Investor visa (Tier 1)

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1. Overview

You can no longer apply for a new Tier 1 (Investor) visa.

If you already have a Tier 1 (Investor) visa

If you already have this visa (or had one in the last 12 months and it was your most recent visa), you can still apply:

2. Extend your visa

You may be able to extend your Tier 1 (Investor) visa for 2 years.

Your family members (鈥榙ependants鈥�) will need to apply separately to extend their visa. They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.

You should apply before your current visa expires. Read the full guidance on the Tier 1 (Investor) visa before you apply.

Eligibility

The investment eligibility requirements depend on when you successfully applied for your visa.

If you successfully applied before 6 November 2014

You can apply to extend your visa if all of the following apply:

  • you have had at least 拢2 million invested in UK government bonds, share capital or loan capital in active UK companies since 6 April 2020
  • you had at least 拢1 million under your control in the UK before 6 April 2020
  • you invested 拢750,000 in UK government bonds, share capital or loan capital in active UK companies within 3 months of your 鈥榠nvestor start date鈥�

If you successfully applied on or after 6 November 2014

You can apply to extend your visa if all of the following apply:

  • you have at least 拢2 million under your control in the UK
  • you have invested those funds in share capital or loan capital in active UK companies
  • you invested this sum within 3 months of your 鈥榠nvestor start date鈥�

If you successfully applied before 29 March 2019, you can also apply to extend if you invested your funds in UK government bonds.

Investor start date

Your 鈥榠nvestor start date鈥� is either:

  • the date you came into the UK (if you have proof of this)
  • the date your original visa application or switch from a different visa category was approved (if you cannot prove your date of entry)

Documents you must provide

When you apply you鈥檒l need to provide:

  • a current passport or other valid travel identification
  • your tuberculosis test results if you鈥檙e from a country where you have to take the test
  • a criminal record certificate from any country you have stayed in for a total of 12 months or more over the last 10 years
  • investment portfolio reports produced by a UK regulated financial institution that show you鈥檝e met the investment eligibility requirements and maintained your investments for the full length of your visa

You need a blank page in your passport for your visa.

You鈥檒l need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.

Fees

For each person, you鈥檒l need to pay:

If you want to get a decision more quickly than the standard 8 weeks, you can pay an extra 拢500 for the priority service to get a decision within 5 working days.

How to extend your visa if you鈥檙e in the UK

You must .

Providing biometric information and supporting documents

When you apply, you鈥檒l be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your fingerprints and a photo (biometric information).

You鈥檒l also need to submit your supporting documents. You can:

  • upload them into the online service
  • have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

How long it takes

A decision will usually be made:

  • within 8 weeks of your application date if you use the standard service
  • within 5 working days of your UKVCAS appointment if you use the priority service

You鈥檒l be contacted if your application is complicated and will take longer, for example because:

  • your supporting documents need to be verified
  • you need to attend an interview
  • of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction

Once you鈥檝e applied you can stay in the UK until you鈥檝e been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

How to extend your visa if you鈥檙e outside the UK

You must .

You鈥檒l need to have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a visa application centre as part of your application.

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

If your application is successful

You鈥檒l get an eVisa (an online record of your immigration status).

Your decision email or letter will tell you how to get access to your eVisa. You鈥檒l need to create a UKVI account.

Find out how to get your biometric residence permit (BRP) if you were told you鈥檇 get one when you applied.

3. Family members

Your family members (鈥榙ependants鈥�) can join you if you鈥檙e in the UK on this visa. Your family members must apply for their own visa.

A 鈥榙ependant鈥� is any of the following:

  • your husband, wife or partner
  • your child under 18
  • your child over 18 if they鈥檙e currently in the UK as a dependant

Read the guidance on dependant applications before you apply.

Adult family members must provide a criminal record certificate from any country they have lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years.

Fees

For each person, you鈥檒l need to pay:

Dependants applying from outside the UK

Your .

They鈥檒l need to have their fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a visa application centre as part of their application.

They may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

If your child is over 18 they cannot apply if they are outside the UK. They can apply from inside the UK if they are already here as your dependant.

Dependants applying in the UK

Your partner or child can apply to extend their visa either:

  • at the same time as you apply to extend
  • at any time before their current visa expires

This includes children who have turned 18 during your stay.

How to apply

Your partner or child must apply online to either:

Family members cannot apply in the UK as your dependant if they hold a visitor visa.

Providing biometric information and supporting documents

When they apply, they鈥檒l be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide their fingerprints and a photo (biometric information).

They鈥檒l also need to submit their supporting documents. They can:

  • upload them into the online service
  • have them scanned at their UKVCAS appointment

They must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until they get a decision. Their application will be withdrawn if they do.

How long it takes to get a decision

A decision will be made within 8 weeks of their application date if they use the standard service.

If they pay an extra 拢1,000 to use the super priority service a decision will be made:

  • by the end of the next working day after their UKVCAS appointment if their appointment is on a weekday
  • 2 working days after their UKVCAS appointment if their appointment is at the weekend

Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays.

They鈥檒l be contacted if their application is complex and will take longer, for example:

  • if their supporting documents need to be verified
  • if they need to attend an interview
  • because of their personal circumstances (for example if they have a criminal conviction)

Once they鈥檝e applied they can stay in the UK until they鈥檝e been given a decision, as long as they applied before their last visa expired.

If their application is successful

They鈥檒l get an eVisa (an online record of their immigration status).

Their decision email or letter will tell them how to get access to their eVisa. They鈥檒l need to create a UKVI account.

Find out how they can get their biometric residence permit (BRP) if they were told they鈥檇 get one when they applied.

Children born while you鈥檙e in the UK

If you have children while you鈥檙e in the UK, you can .

You must do this if you want to travel in and out of the UK with them.

You鈥檒l need to provide a full UK birth certificate for each child, showing the names of both parents.