Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa Eligibility Criteria Revisited 2019

So we will be updating this post quite a lot. However, for the time being, here is an overview of the Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa eligibility criteria the way they stand in January 2019.

The Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa is intended to allow migrants to set up businesses in the UK in order to create jobs and growth. UKVI has also introduced a test of genuineness to prevent abuse of the visas granted under this category.

The primary requirements to be met by an applicant to apply as a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa are they:

• must want to set up or run a business in the UK
• be from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland
• meet other requirements including
• access to at least £ 50,000 in funding
• meet the English language requirement
• be able to support yourself during your stay
• be at least 16 years old

There are a few options under this category:

If you have Access to £50,000

Applicants who have access to £50,000 in investment funds from one or more of the following:

• a UK entrepreneurial seed funding competition endorsed by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI)
• a UK government department making funds available for the purpose of setting up or expanding a UK business

Applicants who are from outside the UK can also apply if their funds are from a venture capital firm registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Former Tier 1 (Graduate) Entrepreneurs

Students who were previously granted Tier 1 (Graduate) Entrepreneur can apply for Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa if they meet the following requirements if they:

• are applying to change (switch) your visa (‘leave to remain’)
• have or were last granted a visa or leave to enter the UK as a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)
• have funding from any source

Access to £200,000

In order to apply as Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa if the applicants have access to £200,000 in investment funds, the applicants will need to prove that the money is either:

• their own
• made available to them by other people (‘third parties’), e.g. a husband, wife, partner or investor
• in a joint account with your spouse or partner but only if they aren’t applying for a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa