Get UK Investor Visa: How to Secure UK Permanent Residency Through Investment

by

The landscape of UK Permanent Residency has shifted dramatically in recent years. If you are reading this looking for the famous “Golden Visa” (Tier 1 Investor), which allowed you to essentially buy residency with a £2 million purchase of government bonds or share capital, you need to know that this route is closed to new applicants.

The UK government has pivoted from “passive investment” (parking money) to “active investment” (building businesses that create jobs and innovation).

This guide details exactly how you can still use financial capital to secure Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), but with a new strategy: The Innovator Founder Route.

The New Era: Securing UK Permanent Residency Through Active Investment

For decades, High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) looked to the UK’s Tier 1 Investor Visa as the gold standard for global mobility. It was transactional and straightforward. However, following its closure in February 2022 due to security concerns, the door to passive investment slammed shut.

But the window for active investment is wide open.

Today, securing Permanent Residency (ILR) requires you to deploy capital into a UK business that you actively run. The primary vehicle for this is the Innovator Founder Visa. While it is more demanding than its predecessor, it offers a significant advantage: It is one of the only routes that allows you to apply for Permanent Residency in just 3 years, rather than the standard 5.

This post will guide you through the requirements, the strategy, and the execution of securing UK residency through this investment-led pathway.

1. The Primary Vehicle: The Innovator Founder Visa

The Innovator Founder visa is designed for experienced business people who want to set up an innovative, scalable business in the UK. Unlike the old “Entrepreneur” visa, which required a strict £200,000 minimum, or the “Investor” visa with its £2 million threshold, the Innovator Founder visa has no official minimum investment requirement.

However, do not let that fool you. You cannot secure this visa with an empty bank account. You must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to execute your business plan. In practice, this is an investment visa where the amount is dictated by the needs of your business rather than an arbitrary government figure.

The “Three Pillars” of Eligibility

To qualify, you cannot simply open a generic business (like a restaurant, property management firm, or consultancy). Your business idea must be endorsed by an approved body against three strict criteria:

  1. Innovation: You must have a genuine, original business plan that meets new or existing market needs and creates a competitive advantage. You cannot clone an existing business model.

  2. Viability: You must have the necessary skills, knowledge, experience, and market awareness to run the business. Most importantly, this is where your investment capital comes in. You must show you have the funds accessible to actually launch the company.

  3. Scalability: The business must show evidence of structured planning and the potential for job creation and growth into national and international markets.

Apply: Visa Sponsorship Jobs in USA 2025: Apply Now!

The 3-Year Fast Track to Settlement

This is the “crown jewel” of this visa. Most UK visa routes (Skilled Worker, Spouse, Ancestry) require 5 years of continuous residence to apply for ILR. The Innovator Founder route allows you to apply after 3 years.

To achieve this, you must not only live in the UK but also achieve specific business milestones (detailed in section 4).

2. Step-by-Step Guide to the Process

Securing residency through this route is a three-stage lifecycle: Endorsement, Entry, and Settlement.

Phase 1: The Endorsement (The “Gatekeeper” Stage)

You cannot apply for the visa directly with the Home Office. You must first apply to an Endorsing Body. These are private organizations (often incubators, accelerators, or business advisory firms) authorized by the UK government to assess business plans.

  • The Investment Component: In your business plan, you will detail your financial projections. If your plan says you need £150,000 to build your prototype and hire two developers, you must prove to the endorser that you have that £150,000 liquid and ready to invest. This is how “investment” secures the visa.

  • The Outcome: If they like your plan and your proof of funds, they issue an Endorsement Letter. This document is the “ticket” you need to apply for the visa.

Phase 2: The Visa Application

Once endorsed, you apply for the visa itself.

  • English Language: You must prove proficiency to Level B2 (upper intermediate).

  • Maintenance Funds: You must show you have at least £1,270 in your personal bank account (separate from your business investment funds) to support yourself for the first month.

  • Criminal Record: You must provide a clean criminal record certificate from any country where you have lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years.

Phase 3: The “Check-in” Meetings

Unlike the old investor visa where you could land and retire, this visa requires activity. You must meet with your Endorsing Body at least twice during the 3-year period (usually at 12 and 24 months). They will check if you are making significant progress on your business plan. If you aren’t, they can withdraw endorsement, which curtails your visa.

3. Transitional Arrangements: If You Already Have a Tier 1 (Investor) Visa

If you are one of the few who already hold a Tier 1 (Investor) visa, you are in a “transitional” period. You cannot apply for a new one, but you can still apply for ILR if you act within specific deadlines.

  • Extension Deadline: You can apply to extend your visa until 17 February 2026.

  • ILR Deadline: You can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain until 17 February 2028.

If you miss these dates, you will likely have to switch to the Innovator Founder route or a different visa category, resetting your clock to settlement. If you currently hold this visa, your priority should be ensuring you meet the residence requirements (days spent in the UK) to lock in your ILR before 2028.

4. The “Holy Grail”: Securing Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)

You have invested your capital, launched your business, and lived in the UK for 3 years. Now, how do you convert that into Permanent Residency?

The ILR application for Innovator Founders is unique because it is performance-based. You must meet at least two of the following seven criteria:

  1. Investment: At least £50,000 has been invested into the business and actively spent on furthering the business plan.

  2. Customer Growth: The number of customers has at least doubled within the last 3 years and is currently higher than the mean number of customers for other UK businesses offering comparable main products or services.

  3. R&D: The business has engaged in significant research and development activity and has applied for intellectual property protection in the UK.

  4. Revenue (High): The business has generated a minimum annual gross revenue of £1 million in the last full year.

  5. Revenue (Moderate) + Export: The business has generated a minimum annual gross revenue of £500,000 in the last full year, with at least £100,000 from exporting overseas.

  6. Jobs (High Volume): The business has created at least 10 full-time jobs for resident workers.

  7. Jobs (High Value): The business has created at least 5 full-time jobs for resident workers, which have an average salary of at least £25,000 a year.

Strategic Insight: The easiest combination for many investors is usually Criteria 1 (Investment) and Criteria 7 (5 Jobs). By ensuring you invest £50,000 of your own capital (which is a low bar for an investment visa) and hiring 5 staff members at £25k/year, you meet the requirements without needing to hit aggressive revenue targets like £1 million, which can be risky for a startup.

Also: MBA Scholarships at the Top 10 US Business Schools

General ILR Requirements

In addition to the business targets, you must meet the standard UK residence rules:

  • Continuous Residence: You must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period during the 3 years.

  • Life in the UK Test: You must pass this multiple-choice test on British history and culture.

  • No Legal Issues: You must not have breached immigration laws or have serious criminal convictions.

5. Alternatives: The “Talent” Investment

If you have capital but no desire to run a business, your options are limited, but the Global Talent Visa is a worthy consideration.

While not an investment visa, it is relevant for HNWIs who are leaders in their field (Tech, Arts, Science, Engineering). If you have achieved prominence (e.g., won awards, spoken at major conferences, or led large companies), you can apply for endorsement as a leader.

  • Cost: Low application fees.

  • Investment: None required.

  • Freedom: You can work for anyone, be self-employed, or run a business.

  • ILR: Accelerated settlement after 3 years is available for “Talent” candidates (leaders), while “Promise” candidates (emerging leaders) wait 5 years.

This is often the best route for an investor who wants to “invest” in their own personal brand rather than a specific UK company structure.

6. Summary: The Strategy for 2026 and Beyond

The days of writing a cheque to the UK government for a visa are over. The current system rewards risk, innovation, and active participation.

To secure UK Permanent Residency through investment today, you must treat your immigration application as a business venture.

  1. Preparation: Do not just “buy” a business plan. Co-develop a genuine innovative concept that you understand and can defend.

  2. Capital Allocation: Ensure you have liquid funds available not just for the visa application, but to actually deploy into the company to meet the ILR “Investment” criteria later.

  3. Team Building: Plan your hiring strategy early. Creating 5 full-time jobs is often the safest metric to hit for ILR compared to revenue targets.

  4. Residency: Strict tracking of your travel is essential. One slip-up where you are out of the country for 181 days in a year can reset your 3-year clock to zero.

By aligning your financial capital with the UK’s desire for innovation, you can secure one of the world’s most desirable residencies in record time.

Leave a Comment