Before your initial Tier 1 Investor visa expires, you may be eligible to apply to extend your stay as a Tier 1 Investor.  The requirements that you will need to satisfy in order to qualify for a Tier 1 Investor visa extension will depend upon whether your initial Tier 1 Investor visa was granted between 6 November 2014 and 28 March 2019 or on or after 29 March 2019.  Applications for further leave to remain as a Tier 1 Investor can be made until 17 February 2026.

Tier 1 Investor Visa extension requirements: Initial Tier 1 Investor visa granted between 6 November 2014 and 28 March 2019

If you successfully applied for your Tier 1 Investor visa between 6 November 2014 and 28 March 2019, you will be able to extend your stay as a Tier 1 Investor if:

  • You invested not less than £2 million in the UK by way of UK Government bonds, share capital, or loan capital in active and trading UK registered companies;
  • You made your investment either (i) within 3 months of your entry to the UK if you were granted entry clearance as a Tier 1 Investor and there is evidence to establish your date of entry to the UK (unless there are exceptionally compelling reasons for the delay in investing), or (ii) within 3 months of the date of the grant of entry clearance or leave to remain as a Tier 1 Investor (unless there are exceptionally compelling reasons for the delay in investing); or (iii) no earlier than 12 months before the date of the application which led to the first grant of leave as a Tier 1 (Investor) Migrant;
  • You have maintained the level of investment for the whole of the remaining period of your leave.

If you invested in UK Government bonds you will need to submit your Tier 1 Investor visa extension application before 6 April 2023.  You can apply for an extension after 6 April 2023 if you move your qualifying investments out of UK Government bonds.

Tier 1 Investor Visa extension requirements: Initial Tier 1 Investor visa granted on or after 29 March 2019

If you successfully applied for your Tier 1 Investor visa on or after 29 March 2019, you will need to satisfy the following requirements in order to qualify for an extension of stay:

  • You must have invested not less than £2 million in the UK by way of UK share capital or loan capital in active and trading UK registered companies;
  • You must have made your investment either (i) within 3 months of your entry to the UK, if you were granted entry clearance as a Tier 1 Investor and there is evidence to establish your date of entry to the UK (unless there are exceptionally compelling reasons for the delay in investing); or (ii) within 3 months of the date of the grant of entry clearance or leave to remain as a Tier 1 Investor (unless there are exceptionally compelling reasons for the delay in investing); or (iii) no earlier than 12 months before the date of the application which led to the first grant of leave as a Tier 1 Investor;
  • You have maintained the level of investment for the whole of the remaining period of your leave.

Whichever route you apply under, the exact requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on your circumstances.  You may want to speak to an immigration lawyer for expert advice.

To discuss your Tier 1 Investor visa application with one of our investment immigration barristers, contact our UK Tier 1 Investor visa lawyers on 07810 447971 or complete our enquiry form below.

Tier 1 Investor Visa extension timeline

You can apply for a Tier 1 Investor visa extension at any time prior to the expiry of your leave.  However, we recommend that you apply to extend your UK Investor visa not more than 1 month before your current leave expires.  If you apply for a Tier 1 Investor visa extension earlier than this then you may have a shortfall in your leave when you apply for settlement.  This is because the Home Office will grant an extension of stay as a Tier 1 Investor for 2 years from the date of the decision, not the date when your current leave expires.  This would necessitate a further application for an extension of stay as a Tier 1 Investor before becoming eligible for indefinite leave to remain.  Advice from an immigration lawyer will ensure the correct timing of your Tier 1 Investor visa extension application.

Applications for further leave to remain as a Tier 1 Investor can be made until 17 February 2026.

Tier 1 Investor visa extension processing times

If you apply for a Tier 1 Investor visa extension via UK Visa & Immigration’s standard service, you can normally expect to receive a decision within 8 weeks of your extension application date.  If you apply for an extension of stay as a Tier 1 Investor visa via the priority service, you will normally receive a decision on your extension application within 5 working days of your UKVCAS appointment.

Tier 1 Investor visa extension from outside the UK

If you hold a Tier 1 Investor visa you can, if you wish, apply to extend your stay in the Tier 1 Investor visa category from outside the UK.  Advice from an immigration lawyer will ensure that your Tier 1 Investor visa extension application is prepared and submitted in accordance with Home Office requirements.

UK Investor visa extension application: How our immigration barristers can help

The Immigration Rules contain strict requirements in terms of the documents that must be provided in support of a Tier 1 Investor visa extension application.  It can be helpful to get advice from an immigration lawyer in order to ensure that your application is professionally presented and technically correct.

Richmond Chambers is widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading immigration practices for Tier 1 Investors.  As well as winning numerous industry awards, the work of our immigration barristers on behalf of investors has also been recognised through membership of the Investment Migration Council and the Department of International Trade’s Investor Support Network.

Our investment immigration barristers and immigration lawyers work closely with investors, wealth managers, and leading banks to prepare and submit high-quality extension applications for investors and their families. Our barristers are experts in the immigration options for investors and will guide you through the complex Home Office Immigration Rules and policies.

We pride ourselves on being approachable and proactive in understanding and meeting our clients’ needs. We are a highly driven team, dedicated to providing clear and reliable immigration advice to investors as part of a professional and friendly service.