The UK government is developing a new visa scheme aimed at drawing wealthy foreign investors to support key sectors of the British economy, according to officials familiar with the plan.
Under Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration, the proposed visa would target individuals prepared to invest in high-growth industries such as artificial intelligence, clean energy, and life sciences. The initiative marks a major policy shift, coming more than two years after the controversial Tier 1 Investor Visa – often referred to as the “golden visa” – was scrapped due to national security concerns and links to financial crime.
As reported by Bloomberg, the new programme is part of a broader effort to reinvigorate foreign direct investment and re-establish the UK as a global leader in innovation-driven sectors. Unlike its predecessor, the new scheme is expected to incorporate stringent safeguards, including detailed financial disclosures and enhanced vetting procedures.
“The goal is to attract credible investors who can genuinely contribute to the UK’s long-term economic ambitions,” one government source told The Times, noting that the scheme will prioritise transparency and strategic alignment with national interests.
The previous Tier 1 Investor Visa, introduced in 2008, allowed individuals to gain residency by investing a minimum of £2 million in UK businesses. However, the scheme became the subject of intense scrutiny after revelations that it had been exploited by individuals connected to illicit financial activities, particularly from Russia and Asia. It was ultimately shut down in 2022 by then-Home Secretary Priti Patel, who emphasised the need to prevent “corrupt elites and dirty money” from entering the UK.
The new visa programme is being designed with these lessons in mind, with a tighter regulatory framework and a sharper focus on economic value. The government has signalled that any future immigration policies will favour those who make the most “significant contribution” to the country’s growth.
This development places the UK alongside other nations such as Portugal, Greece, and Malta, which continue to offer investor visa routes despite growing pressure from the European Commission to wind down such schemes over concerns of corruption and money laundering.
Supporters of the UK’s prospective plan argue that, if carefully managed, it could provide a vital boost to a sluggish post-Brexit economy. Critics, however, warn that even a revised investor visa could reignite debate over financial influence in immigration and border control.
Details of the scheme are still being finalised, but early indications suggest a strong emphasis on aligning foreign capital with domestic economic priorities – potentially marking a new era in how the UK manages investor migration.
