UK Citizenship by Investment
Business immigration to the UK
–
Start Up Visa
|
Innovator Visa
|
Investor visa
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, also commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK, or Britain, is a sovereign state consisting of Great Britain (England, Wales, and Scotland ) and Northern Ireland. It is located in the southeast part of the British Isles.
The United Kingdom was the world’s first industrialized country and has played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. The second half of the 20th century witnessed the dismantling of the British Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. Today UK remains a major economic and military power, with considerable political and cultural influence around the world.
As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council, a founding member of NATO, and of the Commonwealth of Nations, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy. The UK is also an active member of the EU, although it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union. It is also a member of the G8, G20, OECD, the Council of Europe and the World Trade Organisation.
The United Kingdom has a parliamentary system of governance under a constitutional monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II is head of state of the UK.
Today UK is the sixth-largest economy in the world. The partially regulated market economy is highly developed and diversified. It is a predominantly service based economy with services such as banking, insurance, and business taking precedence over others.
Agriculture is also a major player in the economy. In recent years, the UK economy has been managed in accordance with principles of market liberalization and low taxation and regulation.
London, the capital city, is a major center for international business and commerce and is the world’s largest financial center.
The UK is a well known and most desired destination for HNI and UHNIs to obtain residency and eventual citizenship by investment. UK permanent residency is known as Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the United Kingdom.
UK Residency by investment is divided into four subclasses – UK Investor visa – Entrepreneur visa of UK – Start up Visa UK and Innovator visa UK
Out of these three programs, the Entrepreneur visa of the UK is closed down in March 2019 and replaced by two new programs namely Start Up Visa UK & Innovator visa UK.
The investor who has obtained UK residency by investment can eventually apply for UK citizenship. However, there is no direct UK citizenship by investment.
There is no language or age or education requirement for a UK Investor visa but for Start up Visa UK and Innovator visa UK must show IELTS, 5 Band.
Under start Up UK visa, applicants must have innovative ideas and not just new business ideas which are endorsed by the UK home office approved endorsing body. Once a startup idea is approved the founder of the start-up can apply for ILR of the UK and start his start-up UK.
Under the UK Innovator visa, the company must have new ideas and doing business outside the UK and must be ready to invest £50,000 in a business in the UK. If the applicant is in a position to run and manage this business for a period of three he may apply for ILR in the UK and eventual citizenship of the UK.
Under UK investors visa the applicant must have £ 2,000,000 in the applicant’s control either with a UK financial institute or UK Bank.
Find your eligibility
Business immigration to the United Kingdom:
- Tier I Entrepreneur Visa : £50,000 ( CLOSED AS OF MARCH 2019
- Tier I Entrepreneur Visa: £200,000 – CLOSED AS OF MARCH 2019
United Kingdom Entrepreneur, Investor and Start-up & Innovator Visa Programs:
1. ENTREPRENEUR STREAM :
(i) Tier I Entrepreneur Visa: PROGRAM CLOSED
(ii) Tier I Entrepreneur Visa: £200,000 investment – PROGRAM CLOSED
2. INVESTOR STREAM:
(i) Tier I Investor Visa: £2,000,000 investment
Program requirements:
In order to qualify for an initial grant of leave in this category, applicants must:
· Have money of their own, under their control, held in a regulated financial institution, and which are disposable in the UK, amounting to not less than £2 million.
OR
· Have opened an account with a UK regulated bank for the purposes of investing not less than £2 million in the UK.
Other requirements:
· Funds must be available in Sterling pounds.
· If applicants have not held the funds for at least two years prior to making an application under this category, they will be required to show source of funds.
· There is no requirement to show proficiency in the English language.
· There is no requirement to show any maintenance funds.
Applicants can bring their family members (spouse and children under the age of 18 years) with them to the UK.
Applicants who have made a previous application and if they are applying for an extension of Tier I investor visa, must follow the rules that were in prevalence at the time of making the initial application.
Applicants can also rely on money jointly owned with their partner (husband, wife, civil partner, unmarried partner or same-sex partner).
Applicants can also rely on money that is owned solely by the partner or spouse.
In that case, the applicant must have:
· An unrestricted right to transfer and dispose of this money; and
· The partner’s or spouse’s permission to have control of this money in the UK.
Program benefits:
· There is no requirement to demonstrate English language ability
· No requirement to provide separate funds for personal maintenance under this program
· No age, education or business experience requirement
· Can qualify for UK citizenship and once a UK citizen, can apply for E1 (Treaty Trader) and E2 (Treaty Investor) visa of USA
· Visa-free travel to more than 165 countries after becoming a UK citizen
3. UK START-UP & INNOVATOR VISA:
(i) Start-up Visa:
The Start-up category is for early-stage, but high potential, less experienced entrepreneurs who are starting a business in the UK for the first time.
Program requirements:
· Applicants must have a new, innovative and viable business idea which is endorsed by a government approved authorized body
· Applicants must be at least 18 years old
· No education requirement
· No investment requirement
· IELTS for UKVI with 5.5 band in each area of English language or a university degree from the UK
· No criminal records certificate
Maintenance requirements:
Applicants need to have an equivalent of at least £1270 in their bank account in their home country for 28 consecutive days before applying for a visa. In addition to the £1,270, applicants must support themselves, their spouses and dependent children after coming to the UK. The requirements are as follows:
l £285 for spouse
l £315 for one child
l £200 for each additional child
Applicants must also pay government fees and medical insurance fees (Immigration health surcharge)
l Visa: £363
l Immigration health surcharge: £624/year
Program benefits:
· No investment required
· Applicant can come to the UK, start their start-up and run it for a period of two years
· Applicants are allowed to switch to innovator visa and eventually receive ILR (permanent immigration) of UK
· Very short processing time of few months only
· Spouse and dependent children under 18 years of age can be included in the same application
· Applicants can take up another job and also work for their own business
(ii) UK Innovator Visa:
The Innovator category is for more experienced business people seeking to establish a business in the UK
Program requirements:
· Applicants must have a new and innovative business idea which is endorsed by a government approved authorized body
· Business must be viable and have potential for growth
· Minimum investment of UK pounds £50,000+ required
· No education requirement
· Applicants must be at least 18 years old
· No criminal records certificate
· IELTS for UKVI with 5.5 band in each area of English language or a university degree from the UK
Maintenance requirements:
Applicants need to have an equivalent of at least £1270 in their bank account in their home country for 28 consecutive days before applying for a visa. In addition to the £1,270, applicants must support themselves, their spouses and dependent children after coming to the UK. The requirements are as follows:
l £285 for spouse
l £315 for one child
l £200 for each additional child
Applicants also must pay government fees and medical insurance fees (Immigration health surcharge)
l Visa: £363
l Immigration health surcharge: £624/year
Program benefits:
· Applicants can come to the UK, start their innovator business and run it for a period of three years
· Applicants can eventually receive ILR (permanent immigration of UK) after three years or apply for further visa extension
· Very short processing time of few months only
· Spouse and dependent children under 18 years of age can be included in the same application
· Applicants not allowed to work for another company
· Applicants must reside in the UK for more than 180 days in a year
· Another partner can join in the business provided he/she makes a separate investment of £50,000 and meets all other program requirements
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) as an Innovator
In order to qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) as an Innovator, applicants need to meet at least 2 of the following criteria:
1. Applicant has invested at least £50,000 into the business and actively spent it to further the business plan assessed in the previous endorsement
2. The business has created the equivalent of at least 10 full-time jobs for resident workers
3. The business has created the equivalent of at least 5 full-time jobs for resident workers, which have an average salary of at least £25,000 a year (gross pay, excluding any expenses)
4. The number of the business’s customers has at least doubled within the most recent 3 years and is currently higher than the mean number of customers for other UK businesses offering comparable main products or services
5. The business has engaged in significant research and development activity and has applied for intellectual property protection in the UK
6. The business has generated a minimum annual gross revenue of £1 million in the last full year covered by its accounts
7. The business is generating a minimum annual gross revenue of £500,000 in the last full year covered by its accounts, with at least £100,000 from exporting overseas
UK immigration consultant in Ahmedabad
–
UK immigration lawyer in Ahmedabad, India
