UK Investor Visa

Applying for a UK Investor Visa to immigrate to Britain allows a wealthy individual to come to the country as a passive portfolio investor.

This UK immigration service is one of several business visa applications through which immigration to the UK for business purposes may be achieved, however, like the sole representative visa and the entrepreneur visa for those wishing to live and work in the UK, applications for investor visas carry their own specific requirements, which must be satisfied.

Global Visas is a specialist UK immigration consultancy and as such, we can offer guidance and services to ensure that you select the correct British immigration service for your needs. The United Kingdom offers a wide range of UK visas and Work Permits and our immigration consultants will be happy to discuss your options. We can offer immigration lawyer advice throughout your relocation to Britain and can assist you at every level from initial advice to a comprehensive package of on arrival services to help you adapt to living and working in the UK.

Benefits

A UK investment visa allows wealthy individuals to come to Britain on the basis of investing a minimum of £750,000 in the British economy. Unlike other UK business visas, applications for investment visas do not require candidates to actively partake in the day-to-day running of a business in Great Britain. In addition, unlike the skills based Highly Skilled Migrant Programme or HSMP, no points based assessment is required in order to qualify. An Investors visa is intended as a potential route to settled status in Britain and unlike a UK work permit it is an applicant led process. Investors visas place no work restrictions or immovable time limits upon their holders as with the temporary business visit visa, often referred to as a tourist visa or travel visa and ultimately candidates may apply for permanent residence status leading in time to UK citizenship if required.

Duration

A British Investor's visa will initially be granted for a duration of 12 months. A successful application will be based upon the demonstration of your assets and upon your intention to invest in the United Kingdom. The investment does not need to be in place before the British visa for immigration is issued, however, investment funds must have been transferred to the United Kingdom within three months of your arrival.

Upon the expiry of your initial 12-month grant of leave, you may apply for a UK visa extension for an additional three years. In most cases, this application will be successful if the 3-month transfer of funds period was met, your total investment is still worth in excess of £1 million, and any reduction in its value has occurred only through share price fluctuations.

If visa extensions are granted then candidates may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK (ILR), usually known as permanent residence after four years. 1 year beyond this, successful applicants may apply for British naturalization as a UK citizen.

Eligibility Criteria

A business visa application must be applied for from outside the country and will be subject to the satisfaction of the following criteria:

• You must be in possession of at least £1 million to invest in the United Kingdom. At least £750,000 of this must be invested in Unit Trusts and/or private companies. The money may not be invested in off shore companies, property investment companies, or in banks or building societies, however, the remaining 250,000 (or more) may be invested as you see fit.

• You may not seek employment or undertake work in Britain other than managing your investments.

• You must consider the United Kingdom to be your main home and accordingly spend at least 50% of your time in the country.

• Documentary evidence of the funds at your disposal and your planned investments will need to be provided.

Dependants

As with UK Entrepreneur visas for those wishing to set up a company in Great Britain, the investment based business immigration route is intended as a permanent settlement option. As a result, spouse immigration and dependent immigration are provided for by this service. Family immigration is permitted for your spouse or unmarried partner and any dependent children, and like a marriage visa or De Facto visa, often referred to as an unmarried partner visa your dependents will have the same rights to education, healthcare and the opportunity to seek and undertake employment as British citizens.