The Government of the United Kingdom is actively developing a new investment visa program aimed at attracting wealthy foreign investors to key sectors of the British economy. The initiative appeared against the background of a statistical decline in foreign direct investment and the government’s desire to compensate for the consequences of the abolition of the non-dom tax regime and the general tightening of migration legislation.
Economic background of the new visa program
After the cancellation of the previous Tier 1 (Investor) investment visa in 2022, the UK faced significant capital outflows. According to the EY 2025 UK Attractiveness Survey, the country recorded a 13% drop in investment projects in 2024, attracting only 853 projects compared to 982 a year earlier. The share of British projects among pan-European investments decreased to 15.8% from 17.3% in 2023.
The reduction in technological investments was particularly sensitive for the economy, as the number of projects in the field of software and IT services decreased by 37%, from 255 to 161 projects.
Tax statistics show that in 2023, about 83,800 taxpayers with non-dom and deemed domicile status provided budget revenues in the amount of 12.3 billion pounds. According to analysts, the change in the tax regime has led to a massive outflow of wealthy individuals from the country.
Key parameters of the new investment visa
The new program, which is at an early stage of development, will differ significantly from the previous scheme. Keir Starmer’s government will focus on attracting targeted investments in strategic industries:
- Artificial intelligence
- Clean energy
- Biotechnologies and life sciences
According to Bloomberg, real estate investments will be excluded from the program. This radically changes the approach to investment immigration, redirecting the focus from simple allocation of funds to active participation in the development of priority sectors of the British economy.
The minimum investment threshold may be about 5 million pounds, which is significantly higher than the requirements of the previous program (2 million pounds). However, the decisive factor in considering applications will be not so much the amount as the strategic value of the project for the country’s economy.
Prospects for investors and statistics of foreign investments
It is important to note that despite the overall decrease in the number of investment projects, the UK retains the second place in Europe in attracting foreign direct investment, second only to France (1,025 projects). The country has been particularly successful in attracting new projects – 535 out of 853 (63%) in 2024 were new investments.
Statistics show that the British economy remains attractive to investors from the United States (24% of all projects), India (8%) and France (6%). It is noteworthy that half of all Indian investment projects in Europe are directed specifically to the UK.
According to the Department of Business and Trade, in the fiscal year 2023-2024, 1,555 foreign direct investment projects entered the country, which created 71,478 new jobs and retained 11,613 existing positions.
The new investment visa will be a tool to mitigate the effects of the abolition of the non-dom regime and the increase in payroll tax, providing an alternative path for wealthy individuals who want to link their future with the UK.
- We will answer all your questions
- We will help you choose the best option
- We will guide you through every step or do everything for you
Professional support
In the context of changing UK immigration laws, it is critically important to receive qualified legal support. Our team of migration lawyers specializes in comprehensive support of the visa application process. The company’s experts are closely monitoring the development of a new investment program and are ready to provide up-to-date information on the requirements and timing of its launch. In addition, we help you get slots and visas to England. Leave a request and be sure to receive expert help.
Journalist, editor with 9 years of experience in investment immigration. I specialize in analysis of residency and tax programs, as well as individual selection of jurisdictions for relocation.
Login with Google