There are numerous routes available to those wishing to work, invest or set up a business in the UK.
We have a wealth of experience in identifying the most appropriate route and supporting clients with the necessary strategic and practical advice to achieve it. We also support extension and indefinite leave to remain applications at the appropriate time, as well as the full range of family visas.
Vanessa Ganguin Immigration Law is highly ranked in all the top legal guides for our work with individuals coming to the UK on business immigration pathways, as well as its work with High New Worth individuals and those entering the UK on Global Talent visa routes afforded by their work in tech, research, the arts and sciences.
“Vanessa Ganguin is especially knowledgeable in the handling of immigration matters for entertainment industry clients,” according to Chambers & Partners legal directory. “Vanessa has a wealth of connections at the Home Office and frequently liaises with them in relation to the development of immigration policy,” according to Who’s Who Legal, and she has “a particular flair for appeals at all levels and challenging refusals.”
Senior counsel Philip Trott is also renowned for his record on particularly complex and challenging cases. He has a rich history of assisting High Net Worth clients on personal immigration matters, ranging from conducting investor cases to handling high-profile celebrity work. He has successfully helped many appeal against adverse decisions, including those arising from spent criminal convictions, and is renowned for tricky discretionary immigration applications outside the rules, as well as sports and media-related work and cases involving national security issues.
According to The Times Best Law Firms, “Vanessa Ganguin and senior consultant Philip Trott are also known for their high net worth work. They have been involved in two complex cases this year where individuals have had their leave to remain jeopardised by high-profile investment mishaps.”
They are regular highly-ranked in the most Chambers High Net Worth legal guide which identifies the leading professional advisers to the Private Wealth market in UK in the field of immigration. According to the latest edition: “Vanessa Ganguin of Vanessa Ganguin Immigration Law ‘clearly knows her field inside out,’ says a source, adding: ‘We were very impressed with Vanessa’s knowledge and experience in this area.’ ‘I greatly enjoyed working with Vanessa and her team,’ remarks another commentator.”
According to the Legal 500: “Boutique immigration firm Vanessa Ganguin Immigration Law fields a strong team of ‘incredibly knowledgeable’ lawyers… with particular strength in advising clients in the finance, fintech, engineering, media and entertainment, and sport sectors. Senior counsel Philip Trott brings a wealth of experience acting for clients including entrepreneurs, start-ups, and charities, and on matters extending to complex appeals and national security cases.”
Vanessa Ganguin Immigration Law has a wide-reaching network of tax advisers, accountants and financial institutions as well as lawyers in other disciplines and jurisdictions to advise clients on business routes on a variety of related issues.
The team regularly works on Innovator Founder, Global Talent and International Sportsperson applications, as well as strategising over any other immigration and nationality options the UK’s immigration system offers.
Contact us to arrange a conversation to identify the most appropriate immigration options for you or to talk through any issues you may need help with.
We offer fixed fees where we can. More information on pricing can be found here.
Legacy applications for Tier 1 (Investor) and Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)
The Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) route is no longer available. We can support you with an application for indefinite leave to remain if you transitioned from Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) visa into the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur). The cut off date for such applications is 5 July 2027.
Tier 1 (Investor)
The Tier 1 (Investor) route was closed for new applications in February 2022. It had been an immigration route for those with £2 million under their control to invest in share or loan capital in UK companies. The Home Secretary announced the immediate closure of the route on 17 February 2022 due to what she said were concerns of abuse of the system.
We still assist people already in the UK on Investor visas. If you already have a Tier 1 (Investor) visa (or had one in the last 12 months and it was your most recent visa), you can no longer renew the visa. You may be able to apply to settle in the UK (indefinite leave to remain) up to 17 February 2028 .
To find out how we can help you please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email
Innovator Founder visa
The UK’s newest work visa, the Innovator Founder visa replaced the Start-up and Innovator visas in April 2023. It combines aspects of these two immigration routes for entrepreneurs coming to the UK to grow a venture and is in part a reaction to some of the criticisms the Start-up and Innovator routes had come under in recent years, as well as being part of the UK Government’s general aim of bolstering the UK’s reputation as a technology and innovation hub.
We are already receiving many enquiries about the new route, so it is worth first having a look at our guide to the Innovator Founder route here.
The Innovator Founder is a route to settlement in the UK for founders with business plans that are assessed to be viable, innovative and scaleable by one of four new endorsing bodies. There can be more than one applicant for a business, as long as you can demonstrate that you are a cofounder of the business, have generated ideas in the business plan (or significantly contributed to them) and will be involved in a day-to-day role fulfilling the business plan. Applicants must be over 18 and have a business plan endorsed by one of these endorsing bodies approved by the UK Government.
Once they have been endorsed, we advise clients on their visa application, as well as on family members joining them. We will be on hand to help with applications for settlement too after three years. To qualify, you will have to be endorsed as having demonstrated a key role in the business, with your name registered in Companies House and that the business has demonstrated progress against your endorsed business plan and appear to be sustainable for at least one more year.
Founders already working on their businesses in the UK on the Start-up or Innovator route can ask their current endorsing bodies to endorse their businesses to maintain visas, switch to the new Innovator Founder visa if you qualify, or if on an Innovator visa, to settle in the UK. We can help with the visa applications involved. Legacy endorsing bodies no longer accept new Start-up and Innovator applications but are authorised to continue maintaining and monitoring those on them.
Those on the old Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) route would have generally switched to the Innovator route by now. So we can advise on applying for settlement if you qualify, or switching to the Innovator Founder three-year route to settlement for you and your family, with the ability to work for other employers.
We would advise people on any of these routes superseded by the Innovator Founder visa to look into the business requirements you need in place for your next application well before your visa is due to expire.
To find out how we can help you please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email
Global Talent visa
The Global Talent category has replaced the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) route and is another area the firm specialises in.
Global Talent is an ever-evolving immigration route for leaders or emerging leaders who are established in the arts, film and TV, fashion, science, engineering, humanities, medicine, academia, research, digital technology or architecture sectors, and has become the greatest accolade our immigration system can bestow on those who excel in their fields.
There are no caps on Global Talent visas, and this prestigious route offers a path to citizenship without any need of a job offer for those at the top of their game. They are a useful route to permanent residence (after five years for those showing exceptional promise, three for exceptional talent) and people can generally apply for citizenship a year after they gain indefinite leave to remain.
An application, unless you are lucky enough to have won one of the honours on a small list of ‘prestigious prizes’ (such as an Academy Award for a leading role, or a Turing Award or Nobel prize in science), involves applying to one of the recognised endorsing bodies, as well as a subsequent application for entry clearance or permission to stay. Endorsements can take up to eight weeks although it is usually faster. Visa applications can also be made for partners and children under the scheme and there are more costly fast track options for the visa decision.
We assist with all stages of making Global Talent applications to UK Visas and Immigration. You can read more details about the route in this article Vanessa Ganguin wrote for the Immigration Lawyers Toolbox on Global Talent visas.
You can find more details about immigration routes for artists and creatives here.
To find out how we can help you please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email
International Sportsperson visa
This new immigration route for elite sportspersons and qualified coaches replaced the Sportsperson (T2) visa and the sporting part of the Temporary Worker – Creative and Sporting visa (T5) on 11 October 2021 .
The Government’s new changes replace the two routes with a dedicated and simplified fast-track visa, while keeping an option for more temporary contracts up to 12 month.
The new International Sportsperson immigration route still involves sponsorship and endorsement by the relevant sporting organisation. There is also a financial requirement and a basic level of English must be attained.
You can apply for an International Sportsperson visa if all of the following apply:
- you’re an elite sportsperson or qualified coach, who’s recognised by your sport’s governing body as being at the highest level of your profession internationally
- your sport’s governing body is endorsing your application
- your employment will develop your sport in the UK at the highest level
- you meet the other eligibility requirements
We can help with applications at all stages and advise on the suitability of this route and other alternatives too.
To find out how we can help you please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email
Skilled Worker visa
The Skilled Worker visa is the most common UK immigration option used by employers and requires a Skilled Worker sponsor licence – which we advise many sectors on. This has become an indispensable immigration route for employers since freedom of movement with European countries ended after Brexit.
It replaced the Tier 2 (General) category as a key plank of the UK’s Points Based System and is a major area of our expertise, for which we are ranked highly.
Sponsors must be offering a genuine vacancy for an appropriately skilled role, meet specific salary thresholds and other requirements of the Skilled Worker category.
The Government raised the minimum skill level for Skilled Workers from RQF level 3 (high-school leaver or above) to RQF level 6 (degree-level or above in job skill, not necessarily educational attainment) with effect from effect on 22 July 2025. This does not affect those already on the Skilled Worker route in roles with skills levels below RQF level 6, who are free to extend, change employers in the same role, and qualify for settlement.
A dependent partner and dependent children can join a Skilled Worker on their immigration path – unless they are on the Temporary Shortage List.
For some roles on the Skilled Worker route after 22 July 2025 with jobs that are between RQF 3 and 5 where there are critical shortages, a Temporary Shortage List has been created to allow sponsorship, though anyone sponsored on this list cannot bring family dependants on this route. The old Immigration Salary List with its 20% discount on the general minimum salary threshold for sponsoring skilled workers will be phased out, but for now it has more roles added to it, also allowing a temporary reprieve for employers.
We will work close with you through all stages of sponsoring someone, from strategising over your best options, to obtaining a Sponsorship License, a Certificate of Sponsorship, and securing their visa.
You can read more about recent changes to the Skilled Worker visa here.
To find out how we can help you please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email
Health and Care Worker visa
A Health and Care Worker visa allows medical professionals to come to or stay in the UK in an eligible work role with the National Health Service (NHS), an NHS supplier or in adult social care.
These visas last to five years, after which they can be extended for eligible work, or an application made to settle permanently. If the employee moves to a different employer, a Health and Care Worker visa needs updating or extending. A dependent partner and dependent children can join a Health and Care Worker on this immigration path.
Since 22 July 2025, employers can only sponsor care workers (SOC code 6135) and senior care workers (SOC code 6136) who were already sponsored in the UK prior to this date. The government is due to completely close this route in 2028.
We advise you and your employee through all stages of sponsorship, from obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship to securing a visa.
To find out how we can help you please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email
Minister of Religion (T2)
The Minister of Religion Visa (T2) is a route for eligible religious organisations to sponsor people in a role within their faith community such as minister of religion, missionary, or member of a religious order.
There are various requirements, such as financial and English language competence and the visa can be a route to settlement after five years.
To find out more please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email
Global Business Mobility visa
Global Business Mobility visas are a helpful solution in many cases we work with for overseas firms establishing a UK footprint or transferring trainees, senior and specialist staff to the UK to fulfil contracts – whether or not a firm has a UK presence.
The Home Office has divided the new immigration route into five categories:
- Senior or specialist worker to meet specific business needs (this replaces Intra-Company Transfers)
- Graduate trainee as part of a training programme (this replaces the Intra-Company Graduate Trainee route)
- Secondment worker to UK firms in high value contracts or investments
- Service supplier to the UK in line with UK trade agreements (this replaces the T5 International Agreement routes)
- UK expansion worker to establish a UK presence (this replaces Representative of an Overseas Business)
The first three categories are aimed at firms with a UK presence, the last three at firms with no UK presence. (Secondments are a route for both.)
Depending on which of the above assignments they are on, applicants will face the following requirements:
- Sponsorship by the UK entity receiving applicants
- Appropriate skill level for the role
- A salary threshold
- Minimum length of time an applicant has been employed by the overseas firm
- Assignments will be temporary (though flexible and routes should be switchable to more permanent status)
Global Business Mobility visa applicants will need to be sponsored. We help many applicants and industries to negotiate the requirements of such immigration routes speedily.We are very experienced at finding the optimal solution, helping you work out which immigration route is the most suitable for your requirements, guiding you through the genuineness and supernumerary requirements and supporting you and your employer throughout the sponsorship and visa process.
You can read more about these new UK immigration routes here.
To find out how we can help you please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email
Temporary work - Creative Worker visa
Vanessa Ganguin Immigration Law has a great international reputation for working with the creative industries.
According to Chambers & Partners Legal Directory: “Vanessa Ganguin is especially knowledgeable in the handling of immigration matters for entertainment industry clients. Her work includes securing Tier 5 Creative visas, as well as providing sponsor licence compliance advice to industry professionals.”
The Creative Worker visa requires a UK sponsor and allows creatives including performers, actors, models, dancers, musicians or film crew to work, study and bring eligible dependants to the UK. The visa allows a maximum of up to 12 months in the UK, or the time given in the certificate of sponsorship plus up to 28 days – whichever is shorter. It can be renewed.
This visa has replaced the Temporary Worker – Creative and Sporting visa (T5). If you’re a sportsperson, you can work in the UK with the International Sportsperson visa – see above.
We will ‘hand hold’ you through all stages of being sponsored through to securing a visa. Our expertise will help ensure you are able to evidence eligibility, assist with obtaining and assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship, and securing a visa.
You can find more details about immigration routes for artists and creatives here.
To find out more please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email
Temporary Work – Charity Worker visa
The Home Office has rebranded what had been called the Temporary Worker – Charity Worker visa (T5).
This category is for people who want to do unpaid voluntary work for a charity.
Eligibility for a Temporary Work – Charity Worker visa includes having a certificate of sponsorship (COS) reference number from your UK sponsor.
We can help you and your sponsor through all stages of being sponsored through to securing a visa. Our expertise will help ensure you are able to evidence eligibility, assist with obtaining and assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship, and securing a visa.
To find out more please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email
Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange visa
This visa has replaced the Temporary Worker – Government Authorised Exchange visa (T5).
The Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange visa is a sponsored immigration route for those who want to come to the UK for a short time for work experience or to do training, an Overseas Government Language Programme, research or a fellowship through an approved government authorised exchange scheme.
You will need to have a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor to apply to work, train or carry out research in the UK.
Your sponsor must be:
- an organisation running an approved exchange scheme
- a higher education institution (if you are a sponsored researcher, visiting academic or examiner)
- a government department or agency
On a Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange visa, you can stay in the UK for up to 12 or 24 months (depending on the scheme you’re applying for) or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter. You can enter the UK up to 14 days before the start date of your job.
Though people on this visa cannot do a permanent job, they are allowed to study; work in the job on the certificate of sponsorship; do a second job for up to 20 hours per week and bring dependants with them.
Switching to apply to a more long term Global Talent visa is possible for some sponsored researchers on government authorised exchange schemes.
We are experienced at guiding you and your employer throughout the eligibility requirements and sponsorship and visa process.
To find out more please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email
Temporary Work – International Agreement visa
This visa has replaced the Temporary Worker – International Agreement Worker visa (T5). You can apply for a Temporary Work – International Agreement visa if you will be contracted to do work covered by international law or treaty while in the UK.
This includes working:
- for an overseas government or international organisation
- as a private servant in a diplomatic household
- as an employee in the household of someone who works for a ‘recognised international organisation’
If you are being contracted to provide services to a UK company, you should apply for a Service Supplier visa (Global Business Mobility) instead.
Eligible dependent relatives may accompany or join you on a Temporary Work – International Agreement visa, and you must be sponsored on this immigration route by the organisation your work relates to.
You can stay for two years, or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus up to 28 days -whichever is shorter.
We are very experienced at guiding you and your employer throughout the eligibility requirements and sponsorship and visa processes.
To find out how we can help you please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email
Temporary Work - Religious Worker visa
This temporary visa for those who want to do religious work in a non-pastoral role or religious order has replaced the T5 (Temporary Worker) Religious Worker visa.
On this immigration route you must be sponsored by the organisation to which your work relates. You can bring dependent family, live and work in the UK for up to 24 months, or up to 28 days more than the time on your certificate of sponsorship.
We are very experienced at guiding you through the genuineness and supernumerary requirements and supporting you and your employer throughout the sponsorship and visa processes.
To find out how we can help you please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email
Temporary Work - Seasonal Worker
This route enables you to apply to come to the UK as a Seasonal Worker to work in horticulture for up to six months – for example, picking fruit and vegetables or flowers.
You can no longer apply to do poultry work, ‘pork butchery’ or to drive a heavy goods vehicle to transport food.
This routes requires you to have a UK sponsor.
To find out how we can help you please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email
Graduate visa
Since July 2021, graduates are able to work or look for work for two years after graduation (three for doctorates). The new Graduate visa means firms can hire bright migrant graduates with no need to sponsor them first, so there is plenty of time to get to know them without the responsibility of sponsorship.
After this period, they can work on a Skilled Worker visa as a New Entrant with a salary threshold and going rate lower than the usual for that occupation.
Starting 1 January 2027, the UK Graduate visa duration for Bachelor’s and Master’s graduates will be reduced from two years to 18 months, though it remains three years for PhD holders.
To find out how we can help you please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email
High Potential Individual visa
UK’s High Potential Individual visa is a fantastic immigration route for those that qualify. It’s a particularly useful immigration route for employers and those who have graduated from a list of around 80 top universities in the past five years to come and work in the UK without having to be sponsored.
In November 2025 the “Global Universities Lists” was doubled. It now consists of eligible non-UK institutions that are included in the list of the top 100 – rather than 50 – universities in at least two of the following ranking systems:
1. Times Higher Education World University Rankings
2. Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings
3. The Academic Ranking of World Universities
It is worth looking back at the year someone graduated to check if they are now eligible, as the doubling of qualifying universities has occurred for lists going back five years.
Those granted a High Potential Individual (HPI) visa will be able to bring family to the UK and look for work, work for an employer, work for themselves or set up a business.
This means that applicants applying on this route will not be restricted to taking up employment with a UK business that holds a sponsor licence and any employment they undertake will not be subject to belonging to a standard occupation classification (SOC) code or minimum salary restrictions.
The lists of eligible international universities are published every year by UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI). The Global Universities Lists are dominated by universities in the USA. Others are in Europe, Canada, Australia, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Japan.
Potential applicants can check the lists below for the year they graduated to see if their higher education institution would qualify them to apply for a High Potential Individual visa.
You must have been awarded your qualification in the last five years – ie: the date of actual award – this will normally appear on the diploma/certificate itself must be within five years of your application.
Check the list of High Potential Individual visa eligible universities for the date you were awarded your qualification:
- 1 November 2024 to 31 October 2025
- 1 November 2023 to 31 October 2024
- 1 November 2022 to 31 October 2023
- 1 November 2021 to 31 October 2022
- 1 November 2020 to 31 October 2021
You can read more about how the HPI visa works and eligibility here.
If you or your employer would like to find out how we can help you please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email
Youth Mobility Scheme visa
The Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) is a reciprocal cultural exchange agreement that the UK has with several countries which allows nationals aged 18 to 30 to live and work in the UK without the need for sponsorship for up to two years (for most countries, though some schemes are up to three years and up to the age of 35 now), and in return, for young Brits to try life in the participating countries.
Most participating nationalities do not require a ballot to enter the scheme, but for those that still do, these generally occur in February and July.
The scheme is oversubscribed for some participating nationalities, though most do not need to enter a ballot. Since 2024 Japanese and South Korean nationals no longer need to enter a ballot and can apply any time. Currently, before applying for the YMS, visa applicants from the following countries must first succeed in one of the two ballots each year:
- Hong Kong (with an SAR passport)
- Taiwan
- NB: Indian nationals applying to another similar cultural exchange scheme, the Young Professionals Scheme must also enter ballots (but with different dates.)
Nationals from these countries can apply to the Youth Mobility Scheme with the following quotas:
- Andorra – 100 places
- Australia – 42,000 places
- Canada – 10,000 places
- Hong Kong (if picked by ballot) – 1,000 places
- Iceland – 1,000 places
- India (Young Professionals Scheme also involves a ballot) – 3,000 places
- Japan – 6,000 places
- Monaco – 1,000 places
- New Zealand – 9,500 places
- Republic of Korea – 5,000 places
- San Marino – 1,000 places
- Taiwan (if picked by ballot) – 1,000 places
- Uruguay – 500 places
- British Overseas Citizens, British Overseas Territories Citizens and British Nationals (Overseas) have no quotas.
There are some country-specific requirements, especially the agreement with India which allows only those at the equivalent of graduate level and above to apply to the Young Professionals Scheme.
We can advise on eligibility requirements as well as alternative routes too. For more information on the Youth Mobility Scheme, the Young Professionals Scheme and the latest on ballots, read our latest guide here.
To find out how we can help you please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email
Overseas Domestic Worker
This visa is for domestic workers such as cleaners, carers, chauffeurs, cooks and allows spending up to six months in the UK with an employer they have worked for for at least one year. There are other eligibility requirements and it cannot be extended.
(Those who were on a Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa on or before 5 April 2012 may extend their stay every 12 months, settle in the UK, bring family members and change employer if their visa is valid.)
To find out more please call us on 0207 033 9527 or click here to send us an email