Roman Abramovich's UK visa delayed after government orders review of wealthy Russians in Britain

Roman Abramovich was unable to attend Chelsea's victory in the FA Cup final on Saturday because the Home Office is yet to renew his UK visa. 

The delay in issuing Mr Abramovich's travel documents comes two months after the government said it would review the immigration status of hundreds of  wealthy Russians in Britain in the wake of the Salisbury nerve agent attack. 

The Chelsea FC owner's last investor's visa expired more than three weeks ago and has not been renewed despite an application being filed on time, the Bell, a Russian website, reported on Sunday. 

The website cited three sources close to the oligarch saying he has not received a new visa, despite filing an application for renewal as usual. 

A source close to Mr Abramovich confirmed that his previous visa has expired and he is in the process of applying for a new one. 

Chelsea defeated Manchester United 1-0 at Wembley on Saturday evening.  Mr Abramovich has not attended every Chelsea cup final in the past, and it is not clear whether the delay in issuing travel documents affected his travel plans.

Roman Abramovich made his fortune in Russia's oil industry in the 1990s. The billionaire has been a frequent visitor to London since he bought Chelsea Football Club in 2003. 

Unlike some other wealthy Russian investors, he never took UK residency but has continued to visit the UK on a Tier-1 investors visa. 

While there is no suggestion that the delay in renewing Mr Abramovich's visa is connected to wrongdoing, it comes after the government ordered officials to scrutinize Russian recipients of such visas. 

Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, said in March that she had instructed Home Office officials to review how 700 rich Russians who were issues Tier 1 visas before 2015 acquired their wealth. 

The move followed the poisoning of Sergei Skripal, a former Russian intelligence officer who had spied for Britain, and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury in March. 

Both Skripals survived the attack. 

The Government has blamed the Kremlin for ordering the attempted murder and said it would investigate Russian wealth in Britain as part of its response. 

Tier 1 investment visas are open to applicants from outside the European Economic Area who are willing to invest at least £2 million in the UK economy.

The visas are valid for three years and four months, and can be extended another two years before requiring renewal. 

The Home Office website says applicants can expect a decision on an application within three weeks. 

A spokesman for Mr Abramovich declined to comment on the report. 

Ben Wallace, the Home Office Security Minister, said: “We do not routinely comment on individual cases.”