Types of Tier 1 Visa:

• Global Talent
• Investor
• Start Up
• Innovator

Switching to a Start-up Visa

• May switch if you are on:
  • Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur visa
  • Any Tier 2 visa
  • Tier 4 General student visa
  • Standard Visitor visa
• Must meet all of the Start-up visa’s eligibility requirements:
  • Have your business assessed by an approved body
  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Meet the English language requirement
  • Prove that you have enough personal savings to support yourself whilst in the UK
  • Must be endorsed by an endorsing body listed on the gov.uk website
    • Provide an endorsement letter including:
      • Name of enforcement body
      • Endorsement reference number
      • Date of issue
      • Applicants name, date of birth, nationality and passport number
      • Short description of the applicant’s business venture and the main products or services it will provide to its customers
    • The applicant must maintain contact with their endorsing body for at least 6 months from the date the application was granted
      • Must show reasonable progress against their business plan
      • Show they are pursuing a new business venture, which the endorsing body is satisfied meets the endorsement criteria: “the applicant has a genuine, origins business plan that meets new or existing market needs and/or creates a competitive advantage”, “the applicant’s business plan is realistic and achievable based on the available resources”, “there is evidence of structured planning and of potential job creation”
• Can stay in the UK for 2 years on a Start-up visa
• Must apply online: https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/start-up-and-innovator-ic?_ga=2.27415993.401345574.1599038423-669757719.1580814697
• You will need to provide your biometric information, and provide your supporting documents via online services or an in-person appointment .A decision will be made within 8 weeks

Switching to an Investor Visa

• For high net worth individuals making a substantial financial investment in the UK
• Do not need to show your English language ability as you should not need to work whilst in the UK
• Do not need to show maintenance (funds) because you should be able to support yourself
• Must have money of your own amounting to not less than £2 million
• See here for full eligibility information: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/834448/Tier_1_Investor_guidance_10_2019_v0.1_.pdf
• May switch if you are on:
  • Tier 1 General
  • Tier 1 Entrepreneur
  • Any Tier 2
  • Tier 4 General Student
• Must apply online: https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/tier-1-investor-visa?_ga=2.221878685.401345574.1599038423-669757719.1580814697
• You can stay for a maximum of 3 years and can extend your visa if eligible
• For each person you’ll need to pay:
  • £1623 to switch to this Visa
  • The healthcare surcharge
  • £19.20 to have biometric information taken
• You will need to provide your biometric information, and provide your supporting documents via online services or an in-person appointment
• A decision will be made within 8 weeks

Switching to a Global Talent Visa

• May switch if you are on:
  • Tier 1
  • Tier 2
  • Tier 5
  • Start-up Visa
  • Innovator visa
• Need to prove you’re a leader or potential leader in one of the following fields:
  • Academic or research
  • Arts and culture
  • Digital technology
• Stage 1: Apply for Endorsement
  • Use this website: https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/global-talent-endorsement
  • Application for endorsement is £456
• Stage 2: Apply for Leave to Remain
  • Use this website: https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/product/global-talent?_ga=2.188382509.401345574.1599038423-669757719.1580814697
• You can either:
  • apply for stage 1 and wait until you receive your letter of endorsement before applying for stage 2
  • apply for stage 2 while you wait for your letter of endorsement
  • apply for stage 1 (paper form) and stage 2 (online form) at the same time
  • Must apply online within 3 months of receiving your letter of endorsement from the Home Office
  • Must apply for stage 2 before your current visa expires
• If your visa application allows you to stay in the UK for more than 6 months at a time, you are also required to apply for a biometric immigration document
• You should get your visa within 8 weeks
• Can stay for a maximum of 5 years
• Visa application costs £152, or £97 if you’re from Turkey or North Macedonia
• You can include your partner and children (‘dependants’) on the same application form, if they’re eligible. There is an extra cost of £608 for each dependant.
• You also need to pay the healthcare surcharge as part of your visa application. This is usually £400 per year for each person applying
• You will also need to pay £19.20 to have your biometric information taken

Switching to an Innovator visa

• A visa for those who want to set up or run a business in the UK and who are outside the EEA and Switzerland
• Must meet other eligibility requirements:
  • Must have at least £50,000 in investment funds
  • Funding can come from any source
  • Do not need investment funds if your business is already established and has been endorsed for an earlier visa, or you have changed your business and already agreed it with your endorsing body
  • Must have had at least £945 in your bank account for 90 consecutive days – this cannot be money from investment funds
• Business or business idea must be endorsed by an approved body
• May switch if you are on:
  • Start-up visa
  • Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)
  • Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)
  • any Tier 2 visa
  • Standard Visitor visa – if you came to the UK to get funding and had a supporting letter from an endorsing body
• To be endorsed, you must be able to show your business idea is:
  • New – cannot invest in a business that is already trading
  • Innovative – it must be different from anything else on the market
  • Viable with potential for growth
• You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks when you apply from outside the UK.
• For you to switch to this visa it will be £1,277, and it will be £1,277 per dependant