Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa

In April 2019, the Tier 1 Entrepreneur were discontinued and replaced with the Start Up and Innovator visas. To get immediate assistance call us now at 02033844389. We’re always available to help you.

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Overview of Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visas

As of March 29, 2019, this route has been closed and is no longer available for new applicants.

If you have previously applied and were refused, contact our corporate team as soon as possible for assistance with your existing refusal. This is time-sensitive, so please don’t delay unnecessarily. We will review your case and inform you if we can provide assistance promptly.

If you have concerns about compliance with your current Entrepreneur Visa or if you are planning to extend or apply for settlement, please reach out to us as soon as possible.

We still offer suitable alternatives to this route.

Explore our Sole Representative page (Zero Investment) or discuss other business routes with us.

Please get in touch for immediate, free case review.

If you are unsure of your position or would like to ensure that your application is handled by a knowledgeable specialist, get in touch with one of our friendly team members now on 02033844389 to find out exactly how we can assist you to get it right first time round, saving you time, money and the heartache of being refused.

How long it will take

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

Example:

You can apply from 16 March if you plan to travel on 15 June.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

How long you can stay

You can come to the UK with a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa for a maximum of 3 years and 4 months.

You can apply to extend this visa for another 2 years if you’re already in this category and 3 years if you’re switching to it from another category.

You may be able to apply for settlement (known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) once you’ve been in the UK for 5 years.

What you can and can't do

You can:

You can’t:

Our experienced UK immigration lawyers can help you through each step of the immigration process.

Eligibility

You must have access to at least £50,000 investment funds to apply for a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa.

Your funds must be:

There are different eligibility requirements depending on whether you have access to £50,000 or to £200,000.

You must also:

Sharing investment funds

You can form an ‘entrepreneurial team’ with one other Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) applicant and share the same investment funds.

You and your team member must meet all the application requirements and:

Knowledge Of English

You may need to prove your knowledge of the English language when you apply.

You can prove your knowledge of English by either:

You may be able to meet the English language requirement in other ways.

Exceptions

You will not need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re a national of one of the following countries:

You also may not have to prove your knowledge of English in other circumstances.

Our experienced UK immigration lawyers can help you through each step of the immigration process.

Access to £50,000 investment funds

You can apply if you have access to £50,000 in investment funds from one or more of the following:

You can also apply if you’ve already invested £50,000 in a UK business. You must have invested the funds less than 12 months before you apply.

The funding rules are different if you’re changing (switching) from another visa, or if you’ve already had a UK visa.

Apply as a former Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)

You can apply if you have a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa and want to change (switch) your visa.

Your funding can come from any source.

You can rely on investments from up to 24 months before your Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) application.

Apply as a former Tier 1 (General)

You can apply if you have a Tier 1 (General) visa and want to change (switch) your visa.

You can apply with funding from:

You can also apply using money from a venture capital firm if you have been either:

You cannot apply using money from any other source, including your own money.

You can rely on investments from up to 12 months before your Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) application.

Apply as a former student

You may be able to apply for a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa if you’re already in the UK and you’re a Tier 4 visa holder.

You can apply with funding from:

Your investment funds cannot include:

The funds must be held in the UK if you’re applying for leave to remain.

You can rely on investments from up to 12 months before your Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) application.

If you have financial sponsorship

If your course fees and living costs have been paid for by a government or international scholarship agency, you must get written consent from them to re-enter or remain in the UK without any conditions.

Access to £200,000 investment funds

You can apply for a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa if you have access to £200,000 in investment funds and you can prove that the money is either:

The funds must be held in the UK if you’re applying for leave to remain.

Previous investment

You can also apply if you’ve invested £200,000 in a UK business. You must have invested the funds less than 12 months before you apply.

Apply as a former Tier 4 student

If you’re in the UK and hold a Tier 4 student visa, you must follow the rules for applying with £50,000 funding.

Apply if you’re in the UK on a Tier 1 (General) visa

If you’re in the UK on a Tier 1 (General) visa, you can only apply with £200,000 of your own funds if you:

Documents you must provide

The documents you need to provide depend on how you’re being endorsed.

Endorsed by a UK higher education institution (HEI)

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

You’ll also need to provide the following if your degree was awarded by a different UK HEI than the one providing your endorsement:

You need a page in your passport that’s blank on both sides for your visa.

Endorsed by the Department for International Trade (DIT)

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

A current passport or other valid travel identification
A letter of endorsement from DIT
An original certificate of your academic qualification or an alternative from the documents guide
Previous passports
A residence permit, ‘green card’ or valid visa if you’re not a national of the country from where you’re applying
Proof that you meet the English language requirement
Bank statements showing you’ve had at least £945 in savings if applying from inside the UK or £1,890 if applying from outside the UK – you must have had this in your bank account for 90 days before you apply
Your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test
A letter from NARIC that proves you can use your qualification to apply for this visa

You’ll need to have a blank page in your passport on which to put the visa.

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

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

Our experienced UK immigration lawyers can help you through each step of the immigration process.

Extend your visa

You may be able to extend your Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa.

You should apply before your current visa expires.

You can apply to extend your visa if you:

You must have invested into 1 or more UK businesses either:

You should include any dependants who are on your current visa on your application to extend – including children who have turned 18 during your stay.

How long it takes

A decision will be made on your application within 8 weeks.

You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer. This could be because:

Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

Switch to this visa

You may be able to switch to a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa.

You should apply before your current visa expires.

You can apply to switch to this visa if you meet the eligibility requirements and you’re already in the UK under one of the following categories:

You can also switch from one of the following categories if you have specific types of funding:

You must leave the UK and make your application from abroad if you’re in another category.

You must meet the extension criteria, not the switching criteria, if you have had leave in this category in the 12 months before you apply.

How long you can stay

You can stay a maximum of 3 years after switching to a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa.

How long it takes

A decision will be made on your application within 8 weeks.

You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer. This could be because:

Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

Family Members

Your family members (‘dependants’) can come with you when you come to the UK on this visa. Your family members must have a visa if they’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

A ‘dependant’ is any of the following:

Adult family members must provide a criminal record certificate from any country they have lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years.

Savings

You must show that your dependants can be supported while they’re in the UK.

Each dependant must have a certain amount of money available to them – this is in addition to the £945 you must have to support yourself.

The amount depends on your circumstances. You must have £1,890 for each dependant if you’re applying from outside the UK or have been in the UK for less than 12 months. If you’ve been in the UK for more than 12 months, you must have £630 for each dependant.

You must have proof you have the money, and that it’s been in your bank account or your dependant’s bank account for at least 90 days before you or they apply.

Example:

You must have £4,725 if you want to bring your partner and one child with you to the UK (£945 to support yourself plus £1,890 for your partner and £1,890 for your child).

Children born while you’re in the UK

If you have children while you’re in the UK, you can apply for permission for them to stay.

You must do this if you want to travel in and out of the UK with them.

When you apply, send a full UK birth certificate for each child showing the names of both parents.

Our experienced UK immigration lawyers can help you through each step of the immigration process.

FAQs

Hidden

Most of the time, a child needs a visa in order to live in the UK. For instance, if their parent is a foreign national working or studying in the country, the child may need a Child Dependant Visa.

How do I apply for a Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa?

To apply as a Tier 1 Entrepreneur, you must:

– Fulfill the specified Home Office requirements.
– Present a genuine and viable business plan.
– Demonstrate expertise in your chosen sector.
– Successfully pass an interview with the Home Office.

Given the complexity and length of the Entrepreneur Visa UK application, seeking assistance from a professional immigration lawyer significantly enhances your chances of visa approval.

What are the Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa UK requirements?

To fulfill Tier 1 Visa requirements, you must accumulate 95 points according to the Home Office criteria. These points are obtained through:

1. Having £200,000 for investment (£50,000 through the Graduate Entrepreneur route).
2. Demonstrating maintenance funds varying based on your visa’s Tier 1 category.
3. Providing proof of English language proficiency, such as a degree in English or an IELTS test.
4. Alternatively, having access to £50,000 in investment funds from endorsed sources like a UK entrepreneurial seed funding competition or government department.

For personalized guidance based on your circumstances, consult with a lawyer before initiating your application.

What if my Entrepreneur Visa application is refused?

Given the intricacies and a notable refusal rate in this intricate application, we have assisted numerous individuals with previously declined Entrepreneur Visa applications.

Whether it’s addressing minor issues like inaccuracies or omissions on your application form or navigating challenges, such as not meeting the genuine entrepreneur test during your interview, we possess the expertise to identify the specific problems in your prior application and guide you through the process anew.

Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa

Overview of Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visas

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