UK Citizenship By Investment – The Ultimate Guide By Experts | GCS

As a key economic powerhouse, life in the United Kingdom is pretty sweet for global citizens invested in starting new lives. Prime living conditions, an excellent job market, as well as world-class universities attract investors worldwide to the UK’s shores. UK Citizenship by Investment — also referred to as the Tier 1 Investor Visa — is the primary route foreign investors can take to obtaining settlement in Britain, with a fast-track pathway to British citizenship possible.

In this UK Investor Visa, you’ll learn about the following:

• What the investor visa is

• Investment requirements for the UK visa

• Step-by-step guide to becoming a UK citizen

• Plus more!

What is UK Citizenship By Investment?

The UK government runs its own version of a ‘UK Golden Visa’ (or citizenship by investment) inviting high net worth investors to obtain residence in the UK — with eventual citizenship possible — in exchange for an investment in the nation’s economic prosperity. 

The immigration rules are as follows; Applicants must invest a lump sum of money and maintain the respective investment during their permanent residence in the UK  to qualify for the UK visa. Specifically, you have to invest in active and trading UK-registered companies to acquire permanent residence. While there are many citizenship by investment programs out there governed by various immigration laws, few countries have such a robust economic system and prime living standards as the United Kingdom. 

Financial Requirements for the UK Investor Visa

You must make a qualifying investment in the capital by way of share capital or loan capital in active f UK-based companies to qualify for settlement in the UK.  Note, the following requirements need to be met, with differing timelines to acquiring residency depending on the minimum investment amount. 

Tier 1 Investor Visa (Citizenship By Investment)

The Tier 1 investment visa has the following investment routes, with Indefinite Leave to Remain granted depending on the investment sum. 

The investment funds must sit in your nominated bank account for two years, or alternatively, you can provide evidence that you have the necessary funds in your visa application. Note that certain UK financial institutions will require additional due diligence checks on all investors, to ensure that the source of investment funds is legitimate. The initial investor visa is granted for three years and four months, and the Tier 1 investment visa can be extended for an additional two-year period, provided that the investment is kept. 

NOTE: If you invested before 29 March 2019 and your portfolio incorporates government bonds, you must apply for settlement not later than 6 April 2025.

Alternative to the UK investor visa: UK Innovator Visa

The Innovator visa in the UK is appropriate for entrepreneurs. To apply for the UK Innovator visa, you must satisfy the following requirements in your visa application:

• Have at least £50,000 to use in running your business
• Show a viable business idea which has the support of an endorsing body in the UK or relevant approved body. 
• Along with needing an adequate business idea, you must submit a business plan and evidence that you are involved in the business, as well as evidence of your qualifications and experience in running a business;
• Provide proof that you have the required funds to live in Britain
• Hire at least two people in the business
• Have achieved the upper intermediate (B2) level of English.

The innovator route can lead to UK settlement after three years if you are eligible. Note that with the innovator visa, you can only work in the UK, this doesn’t translate to residence straightaway. 

Eligibility

Eligibility requirements for the UK Investor Visa are as follows:

• The main applicant must be at least 18
• The main applicant must be in good health
• Hold a clean criminal and immigration record
• Have sufficient funds to invest in the UK investor visa
• Source of funds must be legitimate 
• The funds must be held in one or more regulated financial institutions
• Funds must be classified as disposable in the UK
• In addition, you are required to submit your biometric details so that you can be granted a biometric residence permit.

A key perk of the investor program is that you don’t actually need to pass any English language test to obtain the investor visa. This requirement, however, is needed if you’re after citizenship. 

Benefits of UK Citizenship

Live, work and study in the UK with a residence permit

Citizenship in five to six years

High quality of life

Easy to set up and run a business

High quality education and free health care services

Fast visa application process for the residence permit

British passport

A UK passport allows for visa free travel to over 160 countries worldwide, including the USA under the visa waiver program and EU countries.

Whole family

Family members include spouses and dependent children under the age of 18 are also eligible for a residence permit and UK citizenship for life

PRs have access to a myriad of opportunities

Successful applicants have the right to live, work or study in the UK without any restrictions and can leave and return as they wish, thanks to permanent residency status. 

Diversity is celebrated

A branch of ethnic communities have settled in the UK already, showcasing just how vibrant and culturally diverse the UK is. 

Documentation for the investor visa

The Home Office requests the following paperwork to obtain the investor visa. Note that visa application requirements can change at any stage, at the discretion of the UK government. To avoid any disappointments, it is advised to consult a legal advisor on your unique situation. Specialized firms with qualified advisors can help you make sense of the necessary paperwork needed to succeed in your application. 

• A valid passport with at least one blank page or another form of identification which can be used for travel; and
• A criminal record certificate
• Evidence of the amount and where it is held
• Confirmation of the source of the funds if the applicant has held them for less than two years
• Confirmation that the funds can be converted into pounds sterling and can be moved to the UK, assuming that they are held outside of the UK at the time of application
• Evidence that the applicant has a bank account with a UK regulated financial institution

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Applicants from some countries must undertake a tuberculosis test and show the tuberculosis test results to the Home Office in order to obtain the investor visa. In addition, a certified translation is required if any of the application documents are not written in English or Welsh.

Frequently Asked Questions about the UK Investor Visa