United Kingdom
Conditions
| Tier 1 Investors, entrepreneurs and exceptionally talented individuals | Tier 1 of the points-based system is for investors, entrepreneurs and individuals with exceptional talent from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland who want to come and work or invest in the United Kingdom.
You do not need a job offer if you are applying under Tier 1, but you must pass a points-based assessment. Tier 1 includes the following categories: Entrepreneur - for people who want to invest in the United Kingdom by setting up or taking over, and being actively involved in the running of, one or more businesses in the United Kingdom. The assessment will be based on your financial resources and English language skills. To be eligible to apply, you must score 75 points for your attributes. You must show that you have:
You must also score 10 points for your English language skills and 10 points for available maintenance. Graduate entrepreneur - for graduates who have been identified by UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) or UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) as having developed genuine and credible business ideas and entrepreneurial skills, to establish one or more businesses in the UK. To be eligible to apply, you must score 75 points for your degree and an endorsement by a UK HEI or UKTI. If you are applying to extend your stay in this category, the organisation which endorsed you must be satisfied with your progress in developing your business. More on graduate entrepreneurs Investor - for high net worth individuals making a substantial financial investment in the United Kingdom. The assessment will be based on your financial resources. To be eligible to apply, you must score 75 points for having access to £ 1,000,000 that is disposable and in a regulated financial institution, or for having £ 2,000,000 in personal assets and £ 1,000,000 in a loan from a regulated financial institution. If you are applying to extend your stay, the method of scoring the 75 points is different. Exceptional Talent - for world leaders and potential world leaders in the fields of science, humanities, digital technology, engineering and the arts. You can apply to switch in-country from certain categories. To be eligible to apply, you must be endorsed by an organisation (known as a 'Designated Competent Body') that is considered to be an expert in the field by the Home Office. You must apply in two stages, firstly to be endorsed by a ’Designated Competent Body’, and secondly to apply for entry clearance or leave to remain. To be eligible to apply initially under Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent), you must score 75 points for your attributes (endorsed by Designated Competent Body). To be eligible to extend your stay in the UK under Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent), you must score 75 points for attributes and an additional 10 points for your English language skills. More on exceptionally talented individuals Tier 1 (General) - this route is now closed but Tier 1 (General) migrants, who are already in the United Kingdom, can apply to extend their permission to stay under this category. |
Procedures
| Highly-skilled workers - Tier 1 Investors, entrepreneurs and exceptionally talented individuals? | |
| Where and how to apply | Applying from abroad |
| If you are applying to come to the United Kingdom under Tier 1, you should make your application at a visa application centre in the country where you are legally resident. | |
| Applying from inside the United Kingdom | |
| There are rules about which categories of migrants can switch into the various Tier 1 categories whilst remaining in the United Kingdom. They are listed in the relevant Tier 1 guidance.
Tier 1 (Investor) application form and guidance Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) application form and guidance Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) application form and guidance Tier 1 (General) application form and guidance If you are applying from inside the United Kingdom to extend your stay, you can submit your application by post, by courier or in person. More on applying from inside the United Kingdom - Tier 1 (General) More on applying from inside the United Kingdom - Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) More on applying from inside the United Kingdom - Tier 1 (Investor) |
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| Self assessment | |
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You can do a self-assessment online using the Home Office’s points-based calculator to see whether you meet the eligibility requirements. |
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| Visa | |
| If you want to come to the United Kingdom under Tier 1, you must obtain a visa at a UK Border Agency visa application centre in the country where you are legally resident. | |
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Documents required |
The supporting evidence you must provide depends on the Tier 1 category you are applying to. More on supporting documents for Tier 1 (General) More on supporting documents for Tier 1 (Investor) More on supporting documents for Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) More on supporting documents for Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) More on supporting documents for Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) |
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Duration of validity of permits (Blue Card) |
If you successfully apply to Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur), you will be given permission to stay in the United Kingdom for one year. You can apply to extend this for a second year, but if you wish to remain in the United Kingdom after that, you will need to apply to switch into another category. If you successfully apply to any other Tier 1 category, you will be given permission to stay in the United Kingdom for three years. You can then apply to extend your permission to stay. More on extension of stay for Tier 1 (General) |
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Appeals |
If you apply unsuccessfully from inside the UK, you may have a right of appeal. Your refusal letter from the Home Office will explain why your application has been refused and whether and how you can appeal. If you can appeal, an appeal form will be included with your refusal letter. If you apply unsuccessfully from outside the UK, an administrative review is available, which is free of charge. You must request a review within 28 calendar days of the date when the refusal notice was issued. Appeals against a refusal of a visa is possible only on the grounds of discrimination by public authorities or a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights by public authorities. More on appeals and administrative reviews for Tier 1 (General) More on appeals and administrative reviews for Tier 1 (Investor) More on appeals and administrative reviews for Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) More on appeals and administrative reviews for Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) |
| Further requirements | You may need to register with the police upon arrival. |
| Further information | More on Tier 1 |
Rights
| Tier 1 Investors, entrepreneurs and exceptionally talented individuals | |
| Permanent residence | You may be able to apply for settlement in the United Kingdom after a certain period of continuous residence under Tier 1 (Entrepreneur), Tier 1 (Investor), Tier 1 (General) or Tier 1 (Exceptional talent).
You must meet all the requirements of the United Kingdom's Immigration Rules at the time when you apply for settlement. The Immigration Rules are subject to change. At present:
More on settlement for Tier 1 (General) migrants More on settlement for Tier 1 (Investor) migrants |
| Family reunification |
Your partner (civil partner, married, unmarried or same-sex) must intend to live with you, and the relationship must be genuine. He/she must not intend to stay in the United Kingdom beyond any period of permission granted to you. More on family members for Tier 1 (General) migrants More on family members for Tier 1 (Investor) migrants More on family members for Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) migrants More on family members for Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) migrants More on family members for Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) migrants |