Invest Abroad: Settle Overseas with Your Family

The investment amount for overseas investment permits majorly depends on the country that you are investing in. Different countries have different eligibility criteria for an applicant’s eligibility. Some countries have different eligibility criteria as per the state you are investing in, like Canada.

Under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program, the minimum investment amount for an investor is CAD 200,000. You also need to have a personal net worth of at least CAD 600,000.

For the province of Manitoba in Canada, you need to invest at least CAD 250,000 if you wish to set up your business in the Manitoba Capital Region. To set up a business elsewhere in Manitoba, you need to make a minimum investment of at least CAD 150,000. You also need to have a personal net worth of CAD 500,000.

A minimum amount of £50,000 in investment funds will be required to apply for a permit to invest in the UK as an innovator if you intend to set up a new business.

Thus, the investment amount differs as per the country as well as the category of the permit sought after.

International students in the UK who have a viable business idea may apply for the Tier 1 permit for graduate entrepreneurs. This permit allows them to set up their own business in the UK. Thus, successful applicants are allowed to extend their stay in the UK to set up one or more business in the UK.

You can apply for the Tier 1 permit if:

• You are not a citizen of any country in the EEA (European Economic Area) or Switzerland
• You should have graduated from an educational institution in the UK and should be officially endorsed for having a viable business plan
• You meet all the other eligibility requirements

However, from 6th July 2019 Tier 1 permits under the graduate entrepreneur category will be replaced by the Start-up permit. This new category exclusively caters to entrepreneurs with high potential starting a business for the first time.

The application for this permit can be submitted 3 months before your intended date of travel to the UK. Other eligibility requirements include:

• You aren’t a citizen of the EEA and Switzerland.
• You wish to set up a business in the UK.
• Your business idea must be endorsed by a higher education institute in the UK or a business organization that supports UK entrepreneurs.
• You aren’t required to make an initial investment.
• You must be aged at least 18 years old.
• You must fulfil English language requirements.
• You must have enough funds to support your stay in the UK.

The requirements of an Investor Visa differ from country to country. Hence the documents needed will also depend on the country that you are applying for.

The documents required also depend on the Visa category that you apply for.

For example, the document checklist for the UK Innovator Visa is different from the Sole Representative Visa of the UK. For the newly announced Start-Up Visa of the UK, you need an “endorsement letter” from an authorized entity in the UK. Such an endorsement letter is not needed for Innovator Visa or the Sole Representative Visa.

Similarly, the document checklist for the various Investor Visas in different provinces of Canada is different.

It is highly recommended to consult an Immigration Expert while applying for an Investor Visa to get the right guidance. Not only will the Expert be able to explain to you the whole process but also guide you on all the supporting documents required.

Business owners or entrepreneurs wishing to start a business in another country are aware of the benefits.

Expanding their business overseas helps them to explore untapped markets or sell their products and services which will be unique in the new market.

They can make use of the attractive options such as tax cuts and loans offered by foreign countries to encourage businesses from outside to be set up in their country.

Some countries offer a better business environment in comparison to the home country of the business owners or entrepreneurs.

Expansion of the business to other countries promotes better brand visibility and improves recognition of the business.

That will vary depending on the country and the category of permit you are applying for. Contact Y-Axis for an informative discussion on this aspect. We will also make you knowledgeable on the eligibility requirements for investing overseas.

Eligibility requirements again are based on the country and the type of investor visa you are applying for.

For instance, if you are applying for the Subclass 188 investor visa for Australia, you must qualify for either one of the three visa sub-categories:

• Business Innovation
• Business Investment

Classification as a significant investor.

The investor must be below 55 years when submitting the application. They should have a detailed plan for the business or be willing to invest in an existing business in Australia. They should have at least 65 points which are based on various factors that include age, education, previous business activities, and investment experience.

If you are applying for the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP), you must be above 21 years, your net worth must be at least CAD 600,000. You must be willing to make a minimum investment of CAD 150,000 to establish your business in the province.

You must have at least three years’ experience in running a business or 5 years of experience in a senior management role. You must have an intention to settle in Nova Scotia.