

Entrepreneurs
Overview: Once a gateway for ambitious innovators, the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa enabled foreign nationals to establish or take over businesses in the United Kingdom. It required lawful investment, active management, and compliance with strict immigration rules. This route is now closed, replaced by the Innovator Founder visa.
The Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa is for non-European migrants who want to invest in the UK by setting up or taking over and being actively involved in the running of a business or businesses in the UK.

Requirements
- access to funds (minimum 50,000 British pounds with other requirements)
- English language
- Maintenance funds
Applicants are selected on a points-based system, including:
25 points for:
- Access to not less than £200,000
or
- Access to not less than £50,000 from:
- 1 or more registered venture capital firms by the Financial Service Authority; or
- 1 or more UK entrepreneurial seed funding competitions listed as endorsed on the UK Trade and Investment website
- 1 or more UK government departments or devolved government departments in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, which have made the funds available for the specific purpose of establishing or expanding a UK business
- Access to not less than £50,000 and:
are applying for leave to remain and have, or were granted leave as a Tier 1 (Graduate entrepreneur) migrant
or
- Access to not less than £50,000 and:
- are applying for leave to remain and
- were last granted leave as a Tier 1 (Post-study work) migrant; and
- were registered with HM revenue and Customs as self-employed, or a registered director of a new or existing business no more than 3 months before your application; and
- are engaged in business activity, other than the work necessary to administer your business. The applicant’s occupation must appear on the list of occupations at the National Qualifications Framework level 4 and above.
25 points each for:
- funds held in (a) regulated UK institution(s)
- funds disposable in the UK
10 points for meeting English language requirements to a particular standard
And
10 points for having enough funds to support self in the UK
Take Away Points
💼 Thriving business scene attracts global talent
🌍 Diverse founders bring fresh perspectives
🚀 Startups scale quickly with strong networks
📈 Migration fuels innovation and growth
🤝 Collaboration bridges cultures and markets
