The UK Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa requires investment of £50,000 or £200,000 in a UK business. Candidates have the option of creating their own business in the UK, or taking a full or partnership share of an existing one.
The invested funds must be freely available as cash, and are held by a bank or other financial institution recognized by the UK’s Financial Services Authority (FSA).
Candidates have their applications for the UK Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa assessed using a points-based system, requiring a score of 95 to qualify.
UK Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa: Points Available
| Requirement | Score |
| £200,000 investment OR £50,000 investment from one of
| 25 |
| Funds held in regulated financial institution | 25 |
| Funds free to spend | 25 |
| Access to required maintenance funds | 10 |
| English language proficiency | 10 |
| TOTAL | 95 |
How long you can stay
- Initial maximum of 3 years and 4 months.
- Possible to extend for another 2 years.
- Possible to apply for ‘indefinite leave to remain’ once in the UK for 5 years.
Fees For UK Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa
| Online or by mail | In person outside UK | |
| Applicant | £1,228 | £982 |
| Applicant (if from Turkey or Macedonia) | £1,173 | £927 |
| All dependants | £1,228 each | £982 each |
Other Option: UK Tier 1 Investor Visa
Candidates can also consider the UK Tier 1 Investor Visa. This visa is suitable for high net worth individuals seeking permanent resident status in the UK. The visa comes with lenient requirements regarding residency and English language. The application will be processed within 3 weeks and the visa, if for applied by post, will be delivered within 8 weeks.
Further reading