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Work and Business Visas

Tier 1 Investor

Tier 1 Investor Visa is for foreign investors who desire to invest in the UK.

In order to be eligible to apply for Tier 1 Investor Visa, applicants must:

  • Have a minimum of £2 million to invest in the UK.
  • Demonstrate that the money belongs to you, your spouse or same-sex partner.
  • Be a non-EEA and non-Swiss national.
  • Be aged 18 or over.

Tier 1 Investor Visa is valid up to 3 years and 4 months. It can be extended for another 2 years. You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to the UK. You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

Contact our advisors for further details.

 

Tier 1 Entrepreneur

Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa is closed to new applicants. If you want to set up or manage a business in the UK you might be able to apply for an Innovator Visa or a Start-up Visa.

 

Tier 1 Entrepreneur (Graduate) 

Tier 1 Entrepreneur (Graduate) Visa is closed to new applicants. If you want to set up or manage a business in the UK you might be able to apply for a Start-up Visa.

 

Tier 2 General

Tier 2 General Visa is for highly skilled workers who have been offered a skilled job from a licensed Tier 2 Sponsor along with applicants who will fill shortage occupations.

UK immigration rules specify the following requirements to be eligible for the Tier 2 General Visa:

  • Have been offered a skilled job by a licenced sponsor.
  • Be a non-EEA and non-Swiss national.

Tier 2 General Visa is valid up to  5 years and 14 days. It can be extended for another 5 years. You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before starting work in the UK. You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks if you apply outside the UK.

 

Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer

Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer Visa is for skilled workers of a multinational company in a foreign country who are expecting to get transferred in a job for training or particular purpose in the UK branch. There are 2 types of Intra-company Transfer Visa: long-term staff and graduate trainee.

UK immigration rules specify the following requirements to be eligible for the Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer Visa:

  • Have been offered you a role in a UK branch of the company.
  • Be a non-EEA and non-Swiss national.

The stay period for Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer Visa varies between 12 months and 9 years depending on category. You can apply for both visas up to 3 months before starting work in the UK. You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks if you apply outside the UK.

 

Representatives of Overseas Business

Representative of an Overseas Business Visa is for senior executives and managers of an overseas company to come to the UK in order to establish the company's first UK office, subsidiary or branch.

UK immigration rules specify the following requirements to be eligible for the Representative of Overseas Business Visa:

  • Have no branch, subsidiary or other representative in the UK.
  • Be a senior employee in the company.
  • Apply from outside the EEA and Switzerland.
  • Meet the English language requirements.

Representative of Overseas Business Visa is valid up to  3 years initially. It can be extended for another 2 years.  You can apply for both visas up to 3 months before you travel. You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks if you apply outside the UK.

 

Start-up

Start-up Visa is for early-stage, high potential businesspersons starting a business in the UK for the first time. There is no specific requirement for investment.

UK immigration rules specify the following requirements to be eligible for the Start-up Visa:

  • Your business and business idea have been endorsed by an approved UK endorsing body.
  • Be aged 18 or over.  
  • Be a non-EEA and non-Swiss national.
  • Meet the English language requirements.

Start-up Visa is valid up to 2 years. You cannot apply to extend this visa but you may apply for switching to a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visa.  You can apply for both visas up to 3 months prior to your travel. You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks if you apply outside the UK.

 

Innovator

Innovator Visa is for experienced businesspersons who are looking to set up a new business in the UK. According to UK Immigration rules, the key pillars of the business idea under this category are innovation, viability and scalability that are supported by an endorsing body.

In order to be eligible to apply for Innovator Visa, applicants must:

  • Have a minimum of £50,000 available to invest in the UK.
  • Have a genuine intention to set up or run a business in the UK.
  • Have been endorsed by an approved UK endorsing body.
  • Be a non-EEA and non-Swiss national.
  • Be aged 18 or over.

Innovator Visa is valid up to 3 years. It can be extended for another 3 years. You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to the UK. You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

 

Permitted Paid Engagement

Permitted Paid Engagement Visa is for applicants wish to come to the UK for a short paid engagement.

In order to be eligible to apply for Permitted Paid Engagement Visa, applicants must:

  • Have an intention to come to the UK for a specific paid work.
  • Be invited by a UK-based organisation or client
  • Be a non-EEA and non-Swiss national.
  • Be aged 18 or over.

Permitted Paid Engagement Visa is valid up to 1 month. You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to the UK. You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

 

Tier 5

Tier 5 Temporary Worker Visa is for non-EEA and non-Swiss nationals those engaging in temporary work as:

  • Charity volunteer
  • Sports person or creative worker
  • Religious worker
  • Government Authorised Exchange (GAE) individual
  • International Agreement individual

Tier 5 Temporary Worker Visa is valid for between 1 and 2 years, depending on the purpose. The earliest you can apply for a visa is 3 months before the date you’re due to start work. You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.


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