The Tier 1 Investor route is closed to new applicants and the main extension deadline has passed. We help existing or recent Investor visa holders and their families review investment evidence, qualifying residence, absences, dependants and ILR timing before the final settlement deadline.
Review whether your investment history, portfolio evidence, residence, absence record and family position are strong enough before settlement is prepared.
The Tier 1 Investor route was designed for high-net-worth individuals who made a substantial qualifying investment in the UK. It is no longer open for new main applicants and it should not be presented as a current investment visa route.
For people who already hold, or recently held, Tier 1 Investor permission, the route still matters because settlement may remain possible if the strict timing, investment, residence and evidence requirements are met. The final route-specific settlement deadline means this page should focus on ILR readiness rather than new visa applications.
The strongest cases are usually built around clear evidence of the first grant date, qualifying investment level, portfolio maintenance, regulated financial institution confirmation, residence history, absence compliance and family-member eligibility. Access Global Immigration Visa Experts can review the case structure before the application is prepared.
A main applicant may qualify for settlement if they have completed the required residence period in the investor route, maintained the required qualifying investment, met the English language and Life in the UK requirements where applicable, complied with absence limits, and does not fall for suitability or refusal reasons.
The residence period can be 2, 3 or 5 years depending on the date of the first successful Investor visa application and the amount of qualifying investment. For investors first granted on or after 6 November 2014, the general accelerated settlement levels are based on £10 million after 2 years, £5 million after 3 years and £2 million after 5 years.
Older cases can involve different rules, including historic asset and loan arrangements. Because the route has changed several times, the first grant date and investment history should be checked before giving settlement advice.
Investor settlement cases are evidence-heavy. The application usually needs portfolio reports from a UK-regulated financial institution showing the qualifying investments, when they were made, the companies invested in, the value maintained and whether the investment met the relevant route rules throughout the required period.
For many cases, the key risk is not the headline investment amount alone. The decision can turn on the timing of investment, reinvestment after sale, whether the investment vehicle is permitted, whether the investment was held in the applicant’s name or permitted joint name, and whether the financial institution can verify the portfolio evidence.
Where there is a shortfall, late investment, complex portfolio movement, historic UK government bond reliance, investment through unsuitable structures, or source-of-funds concern, the case should be reviewed carefully before settlement is prepared.
The document strategy should cover identity, current or recent investor status, first grant date, investment history, portfolio reports, regulated financial institution evidence, absence history, English language, Life in the UK, criminal record or suitability issues and dependant evidence where family members are included.
The exact evidence depends on the date of the first successful Investor visa application, the investment level, the investment assets used, whether any investment was sold and reinvested, whether the investor is relying on accelerated settlement, and whether dependants are applying at the same time.
A professional document review can help identify gaps before the final deadline becomes urgent. This is especially important where records are held by wealth managers, banks, brokers, previous advisers or overseas institutions.
We can review portfolio reports, investment timing, residence, absences, dependants and final deadline risk before the settlement application is prepared.
A partner may qualify for settlement if they have permission as the investor’s dependant partner, have lived in the UK with the main applicant for at least 5 continuous years, meet the relationship and support requirements, and satisfy English language and Life in the UK where applicable.
Children have separate settlement rules. Their age, dependency, residence, living arrangements and the status of both parents can affect whether they should be included in the main settlement application or handled separately.
Dependants are often the most overlooked part of investor settlement planning. A partner or child may not be settlement-ready at the same time as the main applicant, so the family strategy should be reviewed before the main application is submitted.
Main applicant extension applications had to be made before 17 February 2026. As the deadline has now passed, the page should not suggest that a fresh main applicant extension is still generally available.
If an investor is not ready for ILR, the position may be difficult and time-sensitive. The correct approach depends on current immigration status, whether any application was submitted before the deadline, whether section 3C leave applies, whether dependants need separate planning, and whether another UK immigration route may be realistic.
Anyone in this position should obtain advice quickly because the final settlement deadline does not automatically protect someone whose current permission has expired or who is not eligible to apply for settlement.
Yes, but only for eligible existing or recent Investor visa holders who meet the settlement requirements before the final deadline. The main applicant may qualify after 2, 3 or 5 years depending on the applicable rules and investment level.
The applicant must also satisfy continuous residence, absence, English language, Life in the UK, investment and suitability requirements. Time spent in the UK as a dependant does not count towards settlement as the main investor, and time on other visa categories does not usually count towards Tier 1 Investor settlement.
Settlement planning should focus on evidence, not just dates. Portfolio reports, investment timing, absence records and dependant documents should be reviewed together so the final application is consistent and credible.
We help investors and their families prepare settlement-focused cases around portfolio reports, qualifying investment, residence history, absences, dependants and citizenship planning.
We can assess investment history, portfolio evidence, qualifying period, absences, dependants and settlement deadline risk before the application is prepared.
No. The Tier 1 Investor route is closed to new main applicants. It is now relevant mainly to existing or recent Tier 1 Investor permission holders who need final settlement advice.
Main applicant extension applications had to be made before 17 February 2026. After that date, the main remaining route-specific application is settlement before the final deadline, if the requirements are met.
A Tier 1 Investor settlement application must be made before 17 February 2028. Investors should review eligibility well before that date because portfolio, residence, absence and family evidence can take time to organise.
The main applicant may qualify after 2, 3 or 5 years depending on the first grant date and the amount of qualifying investment. The investment level, date of first successful application and investment evidence all matter.
Time on another visa does not usually count towards settlement as a Tier 1 Investor. The relevant residence period normally needs to be completed in the investor route.
For applicants first granted on or after 6 November 2014, the general qualifying periods are 2 years for £10 million, 3 years for £5 million and 5 years for £2 million. Older grants can have different investment and asset rules.
This depends on when the investor first successfully applied. Investors first granted on or after 29 March 2019 cannot rely on UK government bonds for the qualifying investment, while older cases may need a separate rules review.
The case usually turns on identity, current or recent investor status, investment portfolio reports, evidence that the qualifying investment was made and maintained, absence history, English language, Life in the UK and dependant documents.
The applicant must not normally have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period during the relevant qualifying residence period.
Applicants aged 18 to 64 usually need to pass the Life in the UK Test and meet the English language requirement when applying for Tier 1 Investor settlement.
A partner may qualify if they have permission as a dependant partner, have lived in the UK with the main applicant for at least 5 continuous years, meet relationship and support requirements, and satisfy English language and Life in the UK requirements where applicable.
A child may be included if they meet the child dependant settlement rules. Their age, dependency, living arrangements, family position and whether both parents are settled or applying can be important.
A dependant may need separate advice on whether further limited permission is available and whether they can complete their own qualifying period later. This should be checked before the main applicant submits an ILR application.
We can review investment history, portfolio reports, qualifying period, absences, English language, Life in the UK, dependants, deadline risk and refusal risks before the application is prepared.
For wider settlement planning, residence history, absence issues and family settlement applications
For investors and family members who already hold settlement and want to plan the next step.
For entrepreneurs who need a current UK business immigration route rather than the closed investor route.
For high-achieving individuals who may qualify through expertise, awards or endorsement routes.
For business owners considering sponsor-led alternatives where investor settlement is not available.
For dependant or limited-permission planning where a healthcare surcharge may still be relevant.
Speak to Access Global Immigration Visa Experts for advice on investment evidence, portfolio reports, qualifying residence, absences, dependants, final deadline risk and future citizenship planning.
