The United Kingdom is exploring a new visa category for wealthy foreign nationals, requiring a substantial investment of at least £5 million. This proposed "invite-only" scheme aims to attract global entrepreneurs and provide them with a three-year pathway to settlement in the UK.
According to proposals circulated by the Office for Investment, a joint unit involving 10 Downing Street, the Treasury, and the Department for Business and Trade, the visa will target individuals willing to invest in priority sectors of the British economy. These sectors are expected to include artificial intelligence, clean energy, life sciences, and fast-growing technology companies.
Candidates for this visa will undergo strict vetting processes. The qualifying funds must be directed into fast-growing UK businesses, with residential and commercial property investments being strictly prohibited to prevent speculative capital inflows. The government also plans to implement rigorous due diligence and anti-money laundering checks.
This new proposal represents a significant increase compared to other countries' investment migration programs. For instance, the United States EB-5 visa requires a standard investment of $1,050,000, while Portugal's golden visa fund option starts at €500,000, and Greece offers residency pathways ranging from €250,000 to €800,000.
The UK's move to introduce a new investor visa follows a trend of wealthy residents departing the country. Data from Henley & Partners indicates that nearly 11,000 millionaires left the UK in 2024, with projections of 16,500 departures by the end of 2025. This outflow has been partly attributed to the abolition of the non-domiciled tax regime in April 2025 and higher tax rates introduced by the Labour government.
The previous Tier 1 Investor Visa was scrapped in 2022 due to concerns over illicit financial flows and weak oversight. The new proposed system aims to offer greater control to British authorities by operating on a selective invitation-only basis, attracting entrepreneurs capable of supporting long-term business expansion, innovation, and job creation.
The future of the proposal remains uncertain due to political considerations within the governing Labour Party.
