What is a business?
Under the Immigration Rules, a ‘business’ is:
- A sole trader
- A partnership, or
- A company registered in the United Kingdom.
You must get a visa to set up in business in the UK.
How to Qualify?
- You have at least £200,000 under your control, which is available for you to use in the United Kingdom and which is held in your name, with the aim of investing it in a business in the United Kingdom.
- You have sufficient extra funds to support yourself and any dependants, and live without needing any help from public funds or taking employment until the business earns you income.
- You intend to be actively involved full-time in trading or providing services on your own account or in partnership, or in promoting and managing the company as a director.
- You intend to keep a level of financial investment proportional to your interest in the business.
- You intend to have either a controlling or equal interest in the business, and any partnership or directorship must not amount to disguised employment. You can afford your share of any liabilities.
- You intend to provide investment and services for which there is a valid need in the United Kingdom.
- You expect to receive a share of the profits from the business, which will be enough to support yourself and any dependants, and live without needing any help from public funds or taking employment.
- You do not intend to take or look for any other employment in the UK other than your work for the business.
If you are taking over or joining as a partner or director in an existing business, you should provide:
- A written statement of the terms on which you will join or take over the business
- audited accounts from the business for previous years, and
- Evidence that your services and investment will lead to an overall increase in the employment the business provides and so creates at least two new full-time jobs for people already settled in the UK.
If you are setting up a new business in the UK, you should provide evidence that:
- you will bring enough funds of your own to the UK to set up the business, and
- The business will create at least two new full-time jobs for people already settled in the UK.