This comprehensive Tier 1 Investor Visa UK guidance covers everything current visa holders need to know about extensions, settlement, and the critical deadlines approaching in 2026 and 2028. While the route closed to new applicants in February 2022, existing investors can still extend their stay until 17 February 2026 and apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain until 17 February 2028. This guide explains the requirements, qualifying investments, and alternative visa routes for high-net-worth individuals seeking UK residence.
Tier 1 Investor Visa UK Guidance 2026
The Tier 1 Investor Visa UK was designed for high-net-worth individuals seeking UK residence through substantial financial investment. The route permanently closed to new applicants at 4:00pm on 17 February 2022, following government concerns about security risks and the adequacy of source-of-wealth verification. However, those who already held permission under this category continue to have transitional rights to extend their stay and apply for settlement under the original rules.
The scheme is now in a managed wind-down phase, with two critical deadlines that all current holders must be aware of. These deadlines are absolute and non-extendable under Home Office policy, meaning missing them will permanently remove your ability to remain in the UK under this visa category.
What is the Tier 1 Investor Visa UK?
The Tier 1 Investor Visa UK (also known as the "Golden Visa") was an immigration route for high-net-worth individuals willing to invest at least £2 million in active UK companies. It offered the fastest path to settlement of any UK visa category, with ILR possible after just 2 years for £10 million investors. The route closed to new applicants in February 2022 but remains available for extensions and ILR for existing holders until 2026 and 2028 respectively.
Launched in 2008, the Tier 1 Investor route attracted high-net-worth individuals from around the world by offering UK residence in exchange for substantial financial investment. At its peak, the visa allowed investors to gain permanent residence and eventually British citizenship through a straightforward investment pathway.
The government closed the route citing concerns that the scheme facilitated entry for individuals who may have acquired wealth through illicit means, including corruption and organised crime. Despite reforms in 2014 and 2019 that introduced enhanced source-of-wealth checks, ministers concluded that the security framework remained inadequate.
Why Did the UK Investor Visa Close?
The Home Office announced the unexpected closure on 17 February 2022, with applications made at or after 4:00pm that day treated as void. The government cited several concerns about the route's integrity:
- Security concerns: Links to politically exposed persons and individuals with questionable wealth sources
- Money laundering risks: Insufficient verification of the legitimate origin of investment funds
- Limited economic benefit: Government bonds (previously permitted) created minimal job creation or economic impact
- Reputational damage: High-profile cases involving sanctioned individuals undermined confidence in the system
Tier 1 Investor Visa Extension Requirements
To extend your Tier 1 Investor Visa, you must have at least £2 million invested in qualifying UK companies, maintain your investment throughout your leave period, and apply before 17 February 2026. Extensions grant an additional 2 years. The exact requirements depend on when your initial visa was granted, with different rules applying for visas granted before 6 November 2014, between 6 November 2014 and 28 March 2019, and on or after 29 March 2019.
Current Tier 1 Investor Visa holders can apply to extend their stay until 17 February 2026. This deadline applies regardless of when your current visa expires, and extensions must be made in accordance with the requirements that applied when your initial visa was granted.
Extension Requirements by Initial Grant Date
The requirements for extending your Tier 1 Investor Visa depend on when you were first granted entry clearance or leave to remain:
- Currently hold or last held Tier 1 Investor leave (within 12 months)
- At least £2 million invested in qualifying UK investments
- Investment maintained throughout your leave period
- Funds held with FCA-regulated institution
- Investment portfolio reports showing compliance
- Apply before 17 February 2026
Extension applications can be submitted from outside the UK, provided you meet all eligibility requirements. A successful extension grants an additional 2 years of leave to remain, allowing time to complete the continuous residence requirement for settlement.
Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement)
Tier 1 Investors can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 2, 3, or 5 years depending on investment level. ILR applications must be submitted by 17 February 2028 and from within the UK. You must meet the residence requirement (no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period), pass the Life in the UK test, and demonstrate English language ability (unless 65+).
Settlement remains the ultimate goal for most Tier 1 Investor Visa holders, providing the right to live and work in the UK permanently without immigration restrictions. After holding ILR for 12 months, you may be eligible to apply for British citizenship, subject to meeting naturalisation requirements.
Accelerated Settlement Routes
The Tier 1 Investor Visa offered the fastest route to permanent residence of any UK visa category, with accelerated ILR available for higher investment amounts:
Important: Accelerated settlement timelines apply only to the principal applicant. Dependants must qualify for ILR under the standard 5-year residence requirement, regardless of the main applicant's investment level.
How Long Does Tier 1 Investor ILR Take to Process?
Standard ILR processing for Tier 1 Investor applications takes up to 6 months. However, priority service (£500 extra) delivers a decision within 5 working days, and super priority (£1,000 extra) provides a decision by the next working day. Given the 17 February 2028 deadline, applicants should factor in processing times when planning their ILR application.
The ILR processing time can vary depending on application complexity and Home Office workload. For Tier 1 Investor applications approaching the 2028 deadline, consider applying with sufficient buffer time and using priority services to ensure your application is decided before the cut-off date.
ILR Requirements for Tier 1 Investors
To qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain as a Tier 1 Investor, you must satisfy the following requirements:
- Qualifying period: 2, 3, or 5 years of continuous residence as a Tier 1 Investor
- Residence requirement: No more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period during your qualifying period
- Investment maintenance: Qualifying investment maintained throughout your leave period
- English language: Demonstrate English language ability at B1 level or above (unless aged 65+)
- Life in the UK test: Pass the Knowledge of Life in the UK test (unless aged 65+)
- Apply from UK: ILR applications must be submitted while you are physically in the UK
ILR Application Fees 2026
The ILR application fee is £3,029 per person, including each dependant. ILR applicants are exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Qualifying Investments
The investment requirements have evolved significantly since the Tier 1 Investor route was introduced. Current qualifying investments must be in share capital or loan capital of active and trading UK-registered companies. Government bonds were removed as a qualifying option from April 2023 for extensions and April 2025 for ILR applications.
What Counts as a Qualifying Investment?
- Share capital: Direct investment in shares of UK-registered companies
- Loan capital: Loans to UK-registered companies
- Active and trading: Companies must be registered with Companies House and actively trading in the UK
- FCA-regulated: Investments must be held through an FCA-regulated institution
- Pooled investments: Permitted if receiving funding from UK government departments
Excluded Investments
The following do not qualify as Tier 1 Investor investments:
- Property companies: Investments in companies mainly engaged in property investment, management, or development
- Offshore entities: Investments in offshore companies or trusts
- Open-ended investment companies: OEICs are not permitted
- UK property purchase: Direct property purchases do not count toward investment requirements
- Government bonds: No longer qualify for extensions from April 2023 or ILR from April 2025
UK Investor Visa Alternatives 2026
With the Tier 1 Investor route closed to new applicants, high-net-worth individuals seeking UK residence must consider alternative immigration pathways. The UK no longer offers a direct route to residency based solely on financial investment—current options require active business involvement, exceptional talent, or skilled employment.
Innovator Founder Visa
The Innovator Founder Visa is the most comparable alternative for investors willing to actively build a UK business. Unlike the old Investor visa, it requires endorsement from an approved body but has no minimum investment requirement. The focus is on innovation, viability, and scalability rather than capital alone.
Global Talent Visa
The Global Talent Visa is designed for individuals recognised as leaders or emerging leaders in fields including academia, research, digital technology, arts and culture. It offers significant flexibility with no job offer requirement and a 3-year path to ILR for those meeting the criteria. The route was expanded in November 2025 with a new five-year visa programme backed by £115 million in relocation aid and research funding for top-tier professionals in strategic sectors.
Self-Sponsorship via Skilled Worker
High-net-worth individuals can establish a UK company, obtain a sponsor licence, and sponsor themselves for a Skilled Worker visa. This requires meeting salary thresholds (currently £38,700 for most roles) and involves ongoing compliance obligations, but provides a viable route to settlement after 5 years.
- Extension deadline is 17 February 2026—apply urgently if needed
- ILR deadline is 17 February 2028—plan your settlement timeline
- Government bonds no longer qualify for ILR from 6 April 2025
- Standard ILR processing takes up to 6 months; priority available for faster decisions
- ILR requires Life in the UK test and English language (unless 65+)
- Alternative routes include Innovator Founder and Global Talent visas
For official guidance, visit the gov.uk Tier 1 Investor Visa page and the Home Office caseworker guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still apply for a Tier 1 Investor Visa UK?
No, the Tier 1 Investor Visa closed to new applicants at 4:00pm on 17 February 2022 and will not reopen. However, if you already hold a Tier 1 Investor Visa, you can apply for an extension until 17 February 2026 and for Indefinite Leave to Remain until 17 February 2028. Applications made after these deadlines will not be accepted.
What is the deadline for Tier 1 Investor Visa extension?
The final deadline to apply for a Tier 1 Investor Visa extension is 17 February 2026. This deadline is absolute and non-extendable under Home Office policy. After this date, no further extension applications will be accepted, regardless of your individual circumstances.
How long does Tier 1 Investor ILR take to process?
Standard ILR processing for Tier 1 Investor applications takes up to 6 months. Priority service (additional £500 per person) provides a decision within 5 working days, while super priority (additional £1,000 per person) delivers a decision by the next working day. Given the 17 February 2028 deadline, factor in processing times when planning your application.
How long can I stay outside the UK on a Tier 1 Investor Visa?
To qualify for ILR, you must not have been absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period during your qualifying period (2, 3, or 5 years depending on investment level). Exceeding this limit can make you ineligible for settlement and may affect your ability to extend your visa.
Can I invest in UK government bonds for ILR?
No, UK government bonds (gilts) no longer qualify for ILR applications made on or after 6 April 2025. Investors who relied on government bonds needed to rebalance their portfolios into share or loan capital of active UK companies before this deadline. For extensions from April 2023, government bonds were also excluded.
What are the ILR requirements for Tier 1 Investors?
To qualify for ILR, you must have completed the required residence period (2, 3, or 5 years), maintained your qualifying investment throughout, not exceeded 180 days absence in any 12-month period, passed the Life in the UK test, and demonstrated English language ability at B1 level (unless aged 65+). Applications must be made from within the UK by 17 February 2028.
What are the alternatives to Tier 1 Investor Visa?
The main alternatives are the Innovator Founder Visa (for entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas, ILR after 3 years), Global Talent Visa (for leaders in academia, research, arts, or technology, ILR after 3 years), and self-sponsorship through the Skilled Worker route. There is no direct replacement offering residency based solely on passive investment—all current routes require active contribution or exceptional talent.
Will the UK introduce a new investor visa?
Reports in May 2025 indicated the UK government was considering a new investor visa targeting strategic sectors like AI, clean energy, and life sciences. In November 2025, House of Lords members proposed a £2.5 million minimum investor visa to stem capital flight. However, no formal policy has been announced. Any new scheme would likely require active investment in specific industries rather than passive capital placement, with enhanced due diligence and potentially endorsement-style assessment.