Not Just Advice – Legal Strategy That Works
Tier 1 Investor visas are reserved for those who can afford to invest a large sum of money in the UK. The minimum investment required to obtain a UK Investor visa is £2 million, and you must be prepared to invest your money into running businesses in the UK.
For foreign nationals wishing to invest in the UK, our knowledgeable immigration lawyers provide first-rate consultancy services. To get immediate assistance dial 020 3384 4389
- Featured In
- Excellent Reviews
- 5.0 rating
“Really supportive. Had many hurdles but didn’t loose hope. Case was with a brilliant firm. Team is very supportive and respond back very quickly to any queries. Thank you to brother Irfan for all the hard work also.”
A N
- Excellent Reviews
4.7 (832 Reviews)
Ready to Secure Your UK Investor Visit Without Delays?
Rich people who want to make a big investment in the UK can get a Tier 1 Investor visa. Individuals holding an investor visa are granted the right to work, study, and participate in business endeavours. They can also bring their dependents with them or join them. After five years on a Tier 1 Investor visa, most people are able to settle in the UK. Visa holders who invest a significant amount in the UK are eligible for expedited settlement.
Quick Facts: Tier 1 Investor Visa (UK)
Closed to new applications
No new initial or switching applications have been accepted since 17 February 2022.
Extension eligibility
Existing visa holders may extend if they meet investment maintenance requirements (e.g., holding at least £2 million in qualifying investments).
Qualifying investments
Investment must be in share or loan capital of active, UK-registered companies. Investments in government bonds no longer count for newer extensions
Settlement (ILR) possibilities
Holders may apply for indefinite leave to remain depending on length of stay, investment amount, and conditions under the rules.
Spouse or partner and children under 18 can join. Adult family members must provide criminal record certificates where they have lived 12 months or more in the past 10 years.
Closed to new applications in February 2022; holders may extend or settle under transitional rules until 2026.
Existing holders must maintain the £2 million investment threshold in qualifying UK assets.
High-net-worth individuals should consider the Innovator Founder Visa or Expansion Worker Route for investment migration.
Although the Tier 1 Investor route is closed
Your existing visa rights still matter and the path forward may lie in extension, settlement, or a pivot to alternative routes.
Benefits
Tight schedule and no time to deal with endless paperwork? We take the burden off your shoulders, ensuring a fast and stress-free visa process so you can focus on your business trip.
97.37%
Success Rate
37,573
Applications Approved
93.7%
Immigration Appeal Win Rate
4.9/5
Average Rating
From Consultation to Visa Approval
Our immigration specialists streamline your application process by clearly identifying which evidence and strategies will strengthen your case.
By aligning your unique circumstances with Home Office requirements, we help you focus on high-impact preparations while addressing any potential weaknesses in your application.
Maximising Your Approval Chances
Our goal is to maximise the chances of your visa being approved the first time. By carefully reviewing your circumstances, identifying potential weaknesses, and preparing strong supporting evidence, we significantly reduce the risk of refusals. Every application is checked by senior immigration solicitors who apply their expertise to make your case as clear, accurate, and persuasive as possible. This attention to detail is what improves success rates and helps our clients move forward with confidence.
Success Rate Optimisation
We carefully analyse every detail of your application to maximise the chances of approval. By addressing weaknesses, strengthening supporting evidence, and ensuring full compliance with Home Office rules, we optimise your case for success. This thorough approach significantly improves approval rates and gives you confidence throughout the process.
Risk Mitigation Strategies
We identify potential risks in your application early and put safeguards in place to address them. By preparing strong evidence, clarifying complex points, and anticipating Home Office concerns, we minimise the chance of delays or refusals.
-
Evidence-based case preparation
-
Home Office compliance checks
-
Success rate optimisation
-
Risk mitigation strategies
From Consultation to Visa Approval
Our immigration specialists streamline your application process by clearly identifying which evidence and strategies will strengthen your case.
By aligning your unique circumstances with Home Office requirements, we help you focus on high-impact preparations while addressing any potential weaknesses in your application.
Maximising Your Approval Chances
Our goal is to maximise the chances of your visa being approved the first time. By carefully reviewing your circumstances, identifying potential weaknesses, and preparing strong supporting evidence, we significantly reduce the risk of refusals. Every application is checked by senior immigration solicitors who apply their expertise to make your case as clear, accurate, and persuasive as possible. This attention to detail is what improves success rates and helps our clients move forward with confidence.
Success Rate Optimisation
We carefully analyse every detail of your application to maximise the chances of approval. By addressing weaknesses, strengthening supporting evidence, and ensuring full compliance with Home Office rules, we optimise your case for success. This thorough approach significantly improves approval rates and gives you confidence throughout the process.
Risk Mitigation Strategies
We identify potential risks in your application early and put safeguards in place to address them. By preparing strong evidence, clarifying complex points, and anticipating Home Office concerns, we minimise the chance of delays or refusals.
Work With Trusted, SRA-Regulated UK Immigration Experts
Your immigration journey is too important to risk on unqualified or unregulated help. Every case we handle is prepared by SRA-regulated solicitors who apply structured legal reasoning, precise documentation checks and full compliance with Home Office and UKVI rules.
Our accreditations are your assurance that you are working with a reputable, experienced and highly trained legal team. We combine decades of immigration expertise with strict professional standards to give you clarity, confidence and complete peace of mind — no matter which visa or application route you are pursuing.
Requirements for UK Investor Visa
You must meet the following criteria to be eligible for an investor visa to the UK:
- You own at least £2 million in cash, either alone, with your partner, or together with them;
- You must be 18 or over;
- A regulated financial institution is holding the funds;
- You may easily convert it to pounds sterling and send it to the UK using this money;
- To invest at least £2 million in the UK, you have established a bank account with a UK-registered bank.
It is necessary to provide evidence of the origin of your investment money if they have been in your possession for less than two years. The Home Office must be satisfied with this evidence in every instance.
You and any adult dependents seeking an Investor visa from outside the country must present a criminal record certificate from each country where you have resided for a minimum of 12 months within the past decade.
You will not have to meet any English language or maintenance money requirements.
Depending on your situation, the standards you must meet may differ. Consult an immigration lawyer if you need legal counsel.
Two Year Requirement for Investor Visa
The rules for getting an Investor visa don’t say that investment funds have to have been held for two years.
Investments held for less than two years may still be eligible under this route if they were acquired from:
- An item you or your spouse, civil partner, single partner, or same-sex partner received as a gift in the two years before the application date; or
- In the last two years, the money from the sale of assets like a business or land; or
- Money that is kept in your business or the business of your spouse, husband, wife, civil partner, single partner, or same-sex partner; or
- Inheritance from a well-received in the two years before the application; or
- The money from a divorce settlement received within the last two years before the application date; or
- A financial prize or winnings;
- Any other source as long as it can be found, recorded, and checked by someone else.
If you have had your UK Investor visa investment funds for at least two years, you will not have to show specific proof of where the funds came from. Currently, there is no need to include an independent audit of your business and financial interests when applying for an Investor visa. If you still want to spend, you will need to show the Home Office that you legally got the money.
What are Investment Options for a Tier 1 Investor Visa UK?
If you want to get an Investor visa, you will need to put at least £2 million into investments that qualify. Share capital and/or loan capital in live and trading UK-registered companies are the only types of investments that qualify for a Tier 1 Investor visa. To get a UK Investor visa, you must make a suitable investment within 90 days of entering the country.
Investing is limited in several ways by the Immigration Rules for Investors. For instance, it is against the law to invest in foreign companies or trusts, open-ended investment companies, and companies whose main business is investing in, managing, or developing real estate.
Processing Time for Investor Visa UK
Also, if your child stays with you, you’ll need to show proof of their address with things like the ones below:
- A bank statement
- Bills for credit cards
- Driver’s license orÂ
- NHS registration card
- An official university or college letter
Investor visa applicants can usually expect a response on their entry clearance applications within five working days if they use the priority service offered by most visa application centres outside the UK.
There are two options available to Tier 1 investors seeking further UK residency: the conventional eight-week process or the priority five-working-day process. The normal six-month consideration and the priority ten-working-day consideration are available to Tier 1 investors seeking indefinite leave to remain within the UK.
How long is a UK Investor visa valid?
When applying from outside the UK, your initial investor visa will be valid for three years and four months, and when applying from within the UK, it will be valid for three years.
In order to qualify, you must invest £2 million or more in UK companies that are currently trading within three months of joining the category. After that, you’ll have to keep up with your investment.
Tier 1 Investor visa holders are eligible for two more years of stay extensions, and after five years, they can apply for settlement, which is essentially indefinite leave to remain. Additionally, if you invest £5 million or £10 million, you can get an expedited route to settlement after three years or two years, respectively, as a Tier 1 Investor migrant.
Unless you are 65 or older, you must have a sufficient command of the English language and sufficient experience of life in the UK in order to settle in the UK. Additionally, you must not spend more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period.
Tier 1 Investor Visa Extension
The conditions for obtaining an extension of your Tier 1 Investor visa will differ depending on whether your original visa was issued between 6 November 2014 and 28 March 2019 or on or after 29 March 2019. Our website about the Tier 1 Investor Visa Extension has more details. Seeking legal counsel from an immigration attorney can help you meet the strict requirements set out by the Immigration Rules for your extension application.
Securing ILR with a Tier 1 Investor Visa
Tier 1 investors can apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK after two, three, or five years of residency. Your investment amount and the date of your Tier 1 Investor visa grant will determine the criteria you must meet to be eligible for investment-linked residency (ILR). If you need expert guidance, call our specialist immigration lawyers.
Who can apply
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:
- Tier 1 (General)
- Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)
- Tier 1 (Post-study work)
- Any Tier 2 category
You must leave the UK and make your application from abroad if you’re in another category.
How long you can stay
You can stay a maximum of three years after switching to a Tier 1 (Investor) visa. You can also extend your visa if you’re eligible.
Family Members
Your family members (‘dependants’) can come with you when you come to the UK on this visa. They must have a visa if they’re from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. A ‘dependant’ is any of the following:
- Your husband, wife, or partner
- Your child under 18
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.
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.
How Can Our UK Immigration Solicitors Help?
There are strict documentation requirements for Investor visa applications as outlined in the Immigration Rules. If you want your application to be well-prepared and accurate, it can be wise to see an immigration lawyer.
Among the best immigration firms in the UK for investors, UK Immigration Solicitors is well-known. We have also won multiple industry awards for this work.
To ensure that investors and their families receive high-quality visa applications, our investment immigration solicitors collaborate closely with investors, wealth managers, and top banks. If you are an investor looking for immigration advice, our solicitors can help you navigate the maze of regulations and rules put in place by the Home Office.
When it comes to understanding and satisfying our clients’ needs, we take great satisfaction in being both approachable and proactive. As part of our professional service, our highly motivated team is committed to giving investors trustworthy immigration guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions FAQs
The UK stands out globally for its financial services, making it a prime choice for foreign investments in this sector.
Diversifying your investment portfolio is advisable for your Tier 1 Investor Visa application. However, it’s crucial to note that the Home Office no longer accepts certain property investments, such as property development, investment, and management.
Our assistance includes guiding you to an investment management firm to ensure that your funds align with the criteria supporting your Tier 1 Investor Visa application.
In the event of a visa application refusal, you have the right to request a review within 28 days and can initiate an appeal within 10 working days. However, success in the appeal process is not guaranteed.
Our team of immigration lawyers can evaluate your eligibility for an appeal, considering the grounds of your Investor Visa refusal, and provide comprehensive guidance throughout the appeal procedure.
Once you have invested £2 million in the UK economy, you will be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years. This is the standard residence period to be considered for ILR and will require you to extend your Investor Visa after the initial three-year period.
If you invest at least £5 million in UK businesses, you will be able to apply after three years. Investing £10 million will allow you to apply for ILR after just two years.
Once you have held ILR for at least a year you will be eligible to apply for British Citizenship.
Blog
Read Our Latest Blogs
Anyone wishing to travel, study, work, or settle in the United Kingdom must comprehend the procedure for UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), …
If you want to marry someone in the UK, you may get a UK fiancé visa to do so. There are, however, …
Introduction The path that the UK took to legalise gay marriage shows how the country’s views on LGBTQ+ rights are changing. There …
Services
Services You Might be Interested In
Request a Free Case Review Appointment
Start your free case review by booking a quick assessment so our team can understand your situation and guide you to the right next steps.
Speak directly with an immigration specialist at a time that works for you.
Call Us Now
020 3384 4389 Our lines are open 24/7, 365 days a year.