The Tier 1 (Investor) category is for high-net-worth individuals who want to make a substantial financial investment in the UK.
You do not need a job offer to apply in this category. The UK Home Office will assess your application based on your ability to invest £2,000,000 in the UK.
Applicants will not need to meet the separate English language requirement that applies to most other applicants under the points based system. This is because, while they are allowed to work in the United Kingdom if they wish to, they should not need to work.
Applicants will not need to meet the separate requirement for maintenance (funds) that applies to most other applicants under the points based system. This is because they will have met the attributes (main requirements) for this category and shown their ability to support themselves in the United Kingdom without needing help from public funds.
Points available for initial entrants under Tier 1 (Investor) are included in the table below. This table applies to all applicants seeking:
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entry clearance in this category who did not have leave in this category within the last 12 months; and
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further, leave to remain in the United Kingdom in this category when their previous permission to stay was given under a category other than Tier 1 (Investor) or the former Investor category.
Attributes (pass mark = 75 points) |
Points |
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A) The applicant has money of his own, under his control, held in a regulated financial institution and disposable in the United Kingdom amounting to no less than £2 million; and B) The applicant has money under his control held in a regulated financial institution and disposable in the United Kingdom amounting to no less than £2million. All of your £2 million funds must be freely transferable to the UK and able to be converted to pounds sterling. Many countries have controls over the transfer of currency and we must, therefore, ensure that the money can be transferred to the UK. If your money is not already in the UK you must provide confirmation that the money can be transferred into the UK if your application is successful. The evidence for this is set out in the section on specified evidence. You must pay particular attention to any international financial sanctions regimes which may affect your ability to move money into the United Kingdom, and you must provide evidence with your application that you have sought and gained any necessary approval to freely transfer your funds to the UK. If you are subject to financial sanctions, and you do not provide additional proof from the relevant official body, such as HM Treasury, that you are authorised to transfer funds to the United Kingdom, your funds cannot be regarded as freely transferable and your application will be refused. Information on the financial sanctions regimes operated by the UK can be found at the HM Treasury website. |
75 |
A refusal of an entry clearance application as a Tier 1 Investor is challenged by way of Administrative Request to the Entry Clearance Manager (ECM). If the refusal is maintained by the Entry Clearance Manager, then the same can be challenged by way of Judicial Review in High Court. Upon successful application, the applicant is granted leave to enter for 3 years and 4 months.