One of our qualified advisors will get back to you today or next business day. You just wont be able to apply for a new permanent residence document after January 1, 2021. Applicants must also demonstrate their financial viability. To apply for the UK Innovator visa, you must satisfy the following requirements in your visa application: The innovator route can lead to UK settlement after three years if you are eligible. To become a British citizen, the UK immigration office must determine that youre a person of good character.p. Naturalisation is the most common way to get citizenship if you were born outside the UK and don't have a British parent. While a parking ticket or two likely wont affect your chances, repeatedly failing to pay them might add up. And the UK passport will likely remain one of the strongest in the world. Investors must invest at least 2,000,000 into shares or bonds of existing British companies. Though, this article does assume that youre familiar with Brexit. Please fill the form below to make an appointment. Applicants, for example, will have to invest a minimum amount of investment into the UK and maintain that investment during their residency. Investors do not need to pass the language test and confirm their education and professional skills. Other ways in which someone may be eligible for UK citizenship include: If you have not already started living in the UK or you dont meet some of the residency methods that I covered above, dont worry. You cannot get an Innovator visa if you invest into an already existing business. If you dont already have ILR, dont worry, you can work towards it. The initial investor visa is granted for three years and four months, and the Tier 1 investment visa can be extended for an additional two-year period, provided that the investment is kept. The main applicant must be in good health, Hold a clean criminal and immigration record, Have sufficient funds to invest in the UK investor visa, The funds must be held in one or more regulated financial institutions, Funds must be classified as disposable in the UK. UK Citizenship by Investment also referred to as the Tier 1 Investor Visa is the primary route foreign investors can take to obtaining settlement in Britain, with a fast-track pathway to British citizenship possible. Applicants with a bachelors or masters degree in English are exempt from this requirement. The investment funds must sit in your nominated bank account for two years, or alternatively, you can provide evidence that you have the necessary funds in your visa application. If the endorsing body loses its license and withdraws its endorsement, you must reapply to another similar body from the government list. The UK Investor Visa requires an investment of at least 2,000,000 in either British corporate bonds, share capital or loan capital in active and trading UK-registered companies. You will not need to pass any English language requirements for the investor visa, although this is a requirement if you subsequently apply for ILR and citizenship. In order to meet the requirements, you must be 18 years of age or older, and be of "sound mind and good character." UK citizenship is an attractive prospect for many people and is one of the worlds most powerful passports. Visa-free travel to an average of 170+ countries. Family members include spouses and dependent children under the age of 18 are also eligible for a residence permit and UK citizenship for life, PRs have access to a myriad of opportunities. For example, the Innovator visa is directed at entrepreneurs. As permanent residents, investors can later recover their whole investment. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. One of our qualified advisors will call you back today or next business day. You also must pass a good moral character test and have not spent more than 90 days out of the country in the last 12 months before submitting your citizenship application. Guest speakers are often encouraged to share their stories and their knowledge during visits to schools, but Soto-Shed suggests that educators engage with skilled citizens such as politicians, community advocates, and activists, and ask them to share their processes too so that students can learn how . However, the earliest that this application will be open is in March of 2022. We work closely with investors, wealth managers, leading UK banks and other advisors in preparing and submitting visa applications for investors, entrepreneurs and their families. Descent - your parents or grandparents were UK citizens. This requirement, however, is needed if youre after citizenship. For the Tier 1 investor visa to be open to you as a route to British citizenship by investment, you will need to satisfy the visa eligibility requirements. If you decide to sell an investment, a new investment must be acquired for no less than the sold price. Note, the following requirements need to be met, with differing timelines to acquiring residency depending on the minimum investment amount. In addition, you will need to pay the Immigration healthcare surcharge for the duration of the visa. It's not surprising some people believe the government treats citizenship as a cash cow. In addition, a certified translation is required if any of the application documents are not written in English or Welsh. After you apply. By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy. What's the difference between a visa, residence permit, and citizenship? Reach out to us today and well be sure to help you consider your best options. Additionally, you will want to carefully contemplate any time you spend away from the UK. Founder of Nomad Capitalist and the worlds most sought-after expert on global citizenship. Candidates under the age of 65 are required to take an oral test in English up to the CEFR level of B1. Yes, there is no restriction on dual citizenship in the UK. The immigration rules are as follows; Applicants must invest a lump sum of money and maintain the respective investment during their. The main applicant must be at least 18 years old. There are other residency paths to consider for eventual UK citizenship, especially those that fall under the Tier 1 visa. Initial visa is granted for 3 years and 4 months and subject to extension for 2 years. Additionally, the time you need to spend in the UK will differ slightly from the general requirements. You must submit proof of identification, your biometric residence permit (if you have one), proof of at least a level of B1 in the English language in speaking, writing, listening, and reading (unless exempt), proof that you presently possess Indefinite Leave to Remain status, information about your absences from the UK throughout your qualifying period, and information demonstrating that you were lawfully living in the UK for the appropriate time period. However, it will have to be for an eligible job with an approved employer. As an innovator, you and your family can apply for permanent residence (ILR) in 3 years and get British passport in 5 years. Be innovative. You will need to prove the money belongs to either you or your husband, wife, unmarried or same-sex partner, and that the funds are disposable and available for use in the UK. If youre under 18 or over 65 years old or you have a mental or physical condition that prevents you from passing the test, you may also qualify for a waiver. Naturalization - you have lived in the UK for, usually, five years. This basically means that you can stay in the UK indefinitely. The Fastest Way to get British Citizenship 24,115 views May 4, 2021 471 Dislike Share A Y & J Solicitors 9.35K subscribers Need Help with Your UK British Citizenship Visa? Citizenship ceremonies. In fact, the UKs economy is predicted to become even stronger. The investor visa process involves several stages of documentation and interviews. 5. You will be able to apply for permanent residence in a few years, depending on your investment amount: You can apply for residence within the UK, when switching from another allowed category, or outside the country. Innovators must have at least 50,000 to invest into their own company in the UK. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Get in touch,. Additionally, investors and their family members will be entitled to live, work, and study in the United Kingdom. Even though the UK has undergone several changes since its decision to leave the EU, some of the same draws still exist in the post-Brexit space. You can also fast-track your way to becoming an EU citizen by paying 880,000 and you'll become a citizen in one year. Other fees and charges apply. As specialists in UK immigration, we work with individuals from across the globe seeking residency and citizenship in the UK. This qualifying period varies depending on the amount that you have invested in the UK. The application price for UK citizenship is 1,330 per individual. Wait for your application to be processed. Investors cannot rely on property investment in UK property assets as the basis of an application for residency or British citizenship. Sometimes, applicants are invited for an interview. There are three main ways to get UK citizenship. You must be over 18 years old and have a successful endorsement application. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. We are OISC regulated immigration lawyers that provide full immigration support in obtaining British citizenship by investment. It cannot be held in assets or property. It is impossible to purchase British citizenship. An investment of at least 10,000,000 enables the investor to seek permanent residency after two years of residing in the UK. But if you want to fast-track your UK citizenship even more, there are also options to invest 5 10 million to apply for settlement in two to three years. To apply for the Innovator visa, you must satisfy the following requirements: The innovator route can lead to UK settlement after 3 years if you are eligible. Your money can be in the UK or overseas when you apply. To apply for a Tier 1 investor visa, you will need to make a qualifying investment of 2,000,000 to settle in 5 years, 5,000,000 to settle in 3 years or 10,000,000 to settle in 2 years. Applicants have to pass the A1 level English language test in Elementary Listening and Speaking. Copyright 2012-2023, Nomad Capitalist Limited. Home Office accesses your application and makes a decision. You'll need to apply as the spouse of a British citizen, a process that does require some time and documentation to push through. That reason is otherwise known as Brexit, which is the long-awaited outcome of UK citizens voting to leave the European Union in 2016. British consulates in foreign nations handle visa applications for up to three weeks. This specialist investment visa allows holders and their dependants to reside in the UK and ultimately become eligible for UK citizenship where they satisfy the eligibility criteria. This means that you are ready to set-up and run a business locally that brings something new to the market, and has a concept that has been approved by an endorsing body. For the most part, officials primarily focus on issues of unlawful residence, which include infractions such as visa overstays. Before I dive into how you can obtain a UK citizenship, it is important to understand the historical trajectory of why citizenship rules have recently changed in the UK. Replace or correct a UK citizenship certificate. For comparison, the US has the second-highest fees at $725. While the path to getting UK citizenship is relatively straightforward, it requires quite a bit of time, money, and willingness to deal with bureaucracy. have achieved the upper intermediate (B2) level of English. Within three months of arriving in the UK, investors are to purchase 2,000,000 worth of corporate shares or bonds issued by affiliated UK corporations. Imperial & Legal licensed advisors will help you to obtain British residence and British passport. Investors do not need to pass the language test. . Let us know your goal and we will tell you how we can help you based on your details. . If you are granted a Tier 1 (Investor) visa and your application was made in the UK, your residence permit will be sent to you. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Get the DM Business Newsletter & Invitations to our Events. . The timeline to successfully acquiring the British passport: 5 years if settled under the accelerated route or 6 years if settled 5 years after first entry to the UK. Free residence in any country of the European Union (EU). But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. In the event that any documents are not provided or are incorrect, the Home Office will contact you and require you to provide the correct documents within ten working days. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Breaches of immigration laws are the most common way in which potential UK citizens may render themselves ineligible for British citizenship. Although the funds do not need to be in the UK at the time of application, it is important that you check for any regulations or sanctions in the country in which they are held as these could cause difficulties in transferring the funds to the UK. To be eligible to, 5 years if settled under the accelerated route or, 6 years if settled 5 years after first entry to the UK. A UK passport allows for visa free travel to over 160 countries worldwide, including the USA under the visa waiver program and EU countries. In general, sufficient knowledge means that you can read, write, and speak the English language. Organise your citizenship ceremony with your council. How to get UK Citizenship. For your information, we have compiled a table comparing Tier 1 Investor and Innovator visas. Plus, you will usually have a decision within three weeks of applying. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Residence by Investment. Dateline: Mexico City, Mexico If you're looking for a high-value passport without some of the baggage that comes with US citizenship, look no further than the United Kingdom (UK). While the investment amount is considerably less than the investor visa, you will under the innovator route have to show you will be active in directing the business. Alternatively, you can apply for permanent residence (ILR) if your business has significantly developed and you can prove this to immigration authorities. Successful applicants have the right to live, work or study in the UK without any restrictions and can leave and return as they wish, thanks to permanent residency status. The UK Tier 1 Investor Visa is a residency by investment program that allows high-net-worth non-EU investors who make a significant financial investment in the United Kingdom to buy UK citizenship and reside in the country. IMPORTANT NOTICE: Applicants from some countries must undertake a tuberculosis test and show the tuberculosis test results to the Home Office in order to obtain the investor visa. In fact, the UK has the highest citizenship fees in the world at 1330, or more than $1,600, per adult application. While a UK passport may no longer be an automatic ticket into the EU, there are still plenty of great reasons to become a citizen of the UK. : If you invested before 29 March 2019 and your portfolio incorporates government bonds, you must apply for settlement not later than 6 April 2025. A British passport enables you to travel visa-free to over 150 countries, including the USA under the visa waiver program. Have achieved the upper intermediate (B2) level of English. To get British passport, you need to go through 6 steps: When your initial visa for 3 years and 4 months has expires (provided that you applied for Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa outside the UK), you can extend it for 2 years. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyse and understand how you use this website. To be eligible for British citizenship, you must have spent no more than 450 days outside of the UK in the past 5 years, and you must have not spent more than 90 days outside of the country in the past year. Each individual application will demand extensive preparation to evidence your eligibility as an individual and your investment activity. Innovators must prove sufficient English knowledge, education and experience. Go to a visa centre and submit biometric data. If youre a leader or potential leader in academia or research, arts and culture, or digital technology, you may qualify for the Global Talent Visa. In addition, you will need to meet other requirements such as: To apply for ILR from an Innovator Visa, you will need to have lived in the UK for three years on an Innovator Visa and meet the requirements for growing your business. Pros and Cons 2023. Depending on the investment amount, you will be able to get permanent residence (ILR) in 25 years. Gather all necessary documents to confirm your right to obtain British citizenship. Many want to relocate there and are curious about residency and citizenship schemes. Purchase of real estate in any of the 27 EU countries. These cookies do not store any personal information. How did you hear about us? Read on to see better options for UK citizenship in 2021 and beyond. )I read an articleI have seen an advertisementI attended an eventSocial network (Facebook, Twitter, etc.). Specialized firms with qualified advisors can help you make sense of the necessary paperwork needed to succeed in your application. Uruguay. For instance, they can be a highly skilled worker or they can be a leader in a specific field. Only the main applicant can speed up the process of obtaining permanent residency by raising the investment contribution. Contact us for specialist advice. ? Share Planning to settle in the UK? A consultation to advise on the relevant requirements and documentation requirements, Initial applications from outside and inside the United Kingdom, Appeals against any negative decisions made inside the UK, Requests for the administrative review of any negative decisions made outside the UK, Any other advice or assistance that you may require. Unfortunately, you can no longer apply for the Entrepreneur Visa. Initial visa is granted for 3 years and 4 months and subject to extension for 3 years for an unlimited number of times. Firstly, possessing a residence permit does not automatically come with tax obligations or benefits. Other breaches, such as working unlawfully, are also taken into consideration. When getting citizenship by investment, you can be sure the money is spent on noble causes: the government is building hospitals and hurricane-resistant houses, developing alternative energy, and trying to achieve the UN's sustainable development goals. Provided you meet the eligibility requirements to naturalise as a British citizen, you will need to make an application and pay the Home Office application fee of 1,330. It is important that you consider these investments carefully as some types are not allowed under the visa terms, such as, investment in certain property companies and open-ended investment companies or OEICs. After those five years, you will then be able to apply for ILR. To obtain UK citizenship, you must also demonstrate that you have sufficient knowledge of the English language. I was able to claim citizenship by descent in the Czech Republic in 2016 and will discuss the process I went through in this article. This means that the UK will treat EU and non-EU citizens equally in regard to immigration. If you spend several years in the UK on Tier 1 Investor or Innovator visas, you will be able to obtain permanent residence (or ILR Indefinite Leave to Remain). In order to apply for a Tier 1 (Investor) visa, you will in most cases need to make an online application. Its fair to say that you will not get bored there. It must be in pounds sterling. Obviously, you must live in the UK to be able to apply for citizenship, but this requirement goes beyond just traveling to the UK and renting an apartment. UK Citizenship by Investment also referred to as the Tier 1 Investor Visa is the primary route foreign investors can take to obtaining settlement in Britain, with a fast-track pathway to British citizenship possible. ranks the UK economy as the 7th-freest economy in the world and the 3rd-freest economy in Europe. Therefore, anyone planning to apply for UK citizenship should be mindful of their immigration status prior to obtaining an indefinite leave to remain. If not, you can read a quick summary below. The investor and their family members must pass the UK history and social order exam in order to succeed with their application. Foreign investors know that the UK economy is always among the top five economies with the most attractive investment options. The test is 24 questions long, and you will have 45 minutes to complete it. ILR is the indefinite leave to remain in the UK and is otherwise known as settlement. Grenada's real estate CIP requires an investment of at least $350,000. Our advisors will prepare all the necessary documents. While there are many citizenship by investment programs out there governed by various immigration laws, few countries have such a robust economic system and prime living standards as the United Kingdom. You must spend no more than 450 days outside the UK during 5 years prior to applying for naturalisation, and no more than 90 days in the last 12 months. There are no specific criteria for applicants to the Tier 1 Investor Visa they do not need to know English or have previous business experience. However, if you are over 18 years old, married to a British citizen, and have lived in the UK for at least 3 years, you should easily qualify. And you should do it quickly. Note that certain UK financial institutions will require additional due diligence checks on all investors, to ensure that the source of investment funds is legitimate. While there are many citizenship by investment programs out there governed by various immigration laws, few countries have such a robust economic system and prime living standards as the United Kingdom. Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority No. 6183275 Essentially, it is the same process as aquiring ILR. Dont limit yourself; let Nomad Capitalists unbiased approach help you find the best option. The main applicant can add dependents to their application: spouses, partners and minor children. And after five years, you can apply for ILR. Obtaining lawful permanent resident status allows you to legally stay in a country and potentially become a naturalized citizen in the future. Though, after 3 5 years, you may be eligible for ILR depending on your field of work. Prime living conditions, an excellent job market, as well as world-class universities attract investors worldwide to the UKs shores. Work as a doctor without particular education or experience in a related area in the UK; Qualify for government subsidies and benefits. If you do leave, your application will be withdrawn. Innovators need to prove English knowledge at level B2. High-quality healthcare and social guarantees. There is also the option to renew your visa multiple times. This means that you will only be able to apply for citizenship with permanent residence status if you already have this document. Investors need to prove their knowledge of English to apply for permanent residence (ILR) in 25 years. We can arrange a consultation with an Imperial & Legal advisor either in our office or remotely by telephone or WhatsApp/Zoom/Skype. Minimum investment $100,000. Once you have obtained a settled status, it could be revoked if you are away from the UK for more than five years (or four years if youre a Swiss citizen). have been resident in the UK for at least five years (the residential qualifying period); have been physically in the UK on the exact day five years prior to the application date; not have been outside of the UK for more than 450 days in the residential qualifying period; and. A foreign companys sole representative is not permitted to: Visa applications can be submitted three months prior to departure, and visa approvals are issued within three weeks of their issuing. Decisions for this visa usually come in 3 8 weeks, and if approved, you can stay for up to five years. Call us today on 03714543967 for help and assistance with your UK citizenship application. In 2008, the UK introduced a new point-based system that included Tier 1 Investor and Tier 1 Entrepreneur visas. The collection point will be set out in the decision letter that you receive from the Home Office. Over the past decade, the UK economy has proven to be resilient in the wake of the global financial crisis. The Tier 1 investment visa has the following investment routes, with Indefinite Leave to Remain granted depending on the investment sum. As a key economic powerhouse, life in the United Kingdom is pretty sweet for global citizens invested in starting new lives. As of 2021, the most common methods are through: A permanent residence status used to be the way to go when applying for UK citizenship, especially for EU, EEA, or Swiss citizens. The Tier 1 Investor Visa is the fastest way to get UK citizenship by investment 2022. The Sole Representative of Overseas Business Visa does not have an expedited document review service. 10 steps to obtaining British citizenship Determine whether you meet all immigration requirements: have you lived in the UK for the required period of time? We can also make your relocation to a new country comfortable and hassle-free and help you to develop your business, open bank accounts and plan taxes. You have to make investments in active and trading UK-registered companies, with no donation required. Meet specified English language requirements; and, However, starting in January 2021, you can no longer apply for a permanent residence document. But it is sure to be interesting for seven- and eight-figure entrepreneurs. British passport in 56 years for an investor and their family. And there is even greater economic freedom predicted post-Brexit. Under this visa, you can stay for up to five years in the UK, with the possibility for extension. Along with needing an adequate business idea, you must submit a business plan and evidence that you are involved in the business, as well as evidence of your qualifications and experience in running a business; Provide proof that you have the required funds to live in Britain. The investor must demonstrate that the investment sum has been in their custody and control for a minimum of two years. The British government is interested in the development of small and medium-sized enterprises, so the government control is minimum. This visa category does not have an accelerated processing service. And after six years you can apply for citizenship. Needless to say, the permanent residence program is slowly fading away. As it was mentioned above, investors can get permanent residence (ILR) under the accelerated procedure in 2 or 3 years, but they and their families will be able to naturalise only in 5 years. In addition, a certified translation is required if any of the application documents are not written in English or Welsh. Plus, even in the wake of Brexit, the UK economy remains strong. All goods and services produced by your company must differ from already existing offers on the British market. There are several ways in which you can apply for British citizenship, or naturalization. To apply, you will also need to be able to show at least 50,000 in investment funds and be able to show where the funding came from. If you select the Priority Service accelerated document review service, the cost of which is around 500 , your visa status will be ready within five working days. Before innovators get permanent residence (ILR), they cannot withdraw the invested money from their companies. Application processing for the Tier 1 investor visa is typically faster than other routes, can be completed within as little as 4 weeks. This article asks the question, "how strong is the St Lucia Passport in 2023?" This one-year period does not need to be continuous. If, however, your application was made from outside the UK, you will need to collect your residence permit once you arrive in the UK. The certificate must be recent, that is, provided within six months of your visa application. Depending on the visa type, you must provide different information to have your application accepted. , which allows citizens to leave the country and its tax system without giving up their passports. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. To be granted permanent residency, the applicant and their adult family members must pass the UK history and social order exam. Our advisors will prepare and submit all the necessary documents and help you to prepare for the English test and the Life in the UK test that you need to pass to obtain permanent residence (ILR). Unfortunately, this also includes the freedom to live and work between the UK and EU. Unless you are subject to a couple nuances, such as your father being a diplomat working for a non-UK country. DavidsonMorris Ltd t/a DavidsonMorris Solicitors is a company Registered in England & Wales No. 542691 Obviously, the UK doesnt want to be giving out passports to known terrorists or transnational criminals, but if you want to get UK citizenship, you should be aware of certain issues that could cause your good character to be called into question. Investors can renew their visa for an additional two years if necessary. Applicants from some countries must undertake a tuberculosis test and show the tuberculosis test results to the Home Office in order to obtain the investor visa.
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