Switching into the tier 1 | Points Scoring | Indefinite Leave to Remain
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)
This category is for those investing in the United Kingdom by setting up or taking over, and being actively involved in the running of one or more businesses in the United Kingdom.
If you have leave under the following categories you can switch to Tier 1:
- a highly skilled migrant;
- a Tier 1 (General) migrant;
- a Tier 1 (Investor) migrant;
- a Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) migrant;
- a business person;
- an innovator;
- a student;
- a student nurse;
- a student re-sitting an examination;
- a student writing up a thesis;
- a work permit holder;
- a postgraduate doctor or dentist;
- a self employed lawyer;
- a writer, composer or artist;
- an investor;
- a participant in the International Graduates Scheme(or its predecessor, the Science & Engineering Graduate Scheme);
- a participant in the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme;
- a Tier 2 migrant;
- a Tier 4 migrant; or
- a Prospective Entrepreneur.
In order to obtain entry clearance or leave to remain within Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) an applicant must score enough points and send supporting evidence where appropriate.
- 75 points for attributes
- 10 points for English language
- 10 points for maintenance (funds)
To score the initial 75 points the applicant must show that:
25 Points- These will be gained as follows
(a)They have access to £200,000;
If the applicant has £200,000 of his/her own money available to make a fresh investment into business in the United Kingdom, they should supply documentary evidence of the money. These investment funds can be shared by an entrepreneurial team of up to two people. Each member of the team may apply to come to the UK as a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) using the same investment funds. A maximum of 2 people in an entrepreneurial team is allowed.
(b)They have access to not less than £50,000 from:
- (i) one or more registered venture capital firms regulated by the Financial Services Authority
- (ii) one or more UK entrepreneurial seed funding competitions which is listed as endorsed on the UK Trade & Investment website
- (iii) one or more UK Government Departments, and made available by the Department(s) for the specific purpose of establishing or expanding a UK business
25 Points- Further points
The money is held in one or more regulated financial institutions
- For an applicant to gain 25 point, they must provide evidence that the financial institution or institutions that provide confirmation of the money available to the applicant is regulated by the home regulator. The home regulator is an official financial regulatory body, in the country where the financial institution operates and the funds are located. This body must be appropriate to the type of financial transaction.
- Where the money is held in the United Kingdom it must be held in an institution that is regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).
25 Points- Further points
- The money available is disposable in the United Kingdom
- Where the money is not held in the United Kingdom, all of the investment funds required to qualify must be freely transferable to the United Kingdom and able to be converted to pounds sterling.
- However, if the money is held overseas but in an institution that has a presence in the United Kingdom and is regulated by the FSA, then the institution already does business in the United Kingdom and then there will be no need for any further evidence that the money can be transferred into the United Kingdom.
- Applicants who rely on money held in an overseas institution that is not regulated by the FSA must provide confirmation that the money can be transferred into the United Kingdom. This can be done with a document from their bank or financial institution.
Additional Points
10 Points - English language assessment
There are three ways in which an applicant can show he/she meets the English language requirement. The applicant can:
- be a national of a majority English speaking country
- pass an English language test detailed in this guidance
- hold a degree that was taught in English and is equivalent to a United Kingdom bachelor’s degree or above.
Maintenance requirement – all applications
10 Points
For application to be successful, they must be able to show that they are able to support himself/herself for the entire duration of his/her stay in the United Kingdom without use of Applicants outside the United Kingdom seeking entry clearance must have at least £2,800 of personal savings which must have been held for a consecutive 90 day period before the date of application.
Applicants in the United Kingdom seeking further leave to remain must have at least £800 of personal savings which must have been held for a consecutive 90 day period before the date of application.
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) applicants may not use any moneys included in their £200,000 Investment as evidence of maintenance funds.
After completion of the relevant period of stay if an applicant wishes they can apply for IndefiniteLeave to Remain (Settlement) in the UK.