Posted: 30/10/2015 Author: Nishil Patel

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) yesterday published their report based on their investigations and responses to the Tier 1 Entrepreneur consultation paper. The government had instructed the MAC to review the Tier 1 Entrepreneur route, to consider the economic benefits the route could deliver to the UK, looking at international best practice and ensuring that it was safeguarded against bogus applications. The MAC have provided their recommendations.

Summary of the recommendations

  • Adopt the Canadian immigration approach, to use industry experts as third parties who can select entrepreneurs
  • Introduce a 'Start-up visa', to the Tier 1 Graduate Entrepreneur route to permit endorsement from UKTI alongside the current authorised endorsing bodies.
  • Accept endorsement from other UK government bodies ie. Scottish government or UKTI and assess
  • Accept angel investor networks or syndicates to provide third party endorsement
  • Introduce experts, working with government bodies to assess business plans
  • Set a lower threshold of investment of £40,000-£50,000 where there is third party endorsement
  • Introduce a new evidential requirement to assess the individual skills, qualifications, and or previous business history as part of meeting the Tier 1 Entrepreneur requirements.

How will this impact the Tier 1 Entrepreneur Route?

The MAC have advised the government to reform the route on the basis of their recommendations and to use a more selective approach with identifying genuine entrepreneurs. From previous experience and communications with the MAC it is likely the government will adopt these recommendations. We should expect an overhaul of the route next year, which could be as early as April 2016.

Should you have questions, please contact:

Nishil Patel
Senior Manager
Santa Fe Relocation Services
Tel : +44 (0)20 8961 4141
E-mail: nishil.patel@SantaFeRelo.com

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