Investor Visa

Key Considerations:

• Indefinite Leave to Remain (i.e. Settlement) applications must be made before 17 February 2028, due to the closure of the route.  
• Applicants cannot combine Tier 1 (Investor) leave with leave in any other category to meet the required period for ILR.  
• Applicants can apply for British citizenship after holding ILR for a certain period, depending on their circumstances.  
• It is worth noting that ILR can be lost if the individual stays outside the UK for more than two years at a time.  
• Partners and children can also apply for ILR via this route if they have permission as a dependant of the Investor visa holder, and they must meet certain requirements. 

Eligibility Requirements:

• Applicants can apply for ILR after completing either two, three or five years residence in the UK as Tier 1 (Investor) migrant, depending on when they first successfully applied for their first Investor visa.  
• Applicants can apply for ILR after either two, three or five years, depending on the amount they have invested. The investment criteria are different for those whose first Investor visa was before 6 November 2014, and so it is important to ensure the correct criteria is being met.  
• The funds must have been invested in share capital or loan capital in active and trading UK registered companies. Those who obtained their first Investor visa before 29 March 2019 can also have invested in UK government bonds.  
• Applicants must not have exceeded a certain amount of time outside the UK, to which there are very limited exceptions.  
• Applicants must meet the English language requirement and pass the Life in the UK test.
• The investment must not have been made more than 12 months before the applicant first successfully applied as a Tier 1 (Investor). The level of investment must have been maintained throughout the qualifying period.