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Tier 1 (Graduate entrepreneur)

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Applying from inside the UK

This page explains how you should apply for permission to remain in the UK under the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) category of the points-based system, if you are currently:

  • in the UK under Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur), and you want to extend your stay in the same category; or
  • in the UK under a different immigration category, and you want to 'switch' into Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) - see 'More information' below to find out whether you can switch from your current immigration category.

Before you apply, you should read the Can you apply? pages.

If you think you are eligible to apply, you can download the application form and policy guidance from the right side of this page. You must read the policy guidance before you make your application.

You should only complete the sections of the application form that are relevant to you. The application form contains help text which explains how to complete each section.

You should send the application form by post or by courier to the address on the cover on the form. Your application must arrive during normal business hours (08:30 to 16:30 Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays), or we cannot guarantee that we will receive it.

There are special application requirements if you are currently in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man - see 'More information' below.

When should you apply?

You should apply as soon as possible, and before your current permission to stay expires. We encourage you to apply 1 month before your permission expires.

The date of your application depends on whether you apply by post or by courier. For details, see 'More information' below.

Biometric residence permit

As part of your application, you will need to enrol your fingerprints and facial image (known as 'biometric information') in order to obtain a biometric residence permit. The Biometric information page explains how to do this.

Choose a heading below to show more information.

More information

  • What is the date of your application? (Applying by post or courier from inside the UK)

    If you send your application form and application fee by post, the date of application is the date of posting. This is decided by the postmark. If the postmark is illegible or missing, the date of postage is taken as being at least 1 day before it is received by us.

    If you send your application form and application fee by courier, the date of application is the date when it is delivered to our payment handling service.
  • Withdrawing your application When the payment handling service has received your application, the application fee is charged. The fee cannot then be refunded if you withdraw your application.
  • Duplicate applications If you send more than one application, you will be charged the application fee for each application.
  • How to pay your application fee if you are inside the UK

    If you are applying online, you must pay your fee online as part of your application.

    If you are applying by post or courier, you can choose how to pay your application fee:

    • By cheque in sterling on a UK bank account. The application form will tell you who to make the cheque payable to, you should write your full name and date of birth on the back, and attach the cheque to the front of the completed application form. 
    • With a UK postal order. You should write your full name and date of birth on the back, and attach the postal order to the front of the completed application form. 
    • With a credit or debit card - American Express, MasterCard, Visa (including Electron), Delta or Maestro (including Solo). For postal and courier payments, we accept only Maestro cards issued in the UK. You must include the card number, the amount paid, the payer's name as it appears on the card, the 'valid from' and expiry dates, the card verification value (CVV) code, the cardholder's signature and the date. The issue number is also needed for Maestro cards.

    If you are applying and paying in person at a public enquiry office, you can choose how to pay your application fee. For applications made in person at a public enquiry office, the total fee includes an additional fee of £375 for each person. This includes a £100 appointment fee, which may be retained should the applicant fail to attend their appointment without good reason.  Please check the relevant application form to find out if you can make an application in person.

    • With a UK postal order (except at our Glasgow and Cardiff offices). You should write your full name and date of birth on the back.
    • By banker's draft (except at our Glasgow and Cardiff offices). 
    • With a credit or debit card - American Express, MasterCard, Visa (including Electron), Delta or Maestro (including Solo). We can accept any Maestro card for payments at a public enquiry office. You must include the card number, the amount paid, the payer's name as it appears on the card, the 'valid from' and expiry dates, the card verification value (CVV) code, the cardholder's signature and the date. The issue number is also needed for Maestro cards. The cardholder must be present for the payment to be taken.

    Payment by any other method is not accepted.

    You must send the full amount to cover the total cost of your application. If you do not do this, your application will be invalid and will not be considered. We will return your application and part payment to you.

    We start considering the application when the payment has cleared. Payments are cleared:

    • after 5 working days for cheques
    • after 1 working day for credit or debit cards
    • immediately for postal orders

    Please note that, if you are making numerous payments using your credit card, the anti-fraud measures that banks operate sometimes stop payment being taken. This may be because you have exceeded the maximum limit on a single transaction or the number of transactions allowed in a given period of time. You must ensure that you contact your bank in advance, so that the bank will allow the full payment to be taken without any problems when you submit your applications.

    Payment information on the application form

    It is very important that you complete the payment section of the application form correctly. If this section contains errors, we will not be able to process your payment. This will mean that your application is invalid.

Application forms

Tier 1 (Graduate entrepreneur)

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