One can apply for a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa if he/she is a non EU national or the applicant want to run a business in the UK.
To apply for this visa the applicant must have access to at least £50,000 investment funds. One should meet the English language requirements as well.
Fees
How much you pay for a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa depends on your situation, where you are and how you apply.
Who you’re applying for |
Apply online or by post |
Apply in person in the UK |
Apply in person outside the UK |
You |
£1,051 |
£1,426 |
£840 |
You (if you’re from Croatia, Turkey or Macedonia) |
£946 |
£1,321 |
756 |
Partner or child under 18 (applying at the same time as you) |
£788 each person |
£1,163 each person |
£840 each person |
Partner or child under 18 (applying later), or child aged over 18 |
£1,051 each person |
£1,426 each person |
£840 each person |
People can stay for a maximum period of 3 years and 4 months on Tier 1 Visa and can be extended for another 3 years if they are switching from another category and 2 years if they are already in this category.
This visa allows you to run 1 or more businesses and to bring your family. However you are not permitted to do work other than your business.
Exceptions
You won’t need to prove your knowledge of English if you’re a national of one of the following countries:
Students with financial sponsorship
You may be able to apply for a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa if you’re already in the UK and you’re any of the following:
You must have written consent from your financial sponsor to re-enter or remain in the UK without any conditions if your course fees and living costs have been paid for by a government or international scholarship agency.
Required Documents
One needs to provide the following documents:
You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.
If you make your application form outside the UK - you’ll need £3,100 and if you are making the application in the UK - you’ll need £900.
Your personal savings must have been in your bank account for 90 consecutive days before you apply.
Applying from outside the UK
If you are applying from outside the UK you will need to have your biometric information (fingerprints and photograph) taken at a visa application center as part of your application.
The time period you get the Visa may depends upon the country from which you are applying.
It is not possible to apply through online from Cuba, North Korea and Zimbabwe.
Apply in the UK
If you are applying from UK you should apply before your current visa expires.
For this you need to prove that you’ve been working as a director of a business or you are a self-employed prior 3 months you apply. You must have created minimum two full time posts that have existed for minimum one year.
You must have invested either £200,000 in cash into one or more UK businesses. If you’re initial application was based on having funds from an approved funding source you can invest £50,000.
To extent your visas you must reside in UK and mandatorily include any dependants who are on your current visa.
A maximum period of eight months is needed to take a decision on your application. In case if your application is complex and will take longer, you will be informed regarding the same.
Switch to this visa
You may be able to switch to a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa.
You should apply before your current visa expires.
You can apply to switch to this visa if you meet the eligibility requirements and you’re already in the UK under one of the following categories:
Children born while you’re in the UK
If you give birth to a child or children while you’re in the UK, you can apply for permission for them to stay. This is a must especially if your want to make trips throughout the UK with your child.
People who have been offered a skilled job in UK and those who are from non EU countries can apply for a Tier 2 visa. Applicants need to be sponsored from a licensed sponsor before applying.
Ideal time to apply for this kind of visa is three months prior your date of travel to the UK. A decision will be made on your application within three weeks.
Fees
How much you pay for a Tier 2 (General) visa depends on your situation, where you are and how you apply.
Who you’re applying for |
Apply |
Extend or switch by post |
Extend or switch in person (premium service) |
You |
£494 |
£578 |
£953 |
If you’re a citizen of Turkey or Macedonia |
£445 |
£520 |
£895 |
Your partner or child under 18 applying at the same time as you |
£494 each person |
£434 each person |
£809 each person |
Your partner or child under 18 applying later, or child over 18 |
£494 each person |
£578 each person |
£953 each person |
People can stay for a maximum period of three years and one month on Tier 2 Visa or the time period given on your certificate of sponsorship plus one month, whichever is shorter. This can be extended for another 3 years.
Tier 2 visa holders should work for their sponsor. They are also eligible to do voluntary work or a second job in the same sector for up to 20 hours a week. They are allowed to study (as long as it does not interfere in their main job) and even make trips to abroad.
However, they are not allowed to get public funds. Tier 2 visa holders can start working only upon getting their visa. If at all they want to do a second job, which is not in their sector, they need to make another application for that.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants need a sponsorship reference number. This will be given by respective sponsors. The job you’re offered must pay £20,300 or more, unless your last permission to stay in the UK is as a Tier 2 migrant before 6 April 2011. It is also exceptionable in some circumstances such as if you are a work permit holder or if you are a Jewish employee or if you are a minister of religion etc.
One needs to prove his/her proficiency in English language by passing an approved English language test.
£900 should be shown in savings (if your sponsor is fully approved and state that you won’t claim benefits during your stay, then it is not needed).
Exceptions
Same as Tier 1 Visa.
Documents Required
Same as Tier 1 Visa
Apply outside UK
Same as Tier 1 Visa
Apply in UK
Same as Tier 1 Visa
How long it takes
Same as Tier 1 Visa
If you change your job
If you want to change your job changes to a different SOC (Standard Occupation Code) you may need to extend your Tier 2 (General) visa application. As long as you are staying with your current employer, you need not make a new application.
Switch to this Visa
One should be in any of the below criteria to make a switch:
You can also switch to a Tier 2 (General) visa if you’re:
If at all you did not fall under any of the above category, you have to leave the country and apply from abroad.
Switch from a Tier 4 or other student visa
You must have got 1 of these qualifications from your student visa if you want to switch from a Tier 4 to a Tier 2 (General) visa:
The other student visa categories are:
PhD students
You must have completed at least 12 months’ study for your PhD during your most recent stay in the UK and had permission to take the qualification.
You must have got your qualification at a UK recognized body or an institution that has a Tier 4 sponsor license.
How long it takes
Same as Tier 1 Visa.