This visa category is for
people wishing to come to
the UK to start a business.
You may start any type of
business, but you must work
full time in the management
of the business.
Qualification Criteria
If you are a national of a
country that is not covered
by the EEA association agreement,
you will need to show that
you will:
- Invest £200,000 in
a new UK business.
Create full time employment
for at least 2 EEA citizens
Work solely in the business
Have sufficient funds to accommodate
and maintain yourself until
the business is profitable.
Have a controlling interest
in the business.
Take a share of the business’s
liabilities
Be implementing a business
plan that looks to be thorough
and viable
The money to be invested in
the UK should be your own
and not from any other source
(e.g. bank loans). It can
be held in the form of cash
and share capital and the
investment should give you
an equal or controlling interest
in the business.
Visa
Extension
You will initially get a visa
valid for a period of 12 months.
During this time you must usually
make the full investment and
create the required 2 jobs.
At the end of this first year,
the visa can be extended by
applying to the Home Office.
The extension application will
need to be accompanied by documentation
showing the progress that your
business has made; as long as
the business looks viable, the
investment has been made, and
the jobs have been created,
then the Home Office will normally
grant a three-year extension
to your visa. After a total
of 4 years in the UK you may
apply for indefinite leave to
remain (Permanent Residence).
A year after being granted indefinite
leave to remain you may apply
for naturalisation as a British
citizen.
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