can I come to the uk under the investor category?

These pages explain if you can come to the United Kingdom under the investor category.

You can come to the United Kingdom if you have at least £1 million to invest in the United Kingdom and you want to make the United Kingdom your main home. There are restrictions on the investments you can make if you come to the United Kingdom, because we need to make sure that funds are put into areas which stimulate economic growth and productivity in the United Kingdom.

To qualify under the investor category you must provide clear evidence that you:

• have a minimum of £1 million of your own money under your control in the UK ; or
• own personal assets of more than £2 million and have money (which may include loans from a FSA regulated institution) under your control of at least £1million;

And

• intend to invest at least £750,000 of your capital in United Kingdom Government bonds, share capital or loan capital in active and trading United Kingdom registered companies; and
• intend to make the United Kingdom your main home, which means you can have other homes, but you must spend the majority of your time in the United Kingdom; and
• are able to maintain and accommodate yourself and any dependants without taking other employment or recourse to public funds. However, you are allowed to be a non-executive director or consultant, or own your own business.

If your spouse or civil partner is coming to the United Kingdom with you as your dependant and you both apply for entry clearance at the same time the capital may be accepted in your joint names. For further information on entry clearance you should see the entry clearance section.

Personal assets are your personal net worth, which can include property, offshore trusts, and assets held by you or your spouse or civil partner, if they are joining you in the United Kingdom as your dependant.

Once you have invested at least £750,000, the rest of your capital can include investments and major durable assets in the United Kingdom, such as unmortgaged property and significant works of art. Your personal belongings, such as jewellery and antique furniture, do not count as major assets unless it is clear that you only hold these items for investment purposes.

You must produce satisfactory evidence of the real value of such items, insurance valuations are not acceptable as these estimate the replacement value only.

You should transfer your capital to the United Kingdom before you apply, but if you are unable to do so we will need evidence that you have sufficient money and that there are no restrictions on transferring the money to the United Kingdom. All capital must be transferable to the United Kingdom and convertible into sterling.

With your £750,000 you can invest in the following:

• unit trusts - regulated collective investment schemes that meet the requirements of the investor regulations; and
• private companies - you must give us evidence of the shareholding or loans you have in the form of legal documents that are signed by or on behalf of the company, for example, audited accounts.

As a general rule, investments must be in your name. If you have an investment portfolio drawn up by a financial manager, this should be included as supporting evidence for the application. Similarly, where you have invested in a unit trust or other fund which involves investment with a selection of different companies, you should include a copy of the investment portfolio with the application.

You cannot invest in the following:

• property companies, whose main function is to own or manage land or buildings. It does not include, for example, construction firms, manufacturers and retailers who own their own premises. However, once you have invested at least £750,000, you can invest the remaining £250,000 in property companies; and
• offshore companies should not be invested in or through. You must invest your money in the United Kingdom, but you may invest your money in a wholly-owned subsidiary of an offshore company, although the investment must be in the form of loan capital. The subsidiary must be registered in the United Kingdom, active and trading, and directly benefit from the loan.
• banks and building societies must not be given all your capital to look after. Once you have invested at least £750,000 in the United Kingdom as required, you can keep the rest of your capital in a United Kingdom bank or building society.

You can re-invest shares in different companies as long as you can show that your personal investment in the United Kingdom is continuing at the required level of at least £750,000 and you meet the requirements of the immigration rules.

If you do not want to live in the United Kingdom permanently, but you wish to invest your money, you can spend limited periods of time here as a visitor and you can invest your money however you wish.

Back to our Working in the Investors section.

 

Please note CK and Jones is not currently providing any immigration advice until we become regulated by the OISC. Please browse our visa information sections in the meantime and use the contact us page to leave us a message.

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