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Tier 1 Visa Entrepreneur

In the Entrepreneur category of tier one of the Points Based System (PBS), candidates may apply to immigrate to the UK based on a substantial investment by starting or assuming control of a UK business.

Specific requirements – Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa

Along with having to satisfy the general requirements associated with the tier 1 visa category, such as English language ability and the ability to maintain oneself and any dependants, applicants for the Tier 1 Entrepreneur sub-category must also meet some specific criteria.

To submit a successful application a pass-mark of 75 points must achieved by satisfying all of the following requirements:

They must have access to £200,000 - 25 points

This sum must be held in a regulated bank account - 25 points

The money must be disposable in the UK - 25 points

Please note that those candidates applying for a tier 1 Entrepreneur visa may not seek or undertake employment in the UK. This type of UK visa service is issued only to people who will be starting or assuming control of a UK-based business.

Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa extension

To be eligible for an extension to a tier 1 entrepreneur visa the following criteria must be satisfied.

Applicants must have invested, or had invested on their behalf a minimum of £200,000 in a UK business. This investment cannot include the value of residential property, and cannot be a director's loan.

Applicant must, within three months have registered with HMRC as a self-employed person, registered a new UK business with the applicant as a director, or registered as a director of an existing UK enterprise.

At the time of the extension application, the candidate must be engaged in activity within this business.

It is also a necessary requirement when applying for a tier 1 entrepreneur visa extension that the applicant can demonstrate that they have created positions of employment for people with UK settled status. For a new business this means that an aggregate of two positions, full time or equivalent, must have been created with each lasting for at least one year. In cases where an applicant has taken over control of an established UK business, their investment and presence in the company must have created 2 positions similar to those outlined above.