A tier-one Investor visa is a golden visa to the UK. It is for those willing to invest £2 million or more in actively trading UK companies. 

Wealthy individuals who apply for this visa can even apply for easy settlement once their investments are significantly high. Eventually, they even get eligible for British Citizenship.

However, owing to the Russian-Ukraine tensions, the government announced the closure of the visa over security concerns. Existing investors on this visa can apply for an extension.

There are two ways in which they can remain in the UK:-

• applying for further leave to remain as a tier 1 investor (until 17 February 2026).
• applying for Indefinite leave to remain a tier 1 investor (until 17 February 2028).

Eligibility for a Tier 1 Investor Visa

• You must have at least 2 million pounds actively available to invest.
• A regulated financial institution safely holds your money.
• The money must be freely transferable and conveniently converted to pounds.
• You have a bank account with a UK-regulated bank to invest in the UK market.
• You must present an overseas criminal record for the past 12 months.

You can also bring your dependents to the UK based on this visa. Since an investor visa does not require an English language test, you and your dependents can study in the UK without IELTS.

Alternatives to the Golden Visa

You may apply for the following visa in place of the tier 1 investor visa owing to its closure:-

• Innovator Visa- The visa allows business people to establish a fresh business idea in the UK.
• Global Talent Visa- It allows entry to people whose ideas are in fields of academia and research, arts and culture, or digital technologies.
• Scale-up Visa- This visa is for businesses that have the potential to grow at a good pace with more than 20% of average annual revenue over three years.

The visa application process for a work visa, investor visa, visa to study in the UK, or any other is complex and requires professional help. You may contact the expert team of Viza International to have a smooth application approval.