The Tier 1 Investor Visa

The Tier 1 (Investor) Visa has been designed for wealthy individuals willing to invest £2 million + in the UK economy, and is the most efficient route to obtaining temporary UK residence.

• The initial visa is granted for 3 years and 4 months, then an extension for 2 years can be applied for, providing all criteria are met.
• Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) can be applied for in 2–5 years and citizenship in 5–6 years, subject to the eligibility criteria being met
• An accelerated settlement option is available and dependent on the amount of invested capital – £10 million leads to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 2 years, or £5 million for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 3 years.
• Individuals can invest in corporate bonds, their own company, or any listed company depending on their risk appetite. Brookes & Partners will introduce the individual to various wealth management providers who will assess the individual’s risk appetite and advise them on the correct investment strategy.

The UK Innovator Visa

The Innovator Visa route is aimed at experienced entrepreneurs seeking to set up or to run a business in the UK. Under this route, applicants are required to demonstrate an innovative, viable and scalable business idea which is supported by a Home Office approved Endorsing Body.

• Applicants should have access to at least £100,000-200,000 to invest in their business.
• The initial visa is granted for a period of 3 years. Innovators will be able to apply to extend their stay after 3 years, for a further 3 years, or they can settle permanently in the UK.
• The individual does not have to have their own business to invest in. Brookes & Partners will introduce the individual to select businesses, that have been vetted, and in which they can invest. The individual’s professional background is matched with businesses that have relevance to their skill set.
• It is important that the individual has the relevant experience and/or qualifications for the type of business they are investing in.
• The individual can invest in any type of business that might be considered sufficiently innovative. The individual does not have to have tech industry experience.

Sole Representative Visa

The Overseas Representative Visa (also known as the Sole Representative Visa), can be granted to individuals that hold a senior position within a company whose headquarters are outside the UK, when the company is planning to set up UK representation, and where this individual is appointed as the sole UK company representative. No investments are required for this type of visa, however there are a set of requirements to that have to be met:

• The initial representative of an overseas business visa grants entry for 3 years, which can be extended for another 2 years. After 5 years residing in the UK, applicants can apply for permission to settle permanently in the UK.
• The applicant cannot be an owner of a business of which they own 100% of the shares.
• The applicant must be someone who owns under 50% of the shares of the business. They then come to the UK to represent that business to market its goods and services.
• The visa can be used for many different types of businesses, however the purpose of the visa is to set up a UK representation of a current business and market its goods and services in the UK. The business needs to be tailored for the UK market.

ASIA
Bangladesh, Cambodia, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Laos, Macao (SAR China), Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste

EUROPE
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican City

AFRICA
Botswana, Cape Verde Islands, Comores Islands, Egypt, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, St. Helena, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia,

OCEANIA
Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Micronesia, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

CARIBBEAN
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

AMERICAS
Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru

MIDDLE EAST
Armenia, Iran