UK Innovator Founder Visa

The UK Innovator Founder Visa is for entrepreneurs who want to start an innovative business in the UK. This visa replaced the previous Innovator and Start-up visas in April 2023. It focuses on supporting business ideas that are new, different, and have the potential to grow and make an impact in the UK economy. No set investment amount is required, but applicants need endorsement from an approved organization.

Visa Category Type

Start Up

Typical Duration

3 years

Nationalities Eligible

All Countries except …..

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for the visa, your business idea must meet these criteria

  • Age: You must be at least 18 years old.

     

  • Business Idea: Your idea must be innovative, viable, and scalable.

     

    • Innovative: It should be new or significantly different from anything in the UK market.

       

    • Viable: It must have a realistic chance of success and be based on solid planning.

       

    • Scalable: The business should be able to grow, create jobs, and expand.

       

  • Endorsement: You need to be endorsed by a UK Home Office-approved endorsing body. These are organizations that will check if your idea meets the criteria above.

     

  • Active Involvement: You must be actively involved in running and growing the business. Passive investors are not eligible.

     

  • English Language: You must prove you can speak, read, write, and understand English at B2 level (e.g., IELTS 5.5 in all sections), unless you’re from an English-speaking country.

     

  • Personal Savings: If applying from outside the UK (or in the UK for less than 12 months), you must show you have at least £1,270 in your bank account for 28 days to support yourself.

     

  • Team Applications: You can apply alone or with co-founders, but each person must be individually endorsed.

Application Process

  1. Develop a Strong Business Idea

    • Your idea must be innovative, viable, and scalable.

    • Write a detailed business plan covering your product/service, market research, how you’ll operate, and how the business will grow.

  2. Secure an Endorsement

    • Choose one of the Home Office-approved endorsing bodies:

      • Envestors Limited

      • UK Endorsing Services

      • Innovator International

      • Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP)

    • Submit your business plan to them.

    • If they approve, you’ll get an endorsement letter (valid for 3 months).

  3. Prepare Required Documents

    • Valid passport or travel ID

    • Endorsement letter

    • Proof of English language proficiency (e.g., IELTS or degree taught in English)

    • Bank statement showing £1,270 in savings (if required)

    • TB test results (if from a listed country)

    • Any other documents requested by UKVI

  4. Apply Online

  5. Attend a Biometric Appointment

    • After submitting your online application, you’ll be asked to give fingerprints and a photo at a visa application centre.

  6. Wait for a Decision

    • Decisions typically take 3 weeks if you apply from outside the UK, or 8 weeks from inside the UK.

  7. Travel to the UK (if approved)

    • Once approved, you can travel to the UK and start building your business.

You’ll need to meet with your endorsing body twice during your visa period (usually at 12 and 24 months) to show progress.

Cost and Hidden Costs

  1. Visa Application Fee
  • Applying from outside the UK: £1,191
  • Applying from inside the UK (to switch or extend): £1,486

       These fees are per person, so if you’re applying with dependents (like a spouse or children), you’ll pay this amount for each applicant.

  1. Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
  • You must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of your application.
  • This gives you access to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS).
  • The cost is £1,035 per year, and you must pay for the full duration of your visa in advance.

        For example, if your visa is granted for 3 years, you’ll pay:
        £1,035 × 3 = £3,105

Endorsement Costs

  • Some endorsing bodies charge a fee to assess and support your application.
  • These fees can vary, but typically range between £1,000 and £2,000.
  • Be sure to check the exact amount with your chosen endorsing body.

English Language Test

  • If you need to prove English proficiency, a Secure English Language Test (SELT) like IELTS UKVI costs about £150–£200.

Document Translation & Verification (if needed)

  • Documents not in English must be officially translated.
  • You may also need degree verification through Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC), which can cost around £140–£200.

Biometric Appointment

  • Appointments for submitting fingerprints and photos are usually free, but some centres may charge extra for faster processing or convenience services.

Living Expenses

  • If applying from outside the UK or you’ve been in the UK less than 12 months, you must show at least £1,270 in personal savings, held for 28 days before you apply.
  • This is to prove you can support yourself and won’t rely on public funds.

Hidden/Unexpected Costs

  • Travel costs to attend visa appointments.
  • Legal or consultant fees if you use an immigration advisor.
  • Business setup costs once in the UK (e.g., registering a company, renting office space, initial operations).

Family and Dependents

If you’re coming to the UK on the Innovator Founder visa, you can bring your close family members with you. This includes:

Who Can Join You

  • Spouse or partner (must be legally married or in a long-term relationship of at least 2 years)

     

  • Children under 18, including those born in the UK during your stay

     

  • Children over 18 can also qualify if they’re already in the UK as your dependent

     

Requirements for Dependents

Each dependent must:

  • Apply separately for a visa.

     

  • Pay the visa application fee and immigration health surcharge, just like the main applicant.

     

  • Prove they have enough money to support themselves.

     

Financial requirement (in addition to the main applicant’s £1,270):

  • £285 for your partner

     

  • £315 for the first child

     

  • £200 for each additional child

     

These funds must have been in your (or your dependents’) bank account for 28 consecutive days before applying.

Visa Duration

  • Your dependents’ visas will have the same end date as yours.

Work and Study Rights

  • Partners can work or study in the UK without restrictions.
  • Partners can work or study in the UK without restrictions.

Births in the UK

  • If your child is born in the UK while you're on this visa, you must still apply for a dependent visa for them if they will be travelling outside the UK.

Important Notes

  • Make sure all applications are submitted together or close in time, to avoid mismatched timelines.
  • If dependents arrive later, they can still apply separately and join you

Pathway to Settlement

One of the key benefits of the Innovator Founder visa is that it offers a clear path to permanent residency (also called Indefinite Leave to Remain – ILR) in the UK.

When You Can Apply for Settlement

  • You may be eligible to apply for ILR after 3 years of living in the UK on this visa.
  • This is shorter than many other visa routes, which often require 5 years.

What You Need to Qualify for ILR

  • Have a valid endorsement confirming that your business is still: Active , Trading , Innovative, viable, and scalable
  • Show you’ve been genuinely involved in running your business full-time
  • Meet the English language requirement (Level B1 or higher).
  • Pass the Life in the UK Test (a short test about UK culture, history, and laws).

Important Note on the Endorsement

  • Before applying for ILR, your endorsing body must issue a final endorsement letter confirming that your business continues to meet the criteria.
  • If the endorsing body withdraws support or if your business has not progressed, you may not be able to apply for ILR and would need to explore other options.

Can Dependents Apply for Settlement Too?

Yes — your partner and children can also apply for ILR after 5 continuous years of living in the UK, as long as they meet the residency and other eligibility rules.

  • Before applying for ILR, your endorsing body must issue a final endorsement letter confirming that your business continues to meet the criteria.
  • If the endorsing body withdraws support or if your business has not progressed, you may not be able to apply for ILR and would need to explore other options.

After ILR

Once you have Indefinite Leave to Remain

  • You can live and work in the UK without visa restrictions.
  • After one more year, you may be eligible to apply for British citizenship.

eMigr8 is committed to supporting your personal and professional journey with a diverse range of services. From talent development and coaching programmes to startup builder initiatives like LABs by Bincom and tech-enabled visa packages, we are dedicated to helping you achieve your goals and ambitions. Contact us today to explore how we can assist you in reaching new heights in your endeavours.

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