UK indefinite leave to remain for business, investor or talent visa holders

People who meet the settlement requirements for one of those three visa categories after the required time in the UK.

• Qualifying visa

  Have a Global Talent, Tier 1 (Investor) or Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa; holders of Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) apply as Global Talent holders.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Time in the UK

  Meet the qualifying period for your visa category, which ranges from 2 to 5 years. Time spent in the UK as a partner or child dependant cannot count towards the main applicant’s period.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Time outside the UK

  Have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. For certain Global Talent holders in science, engineering, humanities or medicine, time abroad doing work related to their job may not count towards this limit.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Life in the UK Test

  If aged 18 to 64, book and pass the Life in the UK Test.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• English language

  Global Talent and Tier 1 (Investor) applicants must meet the English language requirement unless exempt. For Global Talent applications made before 26 March 2027, the Immigration Rules specify at least CEFR B1 in speaking and listening; for applications made on or after that date, they specify at least B2. The Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) settlement rules also require sufficient knowledge of English.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Global Talent: 3 years

  A Global Talent holder can apply after 3 years if endorsed by the British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Society or UK Research and Innovation; endorsed as a recognised leader by Arts Council England or Tech Nation; or granted the visa without endorsement because they won an eligible award.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Global Talent: 5 years

  A Global Talent holder endorsed by Arts Council England or Tech Nation as an emerging leader can apply after 5 years.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Global Talent earnings

  Have earned money in the UK during the last period of permission in the field of the endorsement, or a field related to the subject of the qualifying prize. An endorsement used for the initial application must not have been withdrawn.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Entrepreneur: 3 years

  A Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) holder can apply after 3 years if they created the equivalent of 10 new full-time jobs that existed for 12 months, or generated £5 million business income in 3 years.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Entrepreneur: 5 years

  A Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) holder can apply after 5 years if they created the equivalent of 2 new full-time jobs that existed for 12 months.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Entrepreneur points

  A Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) settlement applicant must have at least 75 points under the specified Immigration Rules.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Genuine business

  For Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) settlement, the business must have been genuinely established, taken over or directed and operated; the required money must have been genuinely invested in a UK business; and the applicant must genuinely intend to continue operating a UK business.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Entrepreneur deadline

  A Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) settlement application must be made before 6 July 2027 if the applicant previously had Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) leave. The deadline in all other cases was before 6 April 2025.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Investor: first visa from 6 November 2014

  If the first successful Tier 1 (Investor) application was on or after 6 November 2014, the qualifying combinations are 2 years in the UK and £10 million invested, 3 years and £5 million, or 5 years and £2 million. The funds must have been invested in the stated forms of capital within 3 months of the investor start date. UK government bonds cannot count if the first successful visa application was on or after 29 March 2019.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Investor: first visa before 6 November 2014

  If the first successful Tier 1 (Investor) application was before 6 November 2014, the page lists qualifying periods of 2, 3 or 5 years with, respectively, £10 million, £5 million or £1 million cash; £20 million, £10 million or £2 million personal assets; and £10 million, £5 million or £1 million in loans from a UK-regulated financial institution. At least 75% of the funds must have been invested in the stated forms of capital within 3 months of the investor start date.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Investor points

  A Tier 1 (Investor) settlement applicant must have at least 75 points under the specified Immigration Rules.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Investor deadline

  A Tier 1 (Investor) settlement application must be made before 17 February 2028.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Settlement applicationgov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource£3,226 per person
• Settlement application for each eligible partner or child includedgov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource£3,226 per family member

1. Get ready

   • Check your visa category

     Confirm that you are applying as a Global Talent, Tier 1 (Investor) or eligible Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) holder.

   • Check your qualifying period

     Check the time and, where relevant, financial conditions for your visa category.

   • Check your time outside the UK

     Check that your absences meet the continuous-residence rule before applying.

   • Meet the language and life requirements

     Pass the Life in the UK Test if required and prepare proof that you meet the applicable English language requirement.

     You’ll need: Life in the UK Test result, if required, Evidence of English language knowledge, if required

   • Prepare your supporting documents

     Gather the documents requested for your application, which might include proof of financial requirements and where your money came from.

     You’ll need: Supporting documents specified during the online application, Financial evidence, if required

2. Apply

   • Apply online and pay

     Apply online, select your settlement category and pay the application fee; the earliest you can apply is 28 days before meeting your qualifying residence period.

   • Provide your biometrics and documents

     Attend a UKVCAS appointment for fingerprints and a photo, and upload your supporting documents or have them scanned at the appointment.

     You’ll need: Supporting documents

3. Settle in

   • Wait for the decision

     Do not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man before the decision, or your application will be withdrawn.

Living, working and studying in the UK without time restrictions, with the possibility of applying for British citizenship.

• Indefinite leave to remain if you have a business, investor or talent visa: Overview - GOV.UKgov.ukOfficial
• gov.uk/government/publications/settlement-customer-service-standards/…Official
• Indefinite leave to remain if you have a business, investor or talent visa: Time in the UK and financial requirements - GOV.UKgov.ukOfficial
• Immigration Rules - Immigration Rules part 6A: the points-based system - Guidance - GOV.UKgov.ukOfficial
• gov.uk/indefinite-leave-to-remain-business-investor-global-talent/app…Official
• gov.uk/indefinite-leave-to-remain-business-investor-global-talent/aft…Official
• Immigration Rules - Immigration Rules Appendix Global Talent - Guidance - GOV.UKgov.ukOfficial

Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.