Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visa Route Key Deadline Coming Up!

The Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa route was closed to new applicants in 2019. It was designed to allow overseas entrepreneurs to come to the UK to start a business, grow that business, create jobs for UK workers, and eventually obtain indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

ILR is usually obtained once the visa holder has resided in the UK for 5 consecutive years. This means time spent outside of the UK during these 5 years must not exceed 180 days in any rolling 12-month period.

The Home Office is in the process of phasing out the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa route. For that purpose, they have imposed two very important deadlines. If you hold a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa, you should consider the below very carefully: 

Deadline Number ONE: 6 April 2023

This is the deadline for applying to extend a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa (unless you previously held leave as a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)). An extension application will give you two extra years on the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa. 

Deadline Number TWO: 6 April 2025

This is the deadline for applying for ILR under the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa route (unless you previously held leave as a Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)). 

Next Steps

If you need extra time on your Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa before you can qualify for ILR (for example, if your absences are higher than the above limits or you need extra time to study for the Life in the UK test), you should consider extending your visa before the 6 April 2023 deadline. In situations where you cannot qualify for ILR before the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa expires, you must either leave the UK when your visa expires or switch into another immigration route.

An extension application is a very document-heavy process. As such, if you would like assistance extending your Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa before the above deadline, you should contact us urgently.

How Gherson can assist

Gherson’s Immigration Team are highly experienced in advising on UK visa matters. If you have any questions arising from this blog, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice, send us an e-mail, or, alternatively, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn to stay-up-to-date.

The information in this blog is for general information purposes only and does not purport to be comprehensive or to provide legal advice. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information and law is current as of the date of publication it should be stressed that, due to the passage of time, this does not necessarily reflect the present legal position. Gherson accepts no responsibility for loss which may arise from accessing or reliance on information contained in this blog. For formal advice on the current law please do not hesitate to contact Gherson. Legal advice is only provided pursuant to a written agreement, identified as such, and signed by the client and by or on behalf of Gherson.

©Gherson 2023