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Entrepreneurs

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Who should apply?

This page explains who should apply under the entrepreneur category (Tier 1 Entrepreneur) of our points-based system to work in business in the United Kingdom.

What category of person should apply

You should apply if you are a not a national of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland and want to enter or stay in the United Kingdom to work in business in the entrepreneur category.

You should apply if you are:

  • already in the United Kingdom under entrepreneur category and want to extend your permission to stay within your existing category; 
  • already in the United Kingdom as a business person or innovator and want to extend your permission to stay in the entrepreneur category;
  • applying from outside the United Kingdom for permission to enter (known as 'entry clearance') in the entrepreneur category.

Go to our visa services website, which you can find on the right of this page, if you are applying from outside the United Kingdom. There you can find out more about the process in the country you are applying from and download the application forms.

If you are a dependant of a main applicant, you should complete the separate dependant application form.

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Who does not need to apply under the points-based system

You do not have to apply under the points-based system if:

  • you are an EEA or Swiss national; 
  • you are a British overseas territories citizen, unless you are from one of the sovereign base areas in Cyprus; 
  • you are a Commonwealth citizen with permission to enter or stay in the United Kingdom because at least one of your grandparents was born here; 
  • your spouse or civil partner, unmarried or same-sex partner, or (if you are under 18) one of your parents has permission to stay in the United Kingdom under the entrepreneur category of the points-based system; or 
  • you have no conditions or time limit attached to your stay.

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How nationals of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia or Slovenia should apply

If you are a national of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia or Slovenia you will need to register under the Worker Registration Scheme when you take work in the United Kingdom, unless you are exempt. You should read the Worker Registration Scheme section for details.

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How Bulgarian and Romanian nationals should apply

If you are a national of Bulgaria or Romania you must not work until we have given you permission, unless you are exempt. You should read the section for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals for details.

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See also

Terms explained

  • British overseas territories citizen

    You will be a British overseas territories citizen if you are connected with a British overseas territory because you or your parents were born, registered or naturalised in that British overseas territory. If you were born before 1 January 1983, you may gain the citizenship through your grandparents. (See British overseas territory.)

  • European Economic Area

    Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Irish Republic, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom. Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are not members of the European Union (EU) but citizens of these countries have the same rights to enter, live in and work in the United Kingdom as EU citizens.

All glossary terms

Internet links