The UK is considering the introduction of a new investor visa

The UK authorities are studying a new type of visa for wealthy foreigners. To get it, you will need to invest at least 5 million pounds (about 6.7 million US dollars) in priority sectors of the economy, for example, in fast-growing British companies.

The visa is planned to be "invite-only" (by invitation only) with enhanced screening of candidates. The period of stay under it is three years, after which it will be possible to apply for a permanent residence permit.

The relevant proposals were recently sent by government agencies to consultants working with wealthy clients, Bloomberg reports, citing the documents studied.

Why are they returning to the idea of a "golden visa"

The previous investment visa (Tier 1 Investor Visa) was closed in 2022. The reason was concerns related to money laundering and the use of this route by persons with dubious reputations, including those close to the Russian government. That visa cost less than 2 million pounds, and allowed you to invest in passive assets like British government bonds.

The new project is proposed to be "invite-only" by invitation only, with enhanced verification of the origin of funds. At the same time, investments should be directed to priority sectors: artificial intelligence, clean energy, life sciences and fast-growing technology companies. According to reports, it will be prohibited to buy real estate as a qualifying asset.

The initiative appeared against the background of the outflow of wealthy residents from the UK. The abolition of tax benefits for foreigners with "non-dom" status in 2025 led to the departure of about 11,000 millionaires from the country. Many have moved to Italy, the UAE and other jurisdictions with a more lenient tax regime.

Visa policy in general is being tightened

Simultaneously with the discussion of a new "visa for the rich," Britain is tightening the rules for other categories of migrants: English language requirements are increasing, and the time for obtaining permanent residence is lengthening. Thus, there is a clear separation of migration policy for capital and labor.

The fate of the proposal has not yet been determined: it is being discussed against the background of internal political instability in the ruling Labor Party after defeats in local elections. However, the very fact that such a measure is being worked out suggests that London seriously intends to return to global competition for wealthy residents.

Source: Bloomberg