The Legal Process for Securing Investor Visas in the UK: A Comprehensive Guide

The Legal Process for Securing Investor Visas in the UK: A Comprehensive Guide

There is no UK investor visa open to new applicants. The Tier 1 (Investor) route closed to new initial applications at 4pm on 17 February 2022. It had allowed qualifying high-net-worth applicants to obtain immigration permission through substantial UK investment, subject to detailed rules. Principal investors had to apply for further leave before 17 February 2026, while settlement applications must be made before 17 February 2028. Dependants can have separate rights to extend or settle under the legacy arrangements.

There is still no direct replacement in the Immigration Rules granting residence simply for passive investment. Current routes instead focus on business activity, talent or sponsored work.

The Tier 1 (Investor) position today

Stage	Position in September 2026
New initial applications	Closed since 4pm on 17 February 2022
Switching into the route	No longer permitted
Principal investor extensions	Deadline passed on 17 February 2026
Settlement applications	Must be made before 17 February 2028
Dependants	Separate extension and settlement rules can still apply
Direct replacement	None in the Immigration Rules

If you still hold Tier 1 (Investor) permission and qualify for settlement, the 17 February 2028 deadline is critical. For applicants who entered the route on or after 6 November 2014, the qualifying period is normally five years with £2 million invested, three years with £5 million, or two years with £10 million. Different historic rules can apply to earlier entrants. The current indefinite leave to remain application fee is £3,226 following the 8 April 2026 increase.

Our guide to indefinite leave to remain covers the general requirements, and our note on settlement timelines for investors and their families explains the family position.

The government has consulted on an “earned settlement” model that could change qualifying periods for some routes. The consultation closed on 12 February 2026. As at September 2026, the published Tier 1 (Investor) settlement rules and 17 February 2028 deadline remain in place.

What replaced it, in practice

Nothing directly replaced Tier 1 (Investor). Applicants now need to qualify under another immigration category.

Route	What it requires	Route to settlement
Innovator Founder	Endorsement for an innovative, viable and scalable business, with active involvement	Potentially after 3 years if settlement requirements are met
Global Talent	Recognition as a leader or potential leader in academia or research, arts and culture, or digital technology, or an eligible prestigious prize	3 or 5 years depending on the basis of the route
UK Expansion Worker	A sponsored senior manager or specialist assigned to establish a UK presence for an overseas business not yet trading here	No, it is temporary
Skilled Worker	Sponsorship for an eligible genuine job; most new roles must normally be skilled to RQF level 6, with limited exceptions	Normally after 5 years if settlement requirements are met

The Innovator Founder route can suit people whose relocation is tied to building a UK business, but it is not an investment visa. There is no fixed minimum investment amount. For a new business, the endorsing body must be satisfied that sufficient funding exists and where it comes from, as well as that the venture is innovative, viable and scalable.

Our explanation of the Innovator Founder visa covers eligibility and business plan standards, and our guide to choosing an endorsing body explains endorsement. Settlement requires a further endorsement and qualifying business achievements; our note on meeting job creation and scaling metrics explains that stage.

Global Talent is for leaders and potential leaders in specified fields, including academia and research, arts and culture, and digital technology. Some applicants can qualify through an eligible prestigious prize rather than endorsement. Our guide to the Global Talent visa for tech workers explains the digital technology route. Full criteria are on the GOV.UK Innovator Founder pages and the GOV.UK Global Talent pages.

Our overview of UK investment pathways after Tier 1 compares the options, while our broader guide to immigration options for investors and business owners is a useful starting point.

The part that catches people out

Passive investment in UK assets does not, by itself, provide immigration status. Subject to ordinary legal, tax and regulatory rules, a person can own UK property, shares or an interest in a company without gaining a right to live in the UK.

If you already hold a UK visa and want to invest or become involved in a business, your visa conditions determine what work and business activity you can undertake. Global Talent, Innovator Founder, Skilled Worker and UK Expansion Worker have different work conditions, so a director role or active management may be permitted on one route and restricted on another.

Our article on angel investing while on a UK visa sets out permitted activities, and our note on board roles and active management when investing in UK startups covers the distinction between investment and active work.

Source of funds still matters

Financial evidence depends on the route. Under Innovator Founder, someone establishing a new business may need to show an endorsing body that sufficient funding is available and where it comes from. Banks and regulated financial institutions also carry out their own anti-money-laundering and customer due-diligence checks.

Practical issues that can delay matters include:

• complex cross-border funding needing additional evidence

• gifts or loans without a clear documentary trail

• banking checks running separately from immigration processing

• layered company structures that complicate beneficial ownership

Our guide to source of funds evidence and due diligence for investor routes covers the documents worth preparing early.

If you are moving a business or a family office

Establishing a UK business presence is separate from securing an individual's immigration status, so both should be planned together. Our articles on setting up a UK branch and relocating a family office to the UK cover immigration alongside company formation, banking and tax. For founders, our guides to the UK immigration system for entrepreneurs and immigration rules for entrepreneurs are worth reading together.

A founder who expected a UK “golden visa” now needs a route based on their circumstances. That could be Innovator Founder for a qualifying business, Global Talent where achievements fit the criteria, or Skilled Worker sponsorship where there is a licensed sponsor and genuine eligible role. Owning or controlling a company does not itself create a visa route.

The wider picture for relocating families

Buying property does not confer immigration status. Our note on immigration status and UK property ownership explains how the two interact, with our conveyancing solicitors handling the property transaction. Longer term, our article on dual citizenship for investors and high net worth individuals covers naturalisation considerations.

Families relocating may also need advice from our family law solicitors. Taking a child abroad normally requires permission from everyone with parental responsibility or the court, subject to limited exceptions, so unresolved child arrangements should be addressed before relocation. If you hold UK assets but spend long periods overseas, a lasting power of attorney can allow an appointed attorney to deal with specified matters on your behalf.

Where to start

If you are a legacy Tier 1 holder, work backwards from the 17 February 2028 settlement deadline and review your qualifying period, investments, absences and evidence now. If you need a new route, identify the category you genuinely meet rather than assuming investment alone creates eligibility.

Athi Law's immigration solicitors advise investors, founders and business owners across Sheffield, Dronfield and West Bromwich and can review the available routes before you commit significant money or time.