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Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)

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Dependants' maintenance

This page explains the requirements for maintenance (funds) you must meet if you wish to apply for permission to stay here as the dependant of the entrepreneur category (Tier 1 Entrepreneur) of the points-based system to work in business in the United Kingdom.

What maintenance (funds) dependants must have

To qualify for leave to remain as a dependant of an entrepreneur, your dependant must show that he/she has enough personal funds to support himself/herself for the entire period of stay here.

You and your dependants should have already assessed the potential living costs, based on past living expenses, to ensure that you have enough funds to support yourselves.

You will not be successful in your application if you or your dependants are unable to meet the maintenance requirements.

If the main applicant under the entrepreneur category is outside the United Kingdom or has been in the United Kingdom for less than 12 months, the family member must show that the main applicant or the dependant has at least £1,600 to support the dependant as well as the funds needed to support the main applicant.

If the main applicant has been present in the United Kingdom for 12 months or more, the main applicant or the family member of the entrepreneur must have £533 to support himself/herself.

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Transitional arrangements for maintenance

Normally, when applying from inside the United Kingdom, the main applicant under the entrepreneur category is outside the United Kingdom or has been in the United Kingdom for less than 12 months, the family member must show that the main applicant or the dependant has at least £1,600 to support the dependant as well as the funds needed to support the main applicant.

If the main applicant has been present in the United Kingdom for 12 months or more, the main applicant or the family member of the entrepreneur must have £533 to support himself/herself.

Because this is a new requirement and it may be difficult to prove this immediately, we have put transitional arrangements in place for you and your family members submitting your applications within the United Kingdom up to and including 31 October 2008.

Up to 31 October 2008, you do not have to show you have had the funds for at least three months before your application. You must only show you have the required funds at the time you apply. Until 31 October 2008, your supporting evidence does not need to cover the three-month period, but the documents must be dated no more than a month before your application.

For example, if you apply under the highly skilled worker category on 12 July, a single bank statement with a closing balance of £800 dated between 12 June and 12 July will meet the maintenance requirements. A bank statement dated before 12 June will not be acceptable.

For applications submitted within the United Kingdom on or after 1 November 2008, and for applications submitted in countries overseas, you will have to meet the normal requirements.

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How we assess maintenance evidence for online bank accounts

Accounts held with internet based banks

For the purpose of the points-based system an online bank account is one that operates over the internet only and sends your bank statements to you electronically (for example over the internet or through email).

If you wish to use electronic bank statements from an online bank account as evidence, these statements must always be accompanied by:

  • a supporting letter from that bank, on their company headed paper, confirming the authenticity of the statements

Accounts held with other banks

If you have a bank account that does not operate exclusively online but you receive your bank statements electronically and you wish to use these statements as evidence of funds for maintenance, you should provide:

  • electronic bank statements printed at the bank on their official stationary; or
  • electronic statements printed by the applicant and bearing the official stamp of the bank in question. This stamp should appear on every page of the statements; or
  • a supporting letter from the bank, on the banks company headed paper, confirming the authenticity of the statements.

All evidence must meet the requirements listed in the policy guidance which you can download from the right side of this page.  Mini-statements from cash points are not acceptable as evidence.

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Application forms

Dependants of Tier 1, 2 and 5 migrants of the points-based system - for applications made inside the UK

Choose a different form

See also