UK · Residency
UK Residency.
The right visa, sequenced into the family's long-term plan.
The UK no longer offers an investor (Tier 1) visa, but multiple credible routes remain — Innovator Founder, Skilled Worker, Global Talent, family routes and the High Potential Individual visa. Each leads to settlement on different timelines.
What it is
The full picture, in plain language.
UK residency pathways cover entry, extension, indefinite leave to remain (ILR/settlement) and ultimately British citizenship. We work with UK-regulated immigration partners on the legal filings; Morifar holds the strategic view.
Routes include Innovator Founder (business), Skilled Worker (employed), Global Talent (specialist), Spouse / Family, Ancestry, and High Potential Individual (top-50 university graduates).
Who it's for
Designed for these situations.
Founders building a UK business
Innovator Founder route with an endorsed innovative business idea.
Specialists and senior professionals
Global Talent or Skilled Worker depending on profile.
Families relocating with children
Spouse-led applications where one partner has the qualifying route.
Top-university graduates
High Potential Individual visa for graduates of qualifying world universities.
Benefits
What the right structure delivers.
Clear path to settlement
Most routes lead to ILR after 5 years of continuous residence.
Citizenship at year 6
1 year after ILR, subject to good character and residence tests.
Family members included
Spouse and dependent children processed on the same route.
Right-to-work mobility
Most routes permit any work — not just for one sponsor.
Healthcare access
NHS access from issuance of visa.
European travel access
Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to most ETIAS countries with UK residence.
The process
Step by step — nothing hidden, nothing skipped.
- 01
Pathway selection
Week 1Honest assessment of which route is realistically open and best fits the family's plan.
- 02
Evidence pack
Weeks 1-4Endorsement (Innovator Founder), sponsorship licence (Skilled Worker), credentials (Global Talent) — assembled to UKVI standard.
- 03
Application
Weeks 4-8Online application, biometrics, supporting documents submitted via the UK partner.
- 04
Decision & vignette
Weeks 6-12Decision issued; vignette in passport, BRP collected on arrival.
- 05
Settlement (ILR)
Year 5ILR application after qualifying residence period, Life in the UK test, English language test.
- 06
Citizenship
Year 6+British citizenship application 12 months after ILR.
Timeline
What a typical engagement looks like.
Weeks 1-2
Pathway selection and evidence checklist.
Weeks 2-8
Evidence pack, endorsements, application.
Year 5
ILR.
Year 6+
Citizenship.
Documents required
The evidence pack we will ask for.
Passport (whole family)
Validity for the visa term.
Educational and professional credentials
For Global Talent, HPI, Skilled Worker.
Business plan & endorsement (Innovator)
Via approved endorsing body.
English language test
Where required by route.
Marriage and birth certificates
For dependants — official translations.
Costs & fees
What you should budget for.
UK visa costs include Home Office application fees, the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) and legal fees.
Home Office fees (main applicant)
£1,000 - £3,000
Route-dependent; out of country usually cheaper.
Immigration Health Surcharge
£1,035 / year per person
Legal fees (regulated immigration partner)
£5,000 - £20,000
Per case, route-dependent.
Endorsement body fees (Innovator)
£1,000 - £3,000
Morifar coordination fee
From £4,500
Strategy, partner coordination, family file management.
FAQs
Questions we are asked, and the honest answers.
Is there still an investor visa?+
The Tier 1 Investor visa closed in 2022. There is currently no direct passive-investment route to UK residence.
How long until citizenship?+
Six years total — five to ILR, one further year, plus good character and physical-presence tests.
Does buying property give residency?+
No. UK property ownership confers no immigration rights.
What is the Innovator Founder visa?+
A visa for founders of innovative, viable, scalable UK businesses endorsed by a Home Office-approved endorsing body. Settlement at 3 years subject to growth criteria.
Common mistakes
What we see go wrong — so it doesn't happen to you.
Assuming property buys residence
It does not. Plan visas separately.
Late ILR planning
Absence-day tracking and residence-test compliance must be active from Day 1, not Year 4.
Mixing routes incorrectly
Switching routes can reset clocks. Sequence carefully.
Underestimating IHS
For a family of 4 across 5 years, IHS alone is £20,700. Budget it from the start.
Explain like I'm 10
The simplest version of the whole thing.
There are different ways to get permission to live in the UK — for founders, for skilled workers, for super-talented people, and for families. We help pick the right one and walk you through the paperwork.
Related services
Private consultation
Discuss uk residency with the team.
A confidential first conversation — no obligation, no sales pitch. We listen, map your situation, and tell you honestly whether and how we can help.
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