The United Kingdom has a thriving business culture and the UK recognizes that individual business people may want to come to the UK for short periods. This may be to negotiate the terms of a contract with businesses in the UK, carry out market research or attend conferences. This category of visa also applies to people engaging in short term sports or entertainers.
Basic Requirements
To qualify under Standard Visitor Visa for business purposes, there are basic requirements which must be met. Applicants have to demonstrate that they intend to undertake business activities including:
- Attending meetings or conferences,
- Arranging deals,
- Negotiating or signing trade agreement or contracts,
- Undertaking fact-finding missions,
- Checking details or goods,
- Conducting site visits and promotional activities.
- They must only visit the UK for a maximum of six (6) months, show that they will be able to financially support themselves (if necessary with the support of friends and family) and meet the cost of their onward journey.
- They must not undertake any paid or unpaid employment in the UK.
Visa Entitlements
- This visa entitles holders to visit the UK for up to a maximum of six (6) months allowing them to undertake their business activities and they may also be allowed multiple entries during the six (6) month period.
- Visa holders can attend business meetings, conferences and briefings, engage in fact finding, negotiating or making contracts within the UK for their business to buy or sell goods or services.
Graduate Entrepreneur (Tier 1) category allows the UK to retain non-European graduates identified by UK higher education institutions as having developed world class innovative ideas or entrepreneurial skills, to extend their stay in the UK after graduation to establish or more businesses in the UK.
Applicants cannot make initial applications from abroad. Applicants in the UK in another immigration category are allowed to switch into the Graduate Entrepreneur (Tier 1) category. The Graduate Entrepreneur (Tier 1) is part of UK’s points-based system, which is for migrants from outside Europe.
Book a consultation with one of our experienced migration agents to receive personalised advice on the right visa pathway for your situation.
Basic Requirements
- The UK Home Office has set specific requirements that all applicants must meet in order to apply for a Work Visa under the Graduate Entrepreneur (Tier 1) category.
- To qualify for migration under the Graduate Entrepreneur (Tier 1) category, you must be able to satisfy the basic visa requirement which is to score 95 points related to attributes. An applicant will score 75 points if they have an endorsement from a ‘UK Higher Education Institution’, and must obtain at least 10 points for their English language ability and maintenance funds. The point allocation is configured such that applicants must hold a recognised qualification to meet the minimum requirements.
Visa Entitlements
- Successful applicants that are granted temporary residence under the Graduate Entrepreneur visa (Tier 1) are allowed to live and only work for the business they have established and work in other employment of no more than 20 hours per week. As a temporary resident, successful applicants will have free access to public schools, and subsidised tertiary education for their dependants. Eligible dependants may also be able to work or study without any restrictions.
- A work visa under Graduate Entrepreneur (Tier 1) is initially granted for one (1) year with the ability to apply for further stay for another one (1) year. Applicants are not able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK under this category and time spent in this category does not count towards any future applications for settlement.
Exceptional Talent Visa (Tier 1) is geared to applicants who are internationally recognised as world leaders or possess potential world-leading talent in the fields of science and the arts, and who wish to work in the UK.
Applicants must make initial applications from abroad. Applicants currently in the UK in another immigration category cannot switch into Exceptional Talent (Tier 1)
Basic Requirements
- The UK Visas & Immigration has set specific requirements that all applicants must meet in order to apply for a Work visa under the Exceptional Talent (Tier 1) category.
- To qualify for migration under the Exceptional Talent (Tier 1) category, you must be able to obtain at least 75 points. An applicant will score 75 points if they have an endorsement from a ‘designated competent body’. This is an organisation that can judge whether they are internationally recognised in their field as a world-leading talent or have demonstrated exceptional promise and are likely to become a world-leading talent.
- Applicants may need to meet an additional requirement if they have recently been a student in the UK and received financial sponsorship from a government or an international scholarship agency.
Visa Entitlements
- Successful applicants are granted temporary residence under the Exceptional Talent visa (Tier 1) and are allowed to live and work or set up a business in the UK without any restrictions. As a temporary resident, successful applicants will have free access to public schools and subsidised tertiary education for their dependants. Eligible dependants may also be able to work or study without any restrictions.
- A work visa under Exceptional Talent (Tier 1) is initially granted for three (3) years with the ability to apply for further stay for another 2 years. Applicants may be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) if the applicant meets the requirements at the time of the application. An ILR entitles individuals to permanent residency in the UK. Permanent residents may also be eligible to sponsor their family for migration to the UK and apply for British citizenship.
The Investor Visa (Tier 1) caters to those who wish to invest a substantial sum of their wealth in the United Kingdom and also make the UK their main home. The investment must be productive and generate wealth for the UK economy.
The Investor Visa (Tier 1) is initially granted for a maximum period of three (3) years, allowing the applicant to conduct market research and identify an appropriate business to invest in. This visa is extendable, assuming all relevant requirements are satisfied, and it may eventually lead to permanent residence and UK Nationality.
Book a consultation with one of our experienced migration agents to receive personalised advice on the right visa pathway for your situation.
Basic Requirements
- To qualify for an Investor Visa (Tier 1), applicants must have at least £2 million of their own funds which is held in a regulated financial institution that is disposable in the UK, or have personal assets which, taking into account any liabilities, have a value exceeding £2 million. Under this category, they are exempted from the English language and available maintenance (funds) requirements.
- Under this visa, visa holders can work in the United Kingdom, however there is no absolute requirement that they should work.
Visa Entitlements
- This visa is initially granted for three (3) years which can be extended leading to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
- Eligible dependants may also qualify to be included and upon obtaining the visa, they may also work or study without any restrictions.
- ILR entitles individuals to permanent residency in as well as visa-free travel to and from the UK.
- ILR holders may also be able to sponsor their non-British relatives into the UK and may also ultimately be eligible to apply for British citizenship
This visa type is designed for companies wanting to expand their business abroad and set up in the United Kingdom. Overseas companies are permitted to send one representative to the UK to set up a branch or subsidiary office, including carrying out market research, registering the company in the UK and negotiating with suppliers and customers.
Although the nominated representative must have the authority to make day-to-day decisions in the UK, they cannot be a director or major shareholder in the company.
Book a consultation with one of our experienced migration agents to receive personalised advice on the right visa pathway for your situation.
Basic Requirements
To qualify for a Sole Representative visa, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Must have been recruited and taken on as an employee outside the UK as a representative of a company that has its main office outside of the UK without a branch, subsidiary or other representative in the UK;
- Must be a senior employee with authority for decision making on behalf of the overseas company with respect to setting up the branch in the UK;
- Must be employed full time as a representative of the overseas firm;
- Must not be a majority shareholder in the overseas firm;
- Must not take up any employment other than that relating to their work for the overseas firm;
- Must be able to financially maintain and accommodate themselves and any dependants without recourse to public funds; and
- Must obtain entry clearance as a Sole Representative before entering the UK.
Visa Entitlements
- Applicants applying for a Sole Representative Visa can only work in the business for which the permission to enter the UK was originally sought. The visa is granted for three (3) years which can be extended for a further two (2) years.
- This category may lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain (IRL). ILR entitles individuals to permanent residency as well as visa-free travel to and from the UK. ILR holders may also be able to sponsor their non-British relatives into the UK and may also ultimately be eligible to apply for British citizenship.
- Eligible dependants may also qualify to be included and upon obtaining the visa, they may also work without any restrictions.
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