The Entrepreneur Visa has been available in the UK until 2019. To obtain it, a foreigner had to invest at least £50 000 in a local company. In exchange, the UK allowed them to enter the country without restrictions and to do business there.
What kind of visa an investor can get in 2021
If a foreigner wants to start a business in the UK, they can get an Innovator Visa or a Start-up Visa.
The new visas allow you to live, work and do business in the UK and enter the country without restrictions. Family members such as a spouse and minor children can be granted a visa along with the investor.
Innovator Visa is given to foreigners who present an original business project. The idearnmust be different from anything already on the market. The business project is also approved by one of the authorised organisations from a list approved by the UK government.
The visa conditions do not set a minimum investment amount, e.g. for the share capital of a new company. But the foreigner does pay an application fee of £1,021 per applicant.
Applicants for the Innovator Visa also have to prove their knowledge of English at the B2 level. For example, they take the Secure English Language Test.
The Innovator Visa is issued for three years, after which it can be renewed an unlimited number of times. If the visa holder has lived in the country for three years, they are eligible to apply for permanent residence.
The Start-up Visa is also for those planning to start an innovative business in the UK. The candidate approves their business project at one of the country's universities or at a business organisation that supports entrepreneurs.
There is also no minimum investment amount. The application fee is £363 per applicant.
A foreigner receives a visa for two years, but it cannot be extended. If the startup owner wants to stay in the country after the visa expires, it can obtain an Innovator Visa.
Applications for the Innovator Visa and Start-up Visa are accepted online at the official UK government website.
Conditions for UK Entrepreneur Visa holders
If the investor has already obtained an Entrepreneur Visa, they do not need to apply for an Innovator Visa or Start-up Visa.
Before the expiry of the residence permit for the investment, the resident has the right to:
- join family members - spouse and minor children;
- extend the residence permit for another 2 years;
- apply for a residence permit under the old rules.
UK residence permit is available for investments in business. If an investor finances a british company and invests at least £2 million, he will get an Investor Visa. It is issued for 3 years and can be extended. Investor Visa holder can live, study and do business in UK.
A Caribbean passport can be an alternative to a British visa if the main purpose of the investor is to travel freely to the UK.
Five countries in the region allow citizenship for an investment of $100,000 or more. Citizens of these countries can come to the UK and spend up to 180 days in the country in one year.
Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent of Caribbean citizenship programmes for investment. If you want a second passport for visa-free travel around the world, contact the investment programmes' experts for advice.
