Innovator Founder
Potential settlement after 3 years
For founders with an endorsed business that is new, innovative, viable and scalable.
Explore Innovator Founder →UK Immigration & Citizenship
United Kingdom
Residence through business, talent, sponsored work and family routes — with clear guidance on which routes can lead to indefinite leave to remain and, later, British citizenship.
UK service model: this website provides general information only. Personalised UK immigration advice, legal fact-finding, instructions and application services are provided separately by an appropriately regulated UK immigration adviser or law firm. Request contact from the regulated UK partner →
Direct investor visaNo — closed
Fast settlement routeInnovator Founder: potentially 3 years
Other settlement routesOften 3–5 years, route-dependent
CitizenshipSeparate naturalisation process
Correct positioning
UK residence is not citizenship by investment.
The UK Tier 1 Investor route closed to new applicants on 17 February 2022. The relevant routes now turn on business innovation, talent, sponsored employment, corporate expansion or family circumstances — not simply the amount an applicant is willing to invest.
Regulatory point: tailored UK immigration advice and immigration services are regulated. Before offering case-specific advice, the business must be properly authorised through the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) or an approved legal-services regulator, or work through an appropriately regulated provider.
Typical client journey
Qualifying visa → lawful UK residence → Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) where the route permits it → British citizenship if the later naturalisation requirements are met.
Not every visa leads directly to settlement. The route must be chosen with the client's long-term objective in mind from the outset.
Principal routes
Routes most relevant to internationally mobile clients.
Each route has its own eligibility, sponsorship, endorsement, English-language, salary, business and residence requirements.
Global Talent
Settlement may be 3 or 5 years
For qualifying leaders or potential leaders in academia/research, arts and culture, or digital technology.
Explore Global Talent →Skilled Worker
Settlement route
For eligible sponsored employment with an approved UK employer, certificate of sponsorship and applicable salary/occupation requirements.
Explore Skilled Worker →Scale-up Worker
Potential settlement after 5 years
For qualifying roles with approved scale-up businesses, with greater employment flexibility after the initial sponsored period.
Explore Scale-up Worker →UK Expansion Worker
Temporary route — not direct settlement
For qualifying senior managers or specialists helping an overseas business establish a UK branch.
Explore UK Expansion Worker →ILR & British citizenship
Separate later applications
Understand how settlement and naturalisation fit after a qualifying residence route.
Explore settlement & citizenship →Also relevant
Other potentially relevant UK pathways include family visas, UK Ancestry, student-to-work pathways, the High Potential Individual route and other specialist immigration categories.
Important distinction
The UK does not offer an open “Golden Visa” or a direct British passport-by-investment programme. Business and sponsored-work routes are governed by their own immigration and sponsorship requirements.
UK immigration advice
General information from Antilia. Regulated advice where required.
Antilia provides general information on UK immigration pathways. Where a client's circumstances require personalised UK immigration advice or application services, those services are provided by an appropriately regulated UK immigration adviser or law firm.
Understand the routes
Review business, talent, sponsored-work and settlement pathways at a general level.
Request a consultation
Tell us the broad subject you would like to discuss and we will help identify the appropriate next step.
Regulated case advice
Personalised UK immigration advice and any application work are undertaken by an appropriately regulated professional.
Official sources
Use GOV.UK as the primary rule source.
UK immigration rules are subject to change. Antilia refers to official GOV.UK route pages and the current Immigration Rules when discussing UK pathways.
Regulated UK consultation
Understand the routes here; get personal advice from the regulated partner.
Founder, internationally recognised talent, sponsored professional, overseas business expansion or family settlement require different legal analysis. The website does not determine individual UK eligibility.