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Investors

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If you have at least one million to invest in the United Kingdom and you want to make the United Kingdom your home then you may be able to apply for permission to come to the United Kingdom under this category.

In order to come to the United Kingdom as an investor you must be able to demonstrate that:

  • You intend to make the United Kingdom your main home;
  • You have at least one million which you are bringing with you to the United Kingdom. This can either be your own money, or loaned money if you own assets of at least two million pounds. The loan must be from a financial institution regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
  • You must intend to invest at least £750,000 of your capital in UK bonds or in share capital or loan capital in active and trading UK companies other than property companies; and
  • You must be able to maintain yourself financially and accommodate yourself without having to take up employment.

If you are granted permission to enter the United Kingdom as an investor you can work on a self employed basis.

Your husband or wife and any dependent children, if you have them, will normally also be given permission to come to the United Kingdom with you.

Your husband or wife, or any dependent children old enough, are able to work whilst they are in the United Kingdom as your dependants.

Investors are normally given permission to stay in the United Kingdom for 24 months initially. You would normally then apply for further permission to stay in the United Kingdom before that 24 month period expires. At that point if you still intend to make the UK your main home, and have brought at least one million pounds worth of money into the United Kingdom and it is still here, have invested £750,000 as required and you have lived in the United Kingdom without help from public funds or working as an employer then you will normally be granted another 3 years.

At the end of the 5 year period you can then apply for permission to live in the United Kingdom permanently. In order to qualify for permanent settlement (called Investment Leave to Remain) you need to continue to satisfy the rules as stated above.