Sierra Leone travellers see no new UK investor visa yet as revival remains a proposal

The United Kingdom may be preparing to bring back a residency route for wealthy investors, more than four years after closing its Tier 1 Investor Visa. UK Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey is considering a new pathway as part of the Budget scheduled for 28 October 2026, according to a Bloomberg report dated 16 October 2026.

No official programme has been announced, and no application route is currently open. Two separate proposals have emerged, each taking a different approach to how foreign capital should contribute to the British economy.

Key facts

• The UK's Tier 1 Investor Visa closed to new applications on 17 February 2022.
• A possible replacement is being considered ahead of the Budget on 28 October 2026.
• One proposal sets a £5 million staged investment in a fund overseen by the British Business Bank.
• The other combines a £2.5 million investment with a £200,000 annual flat-rate tax payment.
• Neither proposal has been adopted as government policy.

What is being considered?

The first proposal comes from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), which published recommendations for a British Business Investment Visa in July 2026. Applicants would commit £5 million to an investment fund overseen by the British Business Bank, a government-owned development bank, paid in three stages: £3 million on entry, £1 million at visa renewal after two and a half years, and £1 million after five years.

Rather than allowing investment mainly in conventional financial assets, the fund would direct capital toward innovative businesses and high-growth sectors aligned with the UK's industrial strategy. IPPR also suggests a minimum holding period — ten years is given as an example — with returns set significantly below market rates. The route would not offer accelerated citizenship, and applicants would remain subject to standard residence requirements for permanent settlement.

IPPR recommends testing the route through a one-year pilot with an annual cap on applicants and enhanced due diligence. Its economic modelling suggests a mature programme with 100 successful applications a year could bring in roughly £425 million in annual investment inflows, support around 4,000 jobs and add about £900 million in gross value added — figures the think tank presents as projections, not guaranteed outcomes.

What is the second proposal?

Foreign Investors for Britain (FIFB) has put forward a Global Investor Visa. Under this model, applicants would invest a minimum of £2.5 million in the UK and pay an additional £200,000 a year in flat-rate tax to HM Revenue and Customs, for up to 15 tax years.

The proposal also covers foreign income and gains, inheritance tax treatment of overseas assets and protections for certain existing offshore wealth structures. FIFB estimates its framework could draw more than £225 billion in inward investment over ten years, though this is the organisation's own projection.

Why was the old investor visa closed?

The Tier 1 Investor Visa required a minimum investment of £2 million, with those committing £5 million or £10 million able to qualify for accelerated permanent settlement after three or two years respectively. The Home Office closed it over concerns about limited economic contribution and vulnerability to misuse.

In its explanation of the closure, the government concluded the programme had not delivered enough economic benefit to justify the risks, particularly those linked to illicit wealth and complex investment arrangements, and that relatively few investments appeared to contribute directly to productive investment in the British economy.

What this means for travellers

There is currently no investor visa to apply for, and neither proposal has been adopted. Anyone considering an investment-based move to the UK should watch the Budget on 28 October 2026 for any formal announcement, and note that any future route is expected to emphasise investment quality, economic contribution and stronger compliance checks.

Further details, including eligibility rules, application procedures and start dates, have not been published.