Changes To The Tier 1 (Investor) Rules Effective 01 October 2019

As you may be aware, a new Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules was published on 9 September 2019. There are some minor but nonetheless important amendments that we think you should be aware of.

Investments in Government Bonds (gilts)

Tier 1 (Investor) applicants who submitted their visa/residence permit application before 29 March 2019 are able to invest in gilts but they must extend by 5 April 2023  and apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) by 5 April 2025. For applications made after these dates gilts will no longer count as qualifying investments. 

• It has now been clarified that where the applicant's initial grant of leave as a Tier 1 (Investor) was under the Rules before 29 March 2019 (i.e. when one can still invest in gilts), and the date of the extension application is on or after 6 April 2023, the applicant cannot rely on investments that were held in gilts on or after 6 April 2023. In other words, if an applicant were to apply for an