Extension Renewal Of Tier 1 Investor Visa

You may apply to extend your Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa if you have invested the required funds into your business and created at least two full-time jobs for settled workers, each lasting for a minimum of twelve months. Although the Tier 1 Entrepreneur route is now closed to new applicants, existing Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) migrants can still submit extension applications before 6 April 2023. If you previously switched from the Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) route, you can apply for an extension until 6 July 2025.

Our specialist Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa solicitors provide expert legal advice and representation for extension applications. With extensive experience in handling renewal cases, we ensure that every application is prepared accurately and in line with current Home Office policy. You can contact our team for free initial guidance or arrange a detailed consultation regarding your Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa extension.

How To Apply For Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa Extension?

An application for a Tier 1 Entrepreneur extension is made by completing the online form for this category. The Home Office does not offer Priority or Super Priority services for in-country renewal applications, so all UK-based applications are processed through the standard service. Decisions are usually made within three to six months.

It is also possible to apply from outside the UK, where a priority service may be available and a decision can be made within five working days. If your application is successful, you will be granted a further two years’ leave to remain under the Tier 1 Entrepreneur route.

Eligibility Requirements for Extension/Renewal of Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa?

To qualify for an extension, you must have registered as a director or self-employed person within six months of being granted permission under the Tier 1 Entrepreneur route. You must be able to show that you have been actively running your business as a director, partner, or self-employed person for at least three months before applying.

You are required to have created a minimum of two full-time jobs that have each existed for at least twelve months. You must also demonstrate that you can continue to maintain yourself in the UK without relying on public funds.

In addition, you must have invested the appropriate level of funds into one or more UK businesses. This will be either two hundred thousand pounds in cash or fifty thousand pounds in cash, depending on the level of funding your original application was based upon. Meeting these requirements is essential for a successful extension under current UK immigration rules.

What Is The Points Based Criteria For Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa Extension

Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa is a Points Based visa category and points can be awarded for the Attributes Section, English language and funds for maintenance. A Tier 1 Entrepreneur migrant should score 95 points in total to qualify for extension of Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa. The breakdown of the required points for Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa extension is given in the table below:

Criterion	Points
Registered as a director or self-employed within 6 months of being granted leave	20
Actively running a business as a director, partner, or self-employed person	20
Investment funds invested in the UK business (£200,000 or £50,000 as applicable)	20
Creation of at least two full-time jobs for settled workers for 12 months	20
Maintenance funds requirement met	10
English language requirement met	10

Investment Of Funds In The UK Business

For a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa extension, you must show that you have invested funds into one or more UK businesses. The required amount will be either two hundred thousand pounds or fifty thousand pounds in cash, depending on the level of funding relied upon in your original application.

Only genuine business investment is accepted. The Home Office does not count money used for your own salary, personal drawings, or payments made to buy a business where the funds ultimately go to a previous owner rather than into the business itself. This applies even if the money passes through the business, such as where “goodwill” or assets are purchased from the former owner. Investment in businesses that you do not personally run as a director or self-employed person is also excluded. Any spending that is not directly linked to establishing or operating your own business will not be accepted as qualifying investment.

Job Creation

To succeed in an extension application, you must demonstrate that you have created at least two new jobs. These must be full-time paid roles for people who are settled in the UK, and each job must have existed for a total period of at least twelve months.

Where a new business has been set up, or an existing business has been invested in, you must show the creation of the equivalent of two additional full-time positions. The same evidence may be relied upon by both members of an entrepreneurial team.

A job does not need to exist for twelve consecutive months, provided it is the same role and reaches a total of twelve months. Different short-term roles cannot be combined to meet this requirement. The jobs do not have to be in place on the date of application, as long as they have already existed for the required period. Each role must comply with UK employment law, and full-time work is defined by the Home Office as a minimum of thirty hours per week.

Genuine Entrepreneur Test For Entrepreneur Extension Application

All extension applicants are assessed under the Genuine Entrepreneur Test. The Home Office must be satisfied that you have established, taken over, or become a director of a genuine UK business and that you have actively operated it. You must show that the required funds have genuinely been invested into a real business and that you intend to continue running your enterprise in the UK. You must also confirm that you do not plan to take employment outside what is permitted under the Immigration Rules.

When assessing this, UKVI considers the evidence you provide, the credibility and source of your investment funds, the reliability of your business accounts, and the authenticity of your commercial activity in the UK. The Home Office will also assess the credibility of the job creation you rely upon. Where your business requires mandatory registration, licensing, or insurance, they will check that this has been obtained. Any other relevant information may also be taken into account.

How Can We Help

We provide full legal representation for Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa extension applications, managing your case from start to finish until a decision is made by the Home Office. Our solicitors assess your eligibility, explain the requirements, documents, procedures, and costs involved, and carefully review the evidence you provide. We prepare and submit your online application, arrange your UKVCAS appointment, and draft a detailed legal cover letter explaining how you meet every requirement.

We also provide professional document templates where required, upload all supporting evidence, and deal with any Home Office queries while your application is pending. Our aim is to ensure that your extension application is accurate, well-prepared, and fully compliant with UK immigration rules, giving you the strongest possible chance of success

Our Fixed Fees For Extension /Renewal Of Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa

Our fixed fees for extending or renewing a Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa from within the UK are set out in the table below:

Our Service	Our Fixed Fees Range
Complete legal service for Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa extension from within the UK, covering all work up to a decision by the Home Office (UKVI)	From £2,000 + VAT to £3,500 + VAT

The agreed fixed fee is based on the complexity of your extension application and the amount of legal work required. In addition to our professional fees, you will also need to pay the relevant Home Office UKVI application charges.