Many Ways to Come Legally to the UK

There are many legal ways to come and live in the UK. 

As an ultra high net worth individual you may be exposed to the vast choices you can make when choosing to come and live in the UK. 

And yet unable to make your decision.

You may also be offered shortcuts to the UK through golden visa and citizenship by investment routes.

Do these still work after Brexit?

And are these options still worthwhile to be considered?

You Hear People Talk about UK Tier 1 Investor Visa, European Golden Visa and Citizenship by Investment

UK Tier 1 Investor visa, European golden visa and citizenship by investment were the options that historically could be considered alongside each other and offer legal entry to the UK.

Sadly, UK Tier 1 Investor visa is no longer on offer. However, European golden visa and citizenship by investment may still be able to offer legal access into the UK.

Historically, all three options required substantial investment.

Will this substantial investment yield the desired results for legally entering the UK and remaining in the UK?

UK Tier 1 Investor Visa was a Version of British Golden Visa

UK Tier 1 Investor visa was a separate UK immigration category intended for the wealthy. This legal UK immigration route allowed to relocate to the UK and earn long-term residence rights, known as indefinite leave to remain.

Only after you met specific residence requirements and earned your own indefinite leave to remain you became eligible to apply for British citizenship.

There is no direct route to British citizenship based on making an investment alone.

The Home Office closed Tier 1 Investor visa route back in 2022. There are renewed discussions about reintroducing a specific route for investors that allows them to settle in the UK.

European Golden Visa

Golden visa is coined by property developers. Typically, the golden visa was started in Portugal (Europe / EU).

The idea was that if you bought property in Portugal, this would allow you to relocate to Portugal.

However, Portugal decided to swerve away from property investments. It changed its laws to incorporate more targeted investments that no longer include real estate. 

Portugal being a member of the European Union (EU) with free movement rights means that you would be able to travel throughout Europe on your Portuguese residence permit.

Similar Golden visa proposition was extended to Spain and some other European (EU) countries.

This option is no longer relevant if you are looking to create your residence rights in the UK. 

The UK left the EU and the EU free movement rights are no longer supported in the UK. 

Global Invitation: Citizenship by Investment

Citizenship by Investment is an option that you find in the Caribbean islands and some other remote areas, such as Vanuatu. 

Some European countries set up their own schemes, such as Cyprus, Greece and Malta. All in an attempt to attract additional funds in support of their own fragile economies.

The European Commission is known to have fiercely criticised such regimes.

Nonetheless, some countries appear to be doing better than others.

The most attractive part of the citizenship by investment option is the opportunity to be awarded citizenship and passport soon after you make the necessary investment.

In some jurisdictions it may take less than a year, while in others, this may take a bit longer.

However, the final reward is the actual passport.

This can be an important choice if you are looking to acquire secondary citizenship, which allows you a visa free travel.

If you are coming from a country where international travel may be unduly tricky, this may be one of the options you may be considering.

Be mindful that if you travel to the UK on European or non-European passport, you need to register for electronic travel authorisation known as ETA. 

Therefore, if your ultimate destination is to move and live in the UK, then citizenship by investment may not be what you are looking for.

You are better off exploring the legal UK immigration routes.

After Brexit Golden Visa and Citizenship by Investment are No Longer Right Options for the UK

UK left the EU. Therefore, applying for a golden visa or citizenship by investment are no longer the right options for you if you wish to relocate to the UK.

Golden visa or citizenship by investment may still ease entry to the UK for short-term visits. However, one must need not forget to register and secure the ETA before travel to the UK.

UK has changed its immigration requirements in relation to its investor visa, entry to the UK as a European citizen or resident or a holder of a Caribbean passport by investment.

If your ultimate destination is the UK, you will need to seek relevant UK immigration advice.

Relocation to the UK entails not only meeting UK immigration requirements, but also planning your UK tax liability and protecting your global wealth.

You need a Global Wealth Strategy.

Consult the Expert

Help with UK Immigration Applications

Book a call with me to discuss your UK immigration requirements.

Submit your UK immigration enquiry here.

Your Global Wealth Strategy

If your enquiry is wider and you need UK tax planning and explore tax compliant international structuring for your global assets as you relocate to live in the UK in addition to UK immigration requirements, then your Global Wealth Strategy is the answer.

Book your Global Wealth Strategy Session.

You may submit your enquiry here.

Saule Voluckyte, M.A.E.S, LL.B, FAIA

I have been working exclusively with UHNWI in Mayfair, London since January 2008. I built specialist knowledge and expertise required to serve ultra high net worth individuals investing, operating and relocating to the UK or Switzerland.

Within the industry, I am the single adviser who is able to traverse the different areas of expertise and bring a comprehensive approach across: global structuring, UK immigration, international taxation and FOREX to develop their global wealth strategy, while they build, grow and expand their wealth worldwide.

Previous experience as one of the senior advisors for the government, made me a go-to person when delicate and uncomfortable scenarios involving heads of state need to be handled with care and preserve privacy.