Entrepreneur visa UK- Application Guide

UK Immigration Blog

The United Kingdom country revealed modifications to the Entrepreneur visa UK in March 2019, effectively completing this classification in favor of the new Developer, which is being presented to promote the creation of and investment in sustainable, cutting-edge companies in the U.K.

The deadline for filing a Tier 1 Entrepreneur settlement claim is April 5, 2025. The endless compensation, ILR, entitles you to live and work in the United Kingdom permanently and without time boundaries. Applicants for Naturalization as British citizens must live forever in the United Kingdom to be eligible for a British passport.

Who is eligible for Entrepreneur visa UK?

Businesspeople from other countries who want to move to the U.K. to launch a new company or join an established one as employees or investors can do so under the Entrepreneur visa UK category (Tier 1). The close family members of an Entrepreneur visa applicant are eligible to join the applicant in the U.K. The spouse and minor offspring of the primary applicant are included. One perk of this group is that the applicant’s children can enroll in school in the United Kingdom.

This immigration class allows applicants to become permanent U.K. residents and citizens eventually.

More immigration options for business owners

You should be fine if you skipped the window to submit your application for a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa. For businessmen who want to establish a representative office of an overseas company in the U.K. on their own or with a partner, the Home Office provides three replacement categories: two new ones and one existing one. A chart containing all of them is provided below.

Category of Visa

Entrepreneur visa
Entrepreneur visa

Entrepreneur passport

Individuals are new to business who have a concept with significant potential.

An International Business Visa Representation

Successful businesspeople and executives with international experience who are interested in establishing a British branch of an international firm

There are benefits and cons to each type of passport. But first, we’ll explain what makes these permits the same.

Innovator passport

Foreign company owners with experience who have a promising new venture in the works or who want to expand their current operations abroad

Similarities between Startup, Innovator, and Representative Visas

  • You can bring your family and operate legally in the U.K. under any of the three categories.
  • The Innovator and the Representative are responsible for running and expanding their companies.
  • If you want to be effective in business, you need to be able to speak English at a certain level.
  • The Home Office will not issue a visa to convicted felons or individuals with serious health problems (tuberculosis), so be prepared to provide the necessary documentation.
  • Since you and your loved ones cannot count on financial assistance from the British government, you must demonstrate that you can provide for your basic needs while also investing in your company’s growth.

You’ve probably observed that the Home Office mandates three of the five points in an application. How well you plan will determine how far you get in the application process. Consult an attorney if you feel unprepared to manage this on your own.

What are the benefits of an Entrepreneur visa UK?

  • You were free to operate without seeking permission from or receiving support from any outside groups.
  • Low initial outlay:
    • If you put in your own £200,000, or
    • £50,000 if you were supported by an experienced firm or general account or had succeeded in a tender.
  • The period of the Visa is 40 months. You have the option of applying for a second 2-year extension or switching to a different type of visa status.
  • Possibility of relocating a household to the U.K.
  • Low-hanging-fruit necessities. The ability to support oneself and any dependents, a clean criminal record, excellent health, command of the English language, and sufficient funds in a bank account was considered essential.

What to do if Entrepreneur Visa UK Is canceled?

We could help you if your registration was denied by:

  • Filing for a Reconsideration by the Administration
  • submitting a brand-new application
  • launching an appeals court review

If we believe your case is valuable, we will submit a Pre-action Protocol letter to the Home Office, including any new evidence supporting your claim and explaining why the entry-clearance officer was wrong to deny your application. If the officer did not use their discretion in your favor, we could also dispute that decision. We will then apply for Judicial Review on your behalf if this does not result in the Home Office approving your Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur Visa.

Obtaining a Visa

Most people think of the Innovator Visa when they hear “Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa UK.”

The applicant must satisfy the following standards to be granted an Innovator Visa:

  • It would be best if you were 18 to apply.
  • A resident who is not a member of the E.U. or Switzerland
  • Have a minimum of £50,000 to put into your venture.
  • Get your company idea approved by a credible organization.
  • Possess official recognition of English proficiency at the B2 level, as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Innovator Visa candidates must meet all of the above criteria and have £945 in a bank account for 90 days before applying for the Visa.

What is the application procedure for an Entrepreneur Visa, and What Do I Need to Prove My Status?

Depending on the type of certification you seek, the necessary paperwork to back up your application will vary.

To submit an endorsement from a college or university, please include the following materials:

  • Current trip documentation, such as a passport or Entrepreneur visa UK
  • Evidence that you have the backing of a reputable university
  • Provide proof of a steady income and a minimum of £945 in assets if you are a U.K. resident or £1,890 if you are an international applicant.
  • The outcomes of the tuberculosis test (if you are required to have one)

If your degree is from a school other than the one supporting you, you’ll also need to show proof that you can communicate effectively in English.

To receive an endorsement from the Department of International Trade, you must present the following:

  • Passport or other acceptable travel paperwork in good standing
  • a recommendation document from the U.K.’s International Trade Department
  • evidence of your educational background, or one of the alternatives listed in the Documents Checklist
  • prior travel documents
  • Evidence that you are proficient in the English tongue
  • Bank statements prove you have a minimum of £945 in savings if you are a U.K. resident or £1,890 if you are a non-UK resident and have kept these funds for at least 90 days.
  • the outcomes of your tuberculosis screening, if applicable
  • Evidence that your degree is appropriate for this Visa, such as a statement from the U.K.’s National Recognition Information Centre

Time require

You’ll need to submit identification papers with your application.

If you need a meeting for this, give yourself more time. When you submit your registration, you’ll see if a resume is required.

Obtaining a Resolution for Entrepreneur visa UK

In most cases, you can expect to hear back about the status of your visa application within the:

  • Outside of the U.K., please allow 21 days
  • Two months, if you’re inside the U.K.

If you’re trying to get somewhere, you can spring for a speedier verdict. Whether you’re living in Uk or you are a foreigner., the procedure differs.

A Visa for business owners: how to get one.

The applicant must be at least 16 years old and earn a score of 95 or higher on the following factors to be granted an entrepreneur visa.

  • Knowledge of the English tongue (ten points); and
  • Invested capital accessible to them (Seventy-five points); and
  • Possibility of meeting U.K. upkeep standards (Ten points)

The applicant must have access to one of the following to meet the money requirement:

  • A minimum of £ 2 lacs in completely liquid assets held in an authorized financial organization; or
  • At least £ 50 thousand in liquid assets, such as those listed below:
  • One or more U.K. government departments have made funds available to establish or expand the United Kingdom. Company or one or more U.K. entrepreneurial seed funding competitions mentioned as endorsed on the U.K. Trade and Investment website.
  • A venture capital company authorized by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority; 

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) Timeline for Tier 1 Entrepreneurs

After five years of being a continuous citizen in the U.K. as a Tier 1 Entrepreneur, you can file for ILR under the Tier 1 Entrepreneur route.

Suppose you’re a Tier 1 Entrepreneur and you’ve built a minimum of 10 new full-time work for associates of the firm residents. In that case, you can involve in ILR after a constant duration of 36 months. Suppose your U.K. company has generated at least £ five million in gross revenue from business activity within three years. So, you may be qualified for a revved accommodation after only two years. A net growth in insensitive revenue from industry training between the 3-year continuous extent reached to the three years before the date you became active with the company, is required if you invested in an existing business.

ILR for an Entrepreneur visa can be requested up to 28 days before the beginning of the eligibility term. The three or five years before the date you file for settlement or the three or five years before your settlement application is decided, whichever is more favorable to you, will be your qualifying period. Your Entrepreneur visa ILR application timeline can be optimized with the help of an immigration attorney.

How long does a Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa UK allow you to remain in the U.K.?

You can file for an extension of your Entrepreneur Visa UK to remain in the U.K. for three years and four months.

When filing for an extension, your visa category will determine how long you can stay in the United Kingdom on a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa. There is a 3-year extension available for those who wish to change to a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa from another group. The maximum length of stay that can be extended for current holders of Tier 1 Entrepreneur visas is two years.

Suppose you satisfy the requirements of the Tier 1 Entrepreneur accelerated settlement path. In that case, you may be eligible to apply for settlement after only three years in the U.K.

Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa Business Plan

In addition, you’ll need to provide a comprehensive business strategy for the company you hope to launch in the United Kingdom. The business plan should detail the operations you intend to launch in the U.K. and the strategies you will employ to ensure its success. Submitting a weak or incomplete business plan is a frequent reason for being denied a Tier 1 visa. Your company plan will be evaluated to determine if you are a true entrepreneur.

Visa extensions for Tier 1 entrepreneurs

Before your current Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa ends, you must submit an extension application. Here are the actions you need to take to renew your Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa UK:

  • Fill out the Tier 1 Entrepreneur extension registration form (available online).
  • Schedule an interview with a U.K. Visa and Citizenship Application Service (UKVCAS) center. This is to collect your data. (fingerprints and a digital photograph). You can also send UKVCAS your supporting materials; they’ll add them to your registration.
  • Cover the cost of the registration, the biometrics, and the healthcare surcharge.
  • Put any necessary paperwork here.

You can stay in the U.K. and keep running your company as usual while processing your application. While reviewing your application, you should avoid leaving the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man.

It usually takes around eight weeks to process a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa renewal application usually takes around eight weeks. It could take longer if you’re requested to submit more paperwork or appear for an interview.

Conclusion

Every revision to the U.K.’s immigration policies for foreign company owners has one overarching goal: fostering the creation of enterprises that add value to the economy and provide consumers with novel goods and services.

If you want to establish a business in the U.K., for whatever reason, you’ll need to get your business visa application in order. Suppose you need assistance registering a company in the United Kingdom, opening a bank account, or anything else related to doing business there.

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Robert Windham
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VisaHelpUK - UK Immigration and Visa Application Advice Service
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