The Start-up Visa category is reserved for early-stage, high potential entrepreneurs starting a business in Britain for the first time.

An applicant can apply for a Start-up visa if:

• He wants to set up a business in the UK
• He is from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland
• He meets the other eligibility requirements

Basic Rules Overview:

Endorsement

An applicant must be endorsed by an authorised body that is either:

• a UK higher education institution
• a business organisation with a history of supporting UK entrepreneurs

There are several endorsing bodies depending on the business area the applicant wants to set up. The list of endorsing bodies is here

Unique business

The applicant must be able to show that his business idea is:

• A new idea – you cannot join or invest in a business that is already trading
• Innovative – you must have an original business idea which is different from anything else on the market
• Viable, with potential for growth

There are several endorsing bodies depending on the business area the applicant wants to set up. The list of endorsing bodies is here

Age – The applicant must be at least 18 years old

English language requirement – The applicant must meet the English language requirement.

Maintenance Requirement – The applicant must be able to prove that he has enough personal savings to support himself while in the UK by demonstrating that he has had at least £945 in his bank account for 90 consecutive days before application.

Extension of this visa

An applicant can only stay in the UK for 2 years on a Start-up visa. No extension is permitted on this visa.

TIER 1 Exceptional Talent

This visa is for exceptionally talented individuals in the fields of:

Basic Rules Overview

There is one requirement. Applicants must be endorsed by one of the following four Designated Competent Bodies:

• Arts Council England – for arts and culture applications
• The British Academy – for humanities and social science applications
• The Royal Society – for natural sciences and medical science research applications
• The Royal Academy of Engineering – for engineering applications

Extension of this visa

The original visa is valid for 3 or 5 years. After this, the visa may be extendedsubject to:

• Continued endorsement by the Designated Competent Body.
• The applicant must have earned money in their area of expertise.

You may apply for settlement after 3 years with an Exceptional talent visa or after 5 years with an exceptional promise visa.

This visa is for applicants who wants to set up or run a business in the UK. The applicant must have at least £50,000 in investment funds to set up a new business. Funds are not needed if the business is already established and has been endorsed for an earlier visa.

Basic Rules Overview:

Endorsement

An applicant must be endorsed by an approved body before an application is made for this visa.

The applicant must ensure that his business or business idea is assessed by an approved body, after which they will provide an endorsement letter if the business is viable.

Unique business

The applicant must be able to show that his business idea is:

• A new idea – you cannot join or invest in a business that is already trading
• Viable, with potential for growth

There are several endorsing bodies depending on the business area the applicant wants to set up. The list of endorsing bodies is here

Age – The applicant must be at least 18 years old

English language requirement – The applicant must meet the English language requirement.

Maintenance requirement – The applicant must be able to prove that he has enough personal savings to support himself while in the UK by demonstrating that he has had at least £945 in his bank account for 90 consecutive days before application.

Extension of this visa

An applicant can initially stay in the UK for 3 years on an innovator visa. He can subsequently extend his stay for a further 3 years when his visa is due to expire. There’s no limit on the number of times he can extend.

This visa leads to settlement as the applicant can apply for settlement (known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) once he has been in the UK for 3 years.

TIER 1 Investor

This visa is for applicants who are able to invest a significant sum in the UK.

Basic Rules Overview

To qualify:

1. You must either: have access to £1,000,000 which is deposited in a regulated UK financial institution.

OR

have £2,000,000 in personal assets and £1,000,000 in a loan from a regulated UK financial institution.

The money must be invested in share or investment capital in an active UK company or companies, or in UK government bonds. Property Investment companies are not allowed.

You do not need to work in the company or companies you have invested in.

There are no other requirements, such as English language ability.

Extension of this visa

To qualify:

1. At least £750,000 must have been invested within three months of the original visa being granted, and this investment must have been maintained throughout the period of the visa.

Indefinite Leave to Remain

The more you invest, the sooner you can apply to remain in the UK indefinitely.

The rules are: