The United Kingdom is considering the launch of a new “invite-only” investor residency visa targeted at wealthy foreign nationals willing to invest at least £5 million into strategic sectors of the British economy, according to a Bloomberg report.
Under the proposed framework, qualifying investors and entrepreneurs would receive up to three years of UK residency in exchange for investments directed toward government-priority sectors such as artificial intelligence, clean energy, life sciences, and fast-growing technology companies.
The proposal signals a major shift in Britain’s approach to investment migration after the country scrapped its Tier 1 Investor Visa in 2022 over concerns tied to illicit financial flows, weak oversight, and the growing use of the scheme by politically exposed individuals.
Unlike the previous system, the new residency pathway is expected to operate on a selective invitation-only basis, giving British authorities greater control over both the source of capital and the sectors receiving investment allocations.
The renewed interest in investor migration also reflects broader changes within the global wealth ecosystem, where governments are increasingly redesigning residency programmes to prioritise productive economic activity over real estate-driven capital inflows.
Countries across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East have intensified efforts to attract globally mobile wealth through tax incentives, residency pathways, and business-friendly regulatory environments.
Nairametrics earlier reported that British-Nigerian boxing star Anthony Joshua confirmed plans in March 2026 to relocate his residency from the United Kingdom to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, despite rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
In another sign of shifting global wealth migration patterns, Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris also began winding down the London arm of his family office after relinquishing his UK residency, following recent tax policy changes affecting high-net-worth individuals in Britain.