Tier 1 Investor

Tier 1 Investor Extension and Settlement (ILR)

The Tier 1 Investor Visa used to be a major route for investors wanting to a financial investment in the UK. It required the individual to invest at least £2 million as share capital or loan capital in active and trading UK businesses.

AS OF 17/02/2022, THIS ROUTE HAS BEEN CLOSED AND IS NOT AVAILABLE TO NEW APPLICANTS.

However, if you already hold a Tier 1 Investor visa, you may apply for an extension until 17 February 2026, or settlement / Indefinite Leave to Remain until 17 February 2028, provided you meet the respective set of requirements.

General requirements - Extension

In order to qualify for a Tier 1 Investor extension, you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that you meet the following requirements:

• You must have invested not less than £2 million in the UK by way of UK share capital or loan capital in active and trading UK registered companies;
• You must have made your investment within 3 months of your entry to the UK under this route or the date of grant of your initial Tier 1 Investor leave to remain, or no earlier than 12 months before the date of the application which led to the first grant of leave as a Tier 1 Investor; and
• You have maintained the level of investment for the whole of the remaining period of your leave.

If your initial Tier 1 Investor visa was granted between 6 November 2014 and 28 March 2019, investment by way of UK government bonds is acceptable. However you must submit your extension application before 6 April 2023. Otherwise you must move your qualifying investments out of UK government bonds before 6 April 2023.

The exact requirements you will need to satisfy may vary depending on your circumstances. You may want to speak to an immigration specialist for expert advice.

General requirements - ILR (Settlement)

In order to qualify for Tier 1 Investor ILR, you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that you meet the following requirements:   

• You have money of your own, under your own control, in the UK amounting to not less than £2 million;
• You must have invested this sum in the UK by way of UK share capital or loan capital in active and trading UK registered companies;
• You must have made your investment within 3 months of your entry to the UK under this route or the date of grant of your initial Tier 1 Investor leave to remain, or no earlier than 12 months before the date of the application which led to the first grant of leave as a Tier 1 Investor;
• You have maintained the level of investment for the whole of the remaining period of your leave;
• You have spent a continuous period of 5 years lawfully in the UK as a Tier 1 Investor, with absences from the UK of no more than 180 days in any 12 months during the period;
• You have sufficient knowledge of English language and have passed a Life in the UK test.

If your initial Tier 1 Investor visa was granted 6 November 2014 and 28 March 2019, investment by way of UK government bonds is acceptable. However you must submit your ILR application before 6 April 2025. Otherwise you must move your qualifying investments out of UK government bonds before 6 April 2025.

The exact requirements you will need to satisfy may vary depending on your circumstances. You may want to speak to an immigration specialist for expert advice.

Additional requirements - Accelerated ILR (Settlement)

In addition to the above requirements for standard ILR, if you meet one of the following requirements you may be eligible to 'accelerate' your ILR under this route after spending:

• 3 years in the UK, if you have maintained an investment of £5 million.
• 2 years in the UK, if you have maintained an investment of £10 million.

How long can you stay in the UK

If your extension application is successful, your will be granted for further 2 years leave for the UK.

If your settlement application is successful, you will be granted Indefinite Leave to Remain which means you are permanently free from immigration time restrictions. However, if you are absent from the UK for more than 2 years, your ILR will be revoked. You will then need to make a Returning Residence application before you can travel to the UK again.

Dependants

Your family members (spouse/partner and any children under 18) can come with you. They will need to apply for a Dependant visa and if successful, will be granted a visa in line with yours.

Processing time and application fees 

For extension applications, the current application fee is £1,638. Applicants will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of the application, set at £624 per year (or £470 per year for Student / Youth Mobility Scheme / applicant under 18). The application will usually be processed within 8 weeks.

For settlement / ILR applications, the current application fee is £2,404. You will usually get a decision within 6 months.

Priority service may be available subject to availability and an additional priority fee.

How we can help

Our knowledgeable and experienced immigration team can:

• Assess your case and advise whether you are eligible to apply
• Provide you with a tailored & comprehensive document list
• Review all your documents and advise on necessary amendments
• Suggest on how to improve your application
• Complete your application forms in accordance with the UKVI requirements
• Assist you to complete the application submission process
• Provide our representation letter to support your application with necessary legal arguments
• Liaise with UKVI on your behalf

Depending on your need and budget, we have different levels of services that you may choose from. Check out Our Services to see which one is for you. 

Want to discuss your case with an immigration specialist? Contact Us now.