Abramovich will require visa to work in UK if he enters on new Israeli passport

Owner of Chelsea soccer club can visit Britain for up to six months a year, but will have to apply for a work permit if he wishes to do business there

By ToI Staff 30 May 2018, 12:11 pm

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The owner of England's Chelsea Football Club, Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich, as he leaves court in London, October 4, 2011. (AP/File)

Russian-Jewish billionaire Roman Abramovich, who immigrated to Israel this week, will not be allowed to work in the UK if he enters the country on his Israeli passport without a valid visa — just like any other Israeli — a spokesperson for the British government said.

“Those with Israeli passports are non-visa nationals, which means they do not need a visa to come to the UK as a visitor for a maximum period of six months,” the spokesperson told reporters on Tuesday, according to the Guardian. “Israelis are required to obtain a visa if they want to live, work or study in the UK.”

Abramovich, 51, landed at Ben Gurion International Airport on Monday and received an Israeli identity card under the Law of Return, which allows Jews to become citizens of Israel.

Abramovich, who owns London’s Chelsea soccer club and is worth $12.5 billion according to the British press, instantly became the richest person in Israel.

Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich, center, applauds at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge stadium in London, May 21, 2017. (AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

As a new citizen, Abramovich is exempt from taxes in Israel on income earned abroad for 10 years, and need not declare the sources of that income for the same period.

The move to Israel comes after Abramovich’s visa for the UK expired — a visa granted before rigorous regulations were instituted in April 2015 which could have required him to explain the source of his wealth to British authorities before being granted a new permit.

There is no evidence that Abramovich has committed any wrongdoing, but the United Kingdom has scrutinized Russian businesspeople and diplomats carefully since the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in March.

Abramovich missed Chelsea’s Football Association Cup final victory over Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in London this month. He has owned the team since 2003 and was present at nearly every game until his visa problems began.