Investing into the UK
Investment into the UK creates three separate obligations: mandatory notification to government for acquisitions in 17 sensitive areas of the economy, registration at Companies House for overseas entities acquiring property, and a different tax position for non-resident buyers.
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This page sets out what the law requires of an investor rather than what an investment is worth; the second is a matter for an FCA-authorised firm and not for this site. The property side is at buying property in the UK.
01
Does the UK still have an investor visa?
GOV.UK states that the Tier 1 (Investor) visa is closed to new applications. People who hold one, or who held one within the last 12 months, continue with three applications: settlement, extension and adding a dependant.
Material describing an investor route as open is out of date. The routes available for founding a business are set out at the UK Innovator Founder visa.
02
Which acquisitions must be notified to government?
Under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 an acquisition of a company active in one of 17 sensitive areas of the economy is notified to government in advance. Notification attaches to acquiring shares or voting rights.
The 17 areas are published and include defence, communications, data infrastructure and advanced materials. Whether a target falls inside one is a legal question decided before the transaction rather than after it.
03
What happens if notification is not made?
A notifiable acquisition completed without approval is void and exposes the parties to civil and criminal sanction. The administrative penalty reaches 5 per cent of the entity's global turnover or £10 million, whichever is higher.
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Seven short questions, one tap each. In return you get a costed sheet worked out from how many people are coming, what scale you are looking at and whether it is London — alongside the steps in months, the documents and the published rules.
04
Where does an overseas company buying property register?
The Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 requires overseas entities that buy, sell or transfer property in the UK to register on the Register of Overseas Entities at Companies House, which records the beneficial owners behind them.
The register records the beneficial owners behind the entity. Without registration, HM Land Registry restricts dealings with the title, so the obligation is enforced through the property register itself.
05
Which taxes fall on a buyer from abroad?
Buyers not resident in the UK pay residential stamp duty at rates two percentage points higher, a rule in force since 1 April 2021. Capital gains on a UK property sale are reported and paid under the non-resident rules.
The stamp duty bands themselves are at buying property in the UK, and the surcharge sits on top of each of them rather than replacing them.
06
Who is permitted to provide investment services in the UK?
Promoting and arranging investment products in the UK requires FCA authorisation, and section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 restricts financial promotion to authorised persons. This page describes the law rather than any product.
Sources
- GOV.UK — The Tier 1 (Investor) visa is closed to new applications; existing and recent holders can still apply to settle, to extend and to add a dependant. — 26 August 2026
- GOV.UK — Acquisitions of companies active in 17 sensitive areas of the economy must be notified in advance under the National Security and Investment Act 2021, and a notifiable acquisition completed without approval is void. — 26 August 2026
- GOV.UK — The Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 requires overseas entities buying, selling or transferring UK property to register on the Register of Overseas Entities at Companies House. — 26 August 2026
- GOV.UK — Buyers not resident in the UK pay residential stamp duty two percentage points above the standard rates, in force since 1 April 2021. — 31 August 2026
- legislation.gov.uk — Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 restricts the communication of financial promotions to authorised persons. — 26 August 2026
