Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa UK in 2022

Entrepreneur Visa UK

If you are currently in the UK on a Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa, you may apply to do one of the following:

• Achieve permanent settlement in the country.
• Extend your Entrepreneur Visa UK.
• Bring families members with you on your Entrepreneur Visa UK.

Switch to Entrepreneur Visa UK

It is possible to switch to Entrepreneur Visa UK in the event that you:

• Are you already in the country on Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa uk.
• For your second year, you switched from a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa to a Start-up visa.
• Are in possession of £50,000, which you will spend in the UK. 
• Have a realistic concept for a business and are therefore deserving of a UK investment visa.

How to switch to a UK Entrepreneur Visa (from inside the UK)

• Apply before the business visa you are on currently expires.
• Apply online.
• Attend an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point, where you will:
  • Supply the required fingerprints and photos (biometric information).
  • Supply the required/supplemental documents (either in person at your appointment or by uploading them online).
• Remain inside the UK (including the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, and Ireland) while you await the decision on your extension. Those who travel outside of the UK while their application for an extension is pending will have their application cancelled.

How to switch to a British Entrepreneur Visa (from outside the UK)

Those who are in one of the following categories can lodge an application to switch to this UK Investment visa:

• A (valid) Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa uk
• If the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur visa you were recently on expired less than a year ago
• If for your second year you switched from a Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur visa to a (valid) Start-up visa
• If for your second year you switched from a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa to a Start-up visa and that visa expired less than a year ago

What is a processing time for switching to an Entrepreneur Visa UK?

The processing time for switching into the Entrepreneur Visa category is generally 8 weeks, although it can take longer depending on the following:

• You are called to appear at an in-person interview
• Your application materials require additional verification
• You have been arrested or are facing other relevant personal issues
• Please note so long as your application was submitted prior to the expiration of your previous visa, you may remain in the UK while your application is being processed

Post switch: duration of stay on an Entrepreneur Visa UK

Once you have successfully switched to an Entrepreneur Visa UK, you may remain in the country on that visa for 3 years

Fees for switching into Entrepreneur Visa UK

• The cost of applying to switch into the Entrepreneur Visa category is £1,277

Additional fees for the British Entrepreneur Visa:

• In addition to the basic fees for the UK Entrepreneur Visa, those who are applying to switch will be subject to a £19.20 fee for the collection of your biometric information, which includes a photo as well as your fingerprint

Entrepreneur Visa Extensions

Eligibility for extending your Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa

You are eligible to extend your Entrepreneur Visa UK if you:

• Registered as being either self-employed or as a director of a business, and you did this no more than 6 months after the date you received authorization to remain in the country on a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa
• Have evidence at least 3 months prior to applying of being self-employed, a member of a partnership, or having worked as a business director
• Remain able to cover all your financial and living expenses
• Are responsible for generating 2 (at minimum) full-time employment positions that have been in existence for one year (at minimum).
• Invested either 50,000 or 200,000 in cash in 1 or more UK businesses

How to extend your Entrepreneur Visa UK (if applying from within the UK)

• Apply before whatever UK immigration visa you are on currently has expired.
• Incorporate any dependents who were on your original visa, especially those who became adults (turned 18) while on your visa.
• Apply online.
• Attend an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point, where you will:
  • Supply the required fingerprints and photos (biometric information).
  • Supply the required/supplemental documents (either in person at your appointment or by uploading them online).
• Remain inside the UK (including the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands, and Ireland) while you await the decision on your extension. Those who travel outside of the UK while their application for an extension is pending will have their application cancelled.

How to extend the Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa UK (if applying from outside the UK)

• Apply online to extend your Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa.

Fees for visa extending

• The cost of applying for an extension on your Entrepreneur Visa UK is £1,277.
• In addition to the basic fees for the UK Entrepreneur Visa, those who are applying to extend will be subject to a £19.20 fee for the collection of your biometric information, which includes a photo as well as your fingerprint.

Processing time for visa extending

The extension processing time for extending an Entrepreneur Visa UK is generally 8 weeks, although it can take longer depending on the following:

• You are called to appear at an in-person interview.
• Your application materials require additional verification.
• You have been arrested or are facing other relevant personal issues.
• Please note so long as your application was submitted prior to the expiration of your previous visa, you may remain in the UK while your application for extending your Entrepreneur Visa UK is being processed.

Family Members in Entrepreneur Visa UK

Family members can come with you on your British Entrepreneur Visa and on your trip to the UK, however they will each need a visa unless they are from either Switzerland or the European Economic Area (EEA).

Family members are classified as dependents, which can be:

• Your partner
• Your child:
  • Under 18 years old
  • Over 18 years old, but only if they are already a dependent in the UK

Family Finances

You must demonstrate your ability to support your dependents throughout their stay in the UK, by possessing the following funds.

• If you have been in the UK for under a year:
  • Proof that you possess at least £1,890 per dependent 
• If you have been in the UK for over a year:
  • Proof that you possess at least £630 per dependent 

Please note:

• It is not enough to have this money in your bank account. You must also establish that your bank account (or that of your dependent) has held these funds for a minimum of 90 days prior to any visa application being lodged 
• Please note, these dependent funds are in addition to the £945 you must possess in order to demonstrate that you can financially support yourself throughout your stay
• For example, if you have been in the UK for longer than a year, and are trying to incorporate three family members on your UK Investment Visa (your wife and two children) you must demonstrate your possession of funds in the amount of: £2655 (at a cost of £630 per each dependent, for 3 dependents, plus £945)

Family Member Fees in Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa UK

• The fee for each dependent is £1878

Additional fees for family members

• In addition to the above fee for dependents,  family members who are applying to get on your Entrepreneur Visa will also be subject to a £19.20 fee for the collection of their biometric information, which includes a photo as well as fingerprints
• Please note, for those applying from inside the country, it may be possible for them to pay an additional fee of £800 to expediate this process. For more information about expediated visa processes, click here.

Processing time for dependents

• The processing time for dependents on an Entrepreneur Visa UK is generally 8 weeks, although it can take longer depending on the following:
  • You are called to appear at an in-person interview.
  • Your application materials require additional verification.
  • You have been arrested or are facing other relevant personal issues.
• Expediated service is available at an additional cost of £800. The timeline for expediated service is as follows:
  • If applicant’s UKVCAS appointment is on a weekday, he or she will receive a decision the day after the applicant attends the appointment  
  •  If the applicant’s UKVCAS appointment is on a weekend, he or she will receive a decision two working days after the appointment

How to apply as a dependent on an Entrepreneur Visa UK

1. Apply online as a dependent on a UK Entrepreneur Visa.
2. Go to a visa application center to have your biometric information taken. This is where you will have your fingerprints collected and your photo taken.
3. Pick up your biometric residence permit within 10 days of the date you gave as your arrival to the UK, even if your arrival is in fact later than the day you first provided.
4. Please note that the online option is closed to dependents applying from North Korea. If you are applying as a dependent from North Korea, you must apply by downloading application form and following its written in instructions.
5. Please note so long as your application was submitted prior to the expiration of your previous visa, you may remain in the UK while your application is being processed for your new UK Investment Visa.  

If you are a dependent applying on your own (in the UK)

• Family members who are already in the UK may submit an application for visa extension or switching as the dependent of someone on an Entrepreneur Visa, so long as they are not in the county on visitor’s visa.
• Apply as a dependent partner online.
• Apply as a dependent child online.

For UK born dependents

• Children who are born to you while you are in the country can be added to your UK Entrepreneur Visa in order for them to be allowed to enter and exit the country.
• You can apply online by filling out the form and providing the birth certificate of the UK born child, which should also have the names of his or her parent’s.

More info on British Entrepreneur Visas UK

If you are looking to travel to the UK for the purpose of establishing and/or running a business, please click here for more information on UK immigration in the context of UK business investment.

Please note that Entrepreneur Visas for UK are no longer available to new applicants seeking UK immigration.