UK VISAS

If you’re a South African, a British passport could be more attainable than you might think. Thanks to the UK’s historical laws and agreements with former colonies, you may qualify for British citizenship depending on where you, your parents and grandparents were born.

IN THE NEWS

The government has announced its plans to introduce a “points-based” post-Brexit immigration system. Consequently, low-skilled workers and non-English speakers will not receive visas and the Home Office said EU and non-EU citizens coming to the UK would be treated equally after UK-EU free movement ended, on 31 December.

Tier 1 Investor Innovator Start-Up Representative of an overseas business Tier 1 Exceptional Talent Tier 4 (General) - Student Visa UK Ancestry Visitor Partner or Spouse of a British or settled person in the UK

Tier 1 Investor

Tier 1 Investor enables overseas nationals to reside in the UK by investing at least £2 million in the UK government bonds, share or loan capital, or actively trading UK companies.

Invest £2 million– Attain Permanent Residence after 5 years
Invest £5 million– Attain Permanent Residence after 3 years
Invest £10 million– Attain Permanent Residence after 2 years

Innovator

Innovator is a new route (replacing Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)) to enable experienced overseas Entrepreneurs to establish a business in the UK.

A minimum investment of £50,000 is required in most cases.
The Applicant must secure an Endorsement from a Home Office-approved endorsing boding, verifying that their Business Plan is Innovative, Viable and Scalable.

Start-Up

Start-up is a new route (essentially replacing Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)) to enable Entrepreneurs to establish their first business in the UK.

No Investment required.
The Applicant must secure an Endorsement from a Home Office-approved endorsing boding (many of which are UK higher education institutions), verifying that their Business Plan is Innovative, Viable and Scalable.
Time spent in the UK does not count towards Indefinite Leave To Remain (ILR) and many Start-Up Migrants will wish to progress as soon as possible to the Innovator route.

Representative of an overseas business

Employees of Overseas Businesses may apply for Immigration permission to enter the UK:

As a sole representative to establish a branch or subsidiary of that business in the UK; or
As an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation.

Tier 1 Exceptional Talent

Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) enables Overseas Nationals who have been endorsed in the field of science, humanities, engineering, medicine, digital technology, fashion or the arts as a Recognised Leader (Exceptional Talent) or as an Emerging Leader (Exceptional Promise) to live and work in the UK.

Two- Stage process: (i) Application for Endorsement (ii) Application for Visa

Tier 4 (General) – Student Visa

The Tier 4 (General) sub-category is designed to enable overseas citizens aged 16 and over, to study in the UK at a university or college that holds a Tier 4 Sponsor Licence.

UK Ancestry

The UK Ancestry category enables Commonwealth citizens who have a grandparent born in the UK to come to work, study and settle in the UK.

Visitor

The Visitor provisions allow overseas nationals to visit the UK for a short period of time for leisure, business or another reason, for example to receive private medical treatment.

Visitors are usually prohibited from undertaking certain activities, including:

Intending to live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits;
Employment in the UK;
Undertaking a course of study in the UK (except those which are expressly permitted);
Intending to marry or form a civil partnership or give notice to marry or form a civil partnership (unless additional criteria is met);
Intending to access medical treatment in the UK (unless additional criteria is met); and
Having recourse to public funds.

Certain activities may be allowed under the Permitted Paid Engagements (PPE) provisions, including taking part in arts, entertainment, sporting activities and broadcasting as well as giving lectures and taking part in fashion modelling assignments. Please contact us for tailored advice.

Partner or Spouse of a British or settled person in the UK

Seek to accompany or join a Partner who is British or Settled in the UK, Requirements inclusive of:

Evidence proof of relationship;
Financial Requirement: minimum salary of £18,600.00;
Accommodation;
English Language.

Tier 1 Investor

Tier 1 Investor enables overseas nationals to reside in the UK by investing at least £2 million in the UK government bonds, share or loan capital, or actively trading UK companies.

Invest £2 million– Attain Permanent Residence after 5 years
Invest £5 million– Attain Permanent Residence after 3 years
Invest £10 million– Attain Permanent Residence after 2 years

Innovator

Innovator is a new route (replacing Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)) to enable experienced overseas Entrepreneurs to establish a business in the UK.

A minimum investment of £50,000 is required in most cases.
The Applicant must secure an Endorsement from a Home Office-approved endorsing boding, verifying that their Business Plan is Innovative, Viable and Scalable.

Start-Up

Start-up is a new route (essentially replacing Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)) to enable Entrepreneurs to establish their first business in the UK.

No Investment required.
The Applicant must secure an Endorsement from a Home Office-approved endorsing boding (many of which are UK higher education institutions), verifying that their Business Plan is Innovative, Viable and Scalable.
Time spent in the UK does not count towards Indefinite Leave To Remain (ILR) and many Start-Up Migrants will wish to progress as soon as possible to the Innovator route.

Representative of an overseas business

Employees of Overseas Businesses may apply for Immigration permission to enter the UK:

As a sole representative to establish a branch or subsidiary of that business in the UK; or
As an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation.

Tier 1 Exceptional Talent

Two- Stage process: (i) Application for Endorsement (ii) Application for Visa

Tier 4 (General) - Student Visa

The Tier 4 (General) sub-category is designed to enable overseas citizens aged 16 and over, to study in the UK at a university or college that holds a Tier 4 Sponsor Licence.

UK Ancestry

The UK Ancestry category enables Commonwealth citizens who have a one grandparent born in the UK to come to work, study and settle in the UK.

Visitor

The Visitor provisions allow overseas nationals to visit the UK for a short period of time for leisure, business or another reason, for example to receive private medical treatment.

Visitors are usually prohibited from undertaking certain activities, including:

Intending to live in the UK for extended periods through frequent or successive visits;
Employment in the UK;
Undertaking a course of study in the UK (except those which are expressly permitted);
Intending to marry or form a civil partnership or give notice to marry or form a civil partnership (unless additional criteria is met);
Intending to access medical treatment in the UK (unless additional criteria is met); and
Having recourse to public funds.

Partner or Spouse of a British or Settled Person in the UK

Seek to accompany or join a Partner who is British or Settled in the UK, Requirements inclusive of:

Evidence proof of relationship;
Financial Requirement: minimum salary of £18,600.00;
Accommodation;
English Language.

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UK VISAS

If you’re a South African, a British passport could be more attainable than you might think. Thanks to the UK’s historical laws and agreements with former colonies, you may qualify for British citizenship depending on where you, your parents and grandparents were born.

IN THE NEWS

Tier 1 Investor

Innovator

Start-Up

Representative of an overseas business

Tier 1 Exceptional Talent

Tier 4 (General) – Student Visa

UK Ancestry

Visitor

Partner or Spouse of a British or settled person in the UK

CONTACT US

Find Us

Contact Us

In the News