Entering the UK as an International Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs intending to expand their business have begun to move beyond their geographical limits. Many choose the UK because this is a European nation that encourages and supports immigrants to come and settle in the English nation. The Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa Scheme was introduced to make the process easier. According to Home Office records, the number of applications received under the Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa scheme has increased significantly in recent years.

If you are a foreign national considering immigrating to the UK for work purposes, either to start a new business or to take over an existing one, here is how to apply for the Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa.

The Tier 1 Entrepreneur scheme gives you legal permission to set up and run a business in the UK. You can also work in a business that you have invested in, but you cannot accept any other form of employment on the basis of this visa. When you apply for a visa, your dependents, spouse and children under the age of 18 can also apply.

Eligibility and prerequisites

To apply for a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa, you must meet the following requirements.

• You must be at least 16 years of age.
• You must be a citizen of any country outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland.
• Applicant must have access to £200K. However, there is a provision for investment funds of £50,000. There is also a provision to share investment funds. Under this provision, Tier 1 & 2 Entrepreneur visa applicants can join together to form an entrepreneurial team and share the same investment funds for the £200K level.
• The applicant must also meet the English language requirement. You must pass a certified English language test with at least a B1 level of reading, writing, speaking and listening in English. Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the USA meet the criteria English language proficiency.
• You must have sufficient funds to support your stay in the UK. This is exclusive to the £50,000 mutual funds. The amount depends on whether you are in the UK or outside the UK.

The length of stay allowed

An employer visa allows a migrant to stay legally in the UK for a total period of 3 years and 4 months. He can request that the visa be extended for another 2 years. If you are changing to the Entrepreneur visa from another category, say the investor visa, you can extend it for an additional 3 years. After 5 years of continuous stay in the UK, you can apply for permanent settlement.

How much do you pay?

The amount you pay to apply for a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa is not fixed. It varies depending on the following factors.

• The solicitor. The person could be the applicant himself or a dependent.
• The method of application. You can apply online or by mail.
• The place from where it is applied. People from Croatia, Turkey and Macedonia are entitled to a lower application fee.

Once you have submitted your application for a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa, it may take a couple of weeks for it to be accepted. The procedure may take longer if your application is complex and supporting documents need to be verified.