as little as 3 to 4 months.
A FULLY PASSIVE INVESTMENT
Unlike the UK Innovator Visa (which replaced the Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa), the Tier 1 Investor Program is ideal for high net worth individuals looking for a fast, seamless and wholly passive investment option.
MAKE YOUR CAPITAL WORK FOR YOU
Put your capital to work and earn UK residency in the process. One option is to earn 12% p.a. with a UK Fixed Income Bond tailored specifically to the requirements of the Tier 1 Investor Program.
FAMILY MEMBERS ARE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY
Your spouse and dependent children (aged under 18) are eligible to apply for UK settlement as your dependents. Kids over 18 can also apply if they are financially dependent and already based in the UK.
CLEAR PATH TO ILR AND UK CITIZENSHIP
Depending on how much you invest, you can shorten your time to British citizenship and a passport from 5 years to 3 years (£5 million+ investment) or 2 years (£10+ million investment).
GAIN ACCESS TO THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE
Gain access to the UK’s National Health Service, subject to payment of the mandatory immigration health surcharge, for yourself and your dependent family members.
NO ENGLISH LANGUAGE TESTING REQUIREMENTS
Unlike with many other UK visa categories, the Tier 1 Investor Visa has no language testing requirements. You may, however, be required to prove your language proficiency to apply for ILR and British citizenship.
NO TERTIARY EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Unlike as with many of the other points based settlement visa programs in the UK, you don’t need to hold any tertiary qualifications to apply for the UK Tier 1 Visa Program.
Key program features and requirements
| CONSIDERATION | TIER 1 INVESTOR VISA |
|---|---|
| Minimum Investment Requirement | £2 million (5 year residency requirement + 1 year ILR prior to citizenship eligibility = 6 years to British citizenship);
£5 million (3 year residency requirement + 1 year ILR prior to citizenship eligibility = 4 years to British citizenship); £10 million (2 year residency requirement + 1 year ILR prior to citizenship eligibility = 3 years to British citizenship). |
| Minimum Investment Holding Period | 5 years. |
| Eligible Investment Instruments (Investment Categories) | Eligible bond and equity instruments. Real estate focused and foreign instruments are not eligible under the Tier 1 Investor Program. |
| Minimum Stay Requirement For ILR | 183+ days per year. |
| ILR Eligibility For Dependent Children | Only if their parents are eligible for ILR. |
| Local Work Permitted | Yes. |
| Education Access Permitted | Yes, subject to payment of the appropriate fee surcharges. |
| NHS Access Permitted | Yes, subject to enrolment and payment of the mandatory Immigration Health Surcharge. |
| Government Processing Fees | £1,623. |
| Professional Services & Legal Fees | £25,000, if the 12% Fixed Income Bond option is selected; otherwise, variable. |
| English Language Testing Required | No, however language proficiency testing may be required at ILR/Citizenship application stages. |
| Health Checks Required | No, however applicants from “high risk” jurisdictions may be required to undergo a TB test. |
| Application Process Duration | 3 – 4 months. |
| Path To Indefinite Leave To Remain (ILR) | Yes, subject to meeting the Tier 1 Visa Program’s minimum stay requirements. |
| Path To British Citizenship & A Passport | Yes, subject to meeting the Tier 1 Visa Program’s minimum stay requirements. |
| Limitations On Where In The UK You Can Settle | None. |
| Restrictions On Which Nationalities Can Apply | None. |
| Minimum Net Worth Requirement | None. |
| Source Of Funds Requirements | Investment funds must have been legally earned or obtained, and must have been held by the applicant, within a regulated financial institution, for a minimum period of 2 years prior to the date of application. |
| Tier 1 Investor Visa Validity | 3 Years and 4 Months. After this, you can renew it for an additional 2 years, after which you can become eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave To Remain (permanent residency equivalent status), subject to meeting the program requirements (and the minimum stay requirements, in particular). |
The Tier 1 Investor Visa application process at a glance
STEP 1: Complete the below form to request contact from a UK Tier 1 Visa expert.
STEP 2: Sign your client term sheet and pay the relevant professional fee.
STEP 3: Your case file is compiled and submitted in collaboration with your senior case specialist.
STEP 4: Once your application has been received, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) may invite you to submit your biometrics via your nearest UK visa application centre in your country of current residence.
STEP 5: Once your biometrics have been received, UKVI will consider your application.
STEP 6: If successful, your visa application will be approved within 3 weeks.
STEP 7: Make the requisite investment of either £2 million, £5 million or £10 million within 3 months.
STEP 8: Your residency permits are issued within 2 months from this point.
Key documents required to apply for the Tier 1 Investor Visa
In order to apply for the UK Tier 1 Investment Visa in 2022, you’ll require the following documentation:
- A valid passport with at least 1 blank page.
- A separate passport photograph.
- Evidence that you hold the requisite funds to make an investment under the program. You can find out more about the source of funds requirements here.
- A clear criminal record certificate from country you have stayed in for longer than 12 months in the past 10 years. Any document that is not in English or Welsh needs to be presented as a certified translation.
- A letter proving that you have an account with a regulated UK bank to use for your investment capital. The letter must be issued by an authorized bank representative, and be dated within 3 months of your application. The letter must bear the official, letterhead of the bank, stating your full name, account number, and confirmation that you intend to deposit either £2 million, £5 million or £10 million with a view to make an eligible Tier 1 Visa investment.
-
A negative tuberculosis test result, if you’re from a country deemed as high-risk for this disease.