There is no UK investor visa you can apply for in 2026. The Tier 1 (Investor) visa closed to all new applicants on 17 February 2022, and it has not been replaced by any other “invest money, get a visa” route. If you have capital and want to move to the UK from Pakistan, you need a route based on a business you will run, your talent, or a job.
This guide explains why the route closed, what it means for people who already hold it, and the realistic alternatives.
Why the Tier 1 Investor visa closed
The Tier 1 (Investor) route let wealthy people live in the UK by investing at least £2 million in UK companies. On 17 February 2022 the Home Secretary closed it to new applicants of all nationalities with immediate effect. The government said some cases had raised security concerns, including wealth obtained illegitimately and links to wider corruption.
The first version of this page described a “new UK Investor Visa” with a revamped investment threshold. That was wrong. No such route exists. If anyone offers you a “UK investor visa” or “UK golden visa” package today, treat it as a warning sign.
What it means if you already hold a Tier 1 Investor visa
Existing investors were allowed to stay on the route for a limited time. According to the Home Office caseworker guidance:
- applications to extend had to be made before 17 February 2026, so that door has now closed;
- applications for settlement (indefinite leave to remain) must be made before 17 February 2028.
If you or a family member are still on this route, check your dates now and get advice on whether you will meet the settlement requirements in time. The Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa has also closed; our guide to Entrepreneur visa to ILR covers holders of that older route.
Realistic alternatives in 2026
None of these is a like-for-like replacement. Each asks you to do something in the UK, not just hold money there.
| Route | Who it suits | Can it lead to settlement? |
|---|---|---|
| Innovator Founder | Founders with a new, innovative, scalable business idea, endorsed by an approved endorsing body | Yes, after 3 years if the business meets set criteria |
| Global Talent | Leaders or potential leaders in academia, research, arts and culture, or digital technology | Yes, after 3 or 5 years depending on field |
| Skilled Worker | People with a graduate-level job offer from a licensed UK sponsor at the required salary | Yes, usually after 5 years |
| UK Expansion Worker | Senior managers or specialists sent to set up the first UK branch of an established overseas business | No; maximum 2 years |
| High Potential Individual | Recent graduates of universities on the Home Office’s eligible list (a yearly cap applies) | No |
How each option works for an investor-type applicant
Innovator Founder is the closest fit if you want to put your own money into your own UK business. There is no fixed minimum investment at the start, but your endorsing body must be satisfied you have enough funding and must see where it comes from. You need B2 English, and you must meet your endorsing body at 12 and 24 months. See the Innovator Founder visa on GOV.UK.
Global Talent does not need a job offer, sponsor, minimum salary or English test, but you must be endorsed as a leader or potential leader in your field (or have won an eligible prize). Wealth does not count as talent.
Skilled Worker needs a genuine job from a Home Office-licensed employer. Since July 2025 most new jobs must be at graduate level, and the general salary threshold is £41,700 or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher. Our Skilled Worker visa guide explains the rules. Be very careful of anyone offering to “sell” you a job; that is covered in our Skilled Worker article.
UK Expansion Worker suits a business in Pakistan that is opening its first UK branch and wants to send a senior manager or specialist. It lasts up to 2 years and does not lead to settlement. See our UK Expansion Worker guide.
If you only want to visit the UK to look at opportunities, attend meetings or negotiate deals, a Standard Visitor visa may be enough. Check the business visitor rules first, because visitors cannot work in the UK.
Things that do not get you a UK visa
- Buying UK property.
- Buying shares in, or lending money to, a UK company.
- Opening a UK bank account or registering a UK company on your own.
- Showing a large bank balance on a visit visa application.
These may be sensible business decisions, but none of them gives you permission to live in the UK.
Common mistakes we see from Pakistan applications
- Paying for an “investor visa” package. Some agents still sell programmes based on the closed route, or dress up a visit visa as a business route.
- Registering a UK company and expecting a visa. A UK company can only sponsor workers once it holds a sponsor licence and has a genuine vacancy that meets the rules.
- Undocumented wealth. Cash-based income, informal property deals and funds moved through relatives are hard to evidence. Every route that looks at money looks at its source.
- Untranslated documents. Urdu property papers, fard, partnership deeds and tax records need certified English translations.
- Working on a visit visa. Running a UK business day to day as a visitor breaches the rules and can damage future applications.
Checklist before you choose a route
- Decide what you will actually do in the UK: run a new business, expand an existing one, work, or take up a role in your field.
- Check whether you need a route that leads to settlement.
- Check your English level against the route (B2 for Innovator Founder and new Skilled Worker applicants).
- Put together a clear source-of-funds file with translations.
- Confirm every fee and requirement on GOV.UK on the day you apply.
FAQ
Is there a UK golden visa in 2026?
No. The UK has had no investment-only visa route since the Tier 1 (Investor) visa closed on 17 February 2022.
Can I get UK residence by buying property?
No. Owning UK property does not give you any right to live or work in the UK.
I hold a Tier 1 Investor visa. Can I still extend?
No. Extension applications had to be made before 17 February 2026. Settlement applications must be made before 17 February 2028.
Which route is closest to the old investor visa?
For most business owners it is the Innovator Founder visa, but it needs an innovative business idea, an endorsement and your active involvement. It is not a passive investment route.
Applying from Pakistan? Send us a few lines about your case and we will tell you which route fits and what to prepare.
Last reviewed: September 2026. Rules and fees change; check GOV.UK before you apply.