The Tier 1 visa represents one of the most popular immigration routes for highly skilled workers who want to work, invest, or set up a business in the United Kingdom. It is a category of visa included in the UK’s points-based immigration system that, over time, has undergone changes in a bid to attract the best talents, entrepreneurs, and investors from around the globe. Within this article, we will describe what a Tier 1 visa is, the categories it has, how the application process goes, and what advantages it offers.
What is a Tier 1 Visa?
The Tier 1 visa is a category covered in the UK points-based immigration system intended to allow highly skilled persons, entrepreneurs, and international investors to live and work in the UK. It has been designed to attract those who could make a considerable contribution to the UK economy through business investment, exceptional talent, or some other valuable skill in great demand here.
The broad purpose of the Tier 1 visa has been divided into numerous subcategories, each serving various needs of individuals applying for it, including Tier 1 (Investor) visa, Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa, Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa, and Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa. Of this broad range of subcategories, some have been done away with or fallen out of use, and others have been superseded by alternative visa types, yet the structure of Tier 1 visa is important to understand in the context of UK immigration.
Types of Tier 1 Visas
The Tier 1 visa category used to have a few subcategories in it; each one had distinctive particular requirements and had its own goal. Below is an overview of them:
1. Tier 1 (Investor) Visa: This type of visa was designed for high-net-worth individuals willing to make a significant financial commitment to the UK—namely, investments of a minimum of £2 million. Investors could potentially qualify for settlement—called indefinite leave to remain—a lot quicker, based on the amount of their investment. Options were available for £5 million and £10 million, leading to quicker routes to settlement.
2. Tier 1-Entrepreneur Visa: Targets those individuals looking to use this visa for the purposes of establishing or taking over a business in the UK. Applicants needed to have access to at least £50,000 in investment funds if sourced from a UK-approved source, or £200,000 if the funds were self-sourced. This visa also provided a pathway to settlement on condition that the business was successful and satisfied specific job creation criteria.
3. Tier 1-Exceptional Talent: This visa was issued to individuals who were regarded as either established or those likely to become emerging leaders in their areas of specialization, as outlined in either sciences, engineering, humanities, digital technology, and arts. It is granted entry into the UK after being endorsed by a competent, designated body with the capability to be self- or alternatively employed and also to be able to engage in business actions within the UK territory. This category has since been abolished and replaced with the Global Talent Visa, which has a similar framework but provides wider eligibility criteria.
4. Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Visa: The visa was granted to fresh graduates when they have an actual, workable idea of a business that they would wish to start in the UK. They must be endorsed by a UK higher educational institution or the DIT. It has now been upgraded to the Start-up visa for all those innovative entrepreneurs who now wish to use the UK for the first time toward setting up a business.
Applying for the Tier 1 Visa
The steps for applying for the Tier 1 visa are different depending upon which subcategory you fall into. Generally, however, the steps will include the following:
1. Be eligible:
Each Tier 1 visa subcategory sets certain specific requirements that an applicant has to fulfill. As such, an application for a Tier 1 (Investor) visa requires the candidate to possess at least £2 million to invest in the UK. Under the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) category, you are required to demonstrate access to the necessary investment funds in addition to a viable business plan.
2. Get Your Documents Ready
- You will need to put together all the documentation that supports your application. Common examples include:
- A valid passport or travel document
- Evidence of your investment funds for Tier 1 Investor and Entrepreneur visas
- Evidence of your endorsement for Tier 1 Exceptional Talent and Graduate Entrepreneur visas 1
- Results of your English language proficiency test 2, if needed
- Evidence of your maintenance funds to support yourself and any dependent.
- A tuberculosis test result, if required in your country
3. Submit Your Application
You’ll need to apply online for a Tier 1 visa and pay the application fee. Once you’ve applied, you’ll need to give your biometric information (fingerprints and photograph) at a visa application center. This is used for your biometric residence permit which you’ll need to collect once you arrive in the UK.
4. Wait for a Decision
Tier 1 processing timelines differ by subcategory and where you are applying from. They generally take a few weeks, but for the latest information about processing times, refer to the relevant page on the UK government’s website.
5. Your Visa Is Issued, Move to the UK
If your application is successful, you will be granted a visa to enter the UK. You’ll have to collect your biometric residence permit- things that determine your living and working scenario in the UK on arrival.
Benefits of a Tier 1 Visa
Although a Tier 1 visa is harder to obtain, there are several beneficial factors associated with it for both highly skilled individuals and entrepreneurs/investors:
1. Route to Settlement: Many Tier 1 visa holders qualify for ILR after a certain period, usually five years. This period can be cut short for some visa categories, like Tier 1 (Investor) if you invest more. You will have the right to reside within the UK with ILR without any kind of immigration control.
2. Access to the UK Market: The UK is one of the leading economic dwellings of the world, and access to its market is granted to the person holding a Tier 1 visa. You are obviously an entrepreneur starting up a business; an investor wanting to expand your wealth; or you are just a highly skilled professional; enormous opportunities in the UK are open for you to grow and succeed in your career.
3. Good-Quality Education and Healthcare: Holding a Tier 1 visa gives you access to the country’s highly acclaimed education system and the National Health Service (NHS), along with dependants. This is what makes the UK very attractive for families.
4. Freedom to Work and Study: In general, Tier 1 allows working, studying, or starting a business in the UK. That means you can earn and continue your education without necessarily depending on one employer or one course of study.
Family Reunification: You bring to the UK, as dependents on your Tier 1 visa, a spouse, partner, and children under 18. Your goals and family are kept together if you work in the UK.
6. Global Mobility: Tier 1 visa holders enjoy unrivaled global mobility, owing to the UK’s location and strong connections. The country is well connected to most of the major nations in the world, be it for business reasons or leisure trips.
Changes in the Tier 1 Visa Category
The UK government has therefore over the years kept refining the Tier 1 visa category to make sure it remains in proper alignment with the country’s economic and immigration goals. Some of the subcategories of Tier 1, like Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) and Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur), are now superseded by the newer visa types—Innovator Visa and Start-up Visa.
The Tier 1 (Investor) visa also faced extensive scrutiny and eventual suspension because it left possible avenues for abuse. The UK government has presently suspended, effective February 2022, the Tier 1 (Investor) visa so that the route can be adapted properly to national interests and avoid any prospective abuses. However, those already in the UK under a Tier 1 (Investor) visa are allowed to apply for further extensions and settlement.
Anyone who is interested in a points-based immigration system in the UK should know the recent news and updates concerning it, so that you can make certain what options work for you at any moment in time.
Alternatives to the Tier 1 Visa
The phasing out and suspension of several subcategories under the Tier 1 category of visa have made potential applicants consider other options. Some of the alternatives are:
1. Global Talent Visa: This replaces the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent), aimed at those already recognized as leaders—or with potential for leadership—in the fields of science, humanities, engineering, digital technology, and the arts. It is flexible, provides a pathway into settlement, and allows one to work in any job, business, or sector.
2. Innovator Visa: This would be a replacement for the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visa, for more experienced business persons having an innovative, viable, and scalable business idea. Their investment funds should be at least £50,000, and they are to be endorsed by an approved endorsing body.
3. Start-up Visa: This category is for individuals who seek to establish a business in the UK for the first time. There is no minimum investment threshold under this route, as there is under the Innovator Visa, but an applicant must be endorsed by an approved UK higher education institution or a business organization with a history of supporting entrepreneurs.
4. A Skilled Worker Visa: A good alternative to the Tier 1 Visa category if the person does not qualify above and has an interest in working inside the UK. Under the Skilled Worker Visa, one must secure a job with a UK employer who has a valid sponsoring license.
Conclusion
The Tier 1 visa has been a harbinger in encouraging the influx of the best talent, entrepreneurs, and investors into the UK. It is worth understanding the legacy and framework around the Tier 1 visa for every person contemplating UK immigration, notwithstanding the fact that some of these subcategories have already been terminated or suspended.
The UK continues to churn out dynamic visa options for highly skilled individuals, notwithstanding the recent changes in the Tier 1 visa category.