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Business Setup and the UK Immigration Visa Scheme

Visa Categories, Requirements & General Information

 

This section briefly explains what you will need to do if you want to come to the United Kingdom (UK) to set up in business. You must obtain a visa before you set up a business in the UK. Visa criteria constantly changes, please click the IND button to view the latest information from the offical UK Visa site.Click me at the end of each visa section on this page for more information


 UK Immigration Visa for a Business Setup:

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UK Business Setup Visa

What do I need to set up in business in the UK?

To qualify, you must be able to show evidence for the following:

You have at least £200,000 under your control, which is available for you to use in the UK and which is held in your name (it is not held by trust or other investment arrangements), with the aim of investing it in a business in the UK.

You have enough extra funds to support yourself and any dependants, and live without needing any help from public funds or taking employment (other than work for the business) 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 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. (This is when a person claims to be running the business but is really an employee.)

You can afford your share of any liabilities.

You intend to provide investment and services for which there is a genuine need in the UK.

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 (other than the business).

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 create 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.

The above conditions apply to self-employed doctors and dentists.


Can my dependants join me in the UK?

Your husband, wife, civil partner or eligible partner, and children under 18 years of age can join you in the UK if:

they have a visa for this purpose, and
you can support them and live without working or getting help from public funds.


Click here to go direct to the online guide at the UK Government - Immigration and Nationality Directorate web site. Disclaimer: Visa criteria constantly changes, please ensure you click the IND button to view the latest official information. This page is for guidance purposes only.