Tier 1 (Investor)
Points for initial applications
This page explains how to score points if you are making an initial application under Tier 1 (Investor) of the points-based system.
You should read this page if you have not held a visa (entry clearance) or permission to stay as a Tier 1 (Investor) migrant or as an investor under the previous route in the 12 months immediately before the date of application.
If you are already in the UK under Tier 1 (Investor) or the former investor category, see the Extension applications page.
Before you apply, you must read the Tier 1 (Investor) policy guidance, which you can find on the right side of this page. The policy guidance is based on Part 6A of the Immigration Rules.
To be able to apply, you must score 75 points. There can score these points if:
- you have £1,000,000 or more of your own money for investment in the UK; or
- you have £2,000,000 or more in personal assets, plus a loan of £1,000,000 or more for investment in the UK.
The funds must not be invested through an offshore company or trust. The funds must not be held in offshore custody. We will not accept applications that rely on money that a loan has been secured against, where another party would have a claim on the money if loan repayments were not met. This includes the scenario of a bank lending funds to you and then taking the investments as security.
If you have £1,000,000 of your own money for investment in the UK
This money must:
- be held in a regulated financial institution;
- be disposable in the UK;
- amount to £1,000,000 or more; and
- be held in the UK at the time of your application.
The funds must not be invested through an offshore company or trust. The funds must not be held in offshore custody. We will not accept applications that rely on money that a loan has been secured against, where another party would have a claim on the money if loan repayments were not met. This includes the scenario of a bank lending funds to you and then taking the investments as security.
If the money is not held in pounds sterling, you must convert it into pounds sterling to show that you have the minimum investment required. We will check this rate using the spot exchange rate on the OANDA website, which you can find on the right of this page, on the date when you apply.
You may rely on money that you own jointly with your partner (husband, wife, civil partner, unmarried partner or same-sex partner), and on money that is owned solely by your partner. In that case, you must have:
- an unrestricted right to transfer and dispose of this money; and
- your partner's permission to have control of this money in the UK.
If you have £2,000,000 in personal assets and a £1,000,000 loan for investment in the UK
The net value of your personal assets must be at least £2,000,000 after any liabilities to which you are subject have been taken into account.
Assets held by your partner (husband, wife, civil partner, unmarried partner or same-sex partner), either jointly or in their own name, can be taken into account when assessing your net worth.
You may borrow all of your £1,000,000 investment money, which must be:
- held in a regulated financial institution; and
- disposable in the UK.
The loan must be made by an 'authorised financial institution' which is regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
You may not mix personal money and borrowed money in order to meet the total £1,000,000 investment required to score 75 points.
Additional requirement for recent students with official financial sponsorship
You may also need to meet an additional requirement if you have recently been receiving financial sponsorship as a student in the UK.
Your financial sponsor must give their unconditional consent for you to re-enter or remain in the UK. If they do not give unconditional consent, or give their consent for a limited time, we will refuse your application.
The consent must be given in writing, on the organisation's official letter-headed paper or stationery. It must bear the organisation's official stamp, and must have been issued by an authorised official of the organisation.
You must meet this additional requirement if a government or an international scholarship agency has given you financial sponsorship, which has wholly covered your course fees and living costs, to study in the UK during the past 12 months:
- under Tier 4 (General) of the points-based system; or
- as a student, student nurse, student re-sitting an examination, student writing up a thesis, postgraduate doctor or dentist, an overseas qualified nurse or midwife or a student sabbatical officer.
You do not need to provide your financial sponsor's consent if you have received private financial sponsorship during your studies (from an employer or a relative, for example).
Application forms
Tier 1 (Investor) policy guidance
- Tier 1 (Investor) policy guidancePDF 577KB opens in a new window
Terms explained
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Entry clearance
Documents that give permission to travel to or enter the UK. There are 4 types of entry clearance documents:
- visa;
- entry certificate;
- EEA family permit; and
- exempt vignette
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Financial institution
A body that provides financial services to clients, for example a bank, building society, credit union, stock brokerage or asset management firm.
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Spot exchange rate
The price that a buyer expects to pay for one foreign currency when buying it in another currency for delivery immediately. The closing spot exchange rate is the rate that is current at the time the market stops trading for the day.