The UK Innovator Founder visa, also known as the Innovator Visa UK, is a three-year, renewable residence permit for entrepreneurs who want to start a new, innovative, and scalable business in the UK. Applicants do not need a fixed investment amount; instead, their business idea must be approved by an authorized UK endorsing body. This program allows holders to live and work in the UK, bring family, and it can lead to permanent residency (ILR) if the business continues to be endorsed.
This article will be your detailed guide on everything you need to know about the UK Innovator Founder visa, including the requirements, the documents, the application process, the endorsement types, and more!
Innovator Visa UK: Key Takeaways
What is the UK Innovator Founder Visa?
The UK Innovator Founder Visa is a program created for entrepreneurs who want to start or grow a business in the UK. There is no fixed investment amount, but applicants must present an innovative, viable, and scalable business idea supported by a business plan that is also approved by an official endorsing body.
Applicants must have developed the idea themselves or played a major role in its development, and they are expected to be actively involved in running the business every day. The visa is granted for three years and can lead to permanent residency, also known as the Infinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK. Family members, including partners and children under 18, can also be added to the Innovator Founder visa application.
Eligibility Requirements for the Innovator Founder Visa UK
To qualify for an Innovator Founder visa, you must meet specific criteria outlined by the UK Home Office. The eligibility requirements are as follows:
- The applicant must be 18 years orย older.ย ย
- Have sufficient financial means to support themselves and their family members.
- Must meet the English language requirement at a minimum level of CEFR Level B2 or an equivalent standard.
- You must show a good understanding of the UK business environment.ย
- You must have an endorsement letter from an approved UK body confirming:
- That you are a suitable and qualified applicantย
- You were responsible for creating or have been a big contributor to a genuine, innovative, and scalable business idea
- You will play an active day-to-day role in the business as the sole founder or an important member of the founding team.ย
Qualifying Dependents
Dependants that can be added to your application include your spouse or partner and children under 18. Other family members, like parents or siblings, are not automatically considered dependants. They would need to apply for their own visa.
Who is Suitable for the UK Innovator Visa?
- Entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas that can realistically be developed in the UK.
- Startup founders looking to start a new business or grow an existing one.
- Experienced business professionals with an extensive background in entrepreneurship or their industry
- Professionals in tech, creative, or other innovation-driven sectors.
- Aspiring business leaders who want to benefit from the UKโs startup support and business environment
UK Innovator Founder Visa Benefits
- Fast route to permanent residency: Applicants can apply for permanent residence (ILR) after only three years.
- No minimum investment: The Innovator Visa UK stands out because there is no fixed investment required from the applicants.ย
- Family Inclusion: There is the opportunity to bring your spouse/partner and children, who will also enjoy the benefits of working or studying in the UK.
- Flexible working rules: Applicants are not confined to only running their business; they can also take on other skilled jobs on the side.
- Unlimited extensions: The initial residence permit is valid for three years and can be extended an unlimited number of times.
- Switching within the UK: Applicants can switch to the Innovator Visa from within the UK. For instance, it would be possible to move from the UK Global Talent Visa to the Innovator Founder Visa if you meet the requirements.
What is the Innovator Visa UK investment requirement?
There is no fixed investment requirement for the UK Innovator Founder Visa. Applicants do not need to make an investment or meet a minimum funding amount. The most crucial requirement is to have an innovative, viable business that you genuinely contributed to developing.
Endorsement Criteria for a UK Innovator Founder Visa
To obtain an endorsement for the Innovator Founder Visa, you must meet specific criteria set by the endorsing body. These criteria include:
New business endorsement
This option is for applicants who want to set up a brand-new business in the UK. The business idea must meet the UK endorsing bodyโs assessment criteria based on these three pillars: innovation, viability, and scalability. For this type of endorsement,ย
- The applicant must also have a detailed business plan approved by an endorsing body.
- They must be the main founder or an instrumental member of the founding team.
- This option is strictly for supporting the applicant in starting a new business, not for investing in an existing one.
- There will also be a requirement to attend mandatory check-in meetings at around 12 and 24 months to show progress.ย
Same business endorsement
This type of endorsement is primarily for applicants continuing a business that was already endorsed, such as those who are switching from the previous Start-up Visa. The business must be active, trading, and financially sustainable, and you must show clear progress since your last endorsement. The company must be registered with Companies House, and you must still attend regular endorsement checkpoints.
Settlement endorsement
This endorsement is for people applying for permanent residency (ILR) after three years on the Innovator Founder Visa. You must show that the business is genuine, active, and sustainable, and that you play a central managerial role on a daily basis. Your business must meet at least two of the Home Officeย criteriaย listed below. The endorsing body will assess your achievements against the original business plan. Please note that you cannot repeat the same requirements twice.
- There needs to be at least a ยฃ50,000 investment that was actively spent in the business.ย
- The company has at least doubled its customer base in the last three years and needs to be above the average for similar UK businesses.
- The business has to generate revenue of ยฃ1 million in the last full financial year.
- Generate revenue of ยฃ500,000, with at least ยฃ100,000 coming from overseas exports.
- Create 10 or more full-time jobs for people already settled in the UK.
- Or create 5 or more full-time jobs for settled workers, where each job pays at least ยฃ25,000 per year.
- The business needs to have contributed to substantial research and development (R&D) and applied for intellectual property (IP) protection in the UK, such as patents or trademarks.
Required Documents for the Innovator Founder Visa
- Endorsement letter: A letter from a Home Office approved endorsing body confirming that your business idea is innovative, viable, and scalable.
- Valid passport or travel document: A current passport or travel document with at least one blank page to confirm your identity and nationality.
- Proof of English language ability: Evidence that you meet B2 level English, such as an approved English test,ย a degree taught in English, or proof that you are from an English-speaking country.
- Proof of personal savings: A bank statement showing you have at least ยฃ1,270 available for 28 consecutive days before applying, unless you have already lived in the UK for 12 months.
- Business Plan: A clear business plan explaining how your business is innovative, realistic, and able to grow, and matches what was approved by the endorsing body.
- Tuberculosis (TB) test results: A TB certificate if you are applying from a country where TB testing is required.
- Previous UK Visa documents, if applicable: Documents related to any previous UK visas, if you are applying from inside the UK.ย
- Translated documents, if applicable: Certified translations for any documents that are not in English or Welsh.
List of Approved Innovator Founder Visa Endorsing Bodies
To obtain an endorsement for the Innovator Founder Visa, you must be endorsed by an approved endorsing body. These have been designated by the UK government to assess and endorse innovative business ideas. The list of approved endorsing bodies is regularly updated and can be found on the official UK government website.
These are the current endorsement bodies:
- Envestors Limited
- UK Endorsing Services
- Innovator International
- The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP)
Innovator Founder Visa Application Process
Itโs important to note that how you apply depends on whether you apply:ย
- outside the UK and coming to the UK
- inside the UK and extending an already existing visa
- inside the UK and switching from another visa
Step 01/ Book a consultation with Global Citizen Solutions
The first step in applying for the Innovator Founder Visa is to speak with our professionals at GCS, who assess your eligibility and guide you to the best endorsement for you.ย
Step 02/ Prepare the required documentsย
Working with an immigration agency such as Global Citizen Solutions means you have a legal expert by your side to help you gather and review all required documents, including endorsements, financial requirements, proof of experience, and more.ย
Step 03/ Apply for endorsementย
Once you have chosen a suitable endorsement, the next step is to apply to one of the endorsing bodies for an endorsement. The type of endorsement the applicant chooses will determine the type of application being made.
Step 04/ Await approvalย
Each endorsement body will have its own specific procedure, so the processing time will depend on the type of endorsement and the details of the business idea.ย
Step 05/ย Apply for a UK visaย
Once the endorsement has been awarded, the applicant must apply for their visa within 3 months of the endorsementโs date of issue. This visa application is handled by UK Visas and Immigration and requires the person to apply online with the required documents, then submit biometric data at the scheduled appointment.ย ย
Note: Non-EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals must attend an in-person appointment after submitting the online application to give their biometrics. EU, EEA, and Swiss nationals with a biometric chip passport can confirm their identity using the UK Immigration ID Check app. This means there will be no need for an in-person appointment.
Innovator visa UK Application Costs
| Fee Type | What it covers | Approximate Cost | When you pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endorsement Fee | Fee charged by an approved endorsing body to review and approve your business idea | You must pay ยฃ1,000 for an endorsement from an approved endorsing body. If your visa is approved, you will also pay ยฃ500 per meeting with the endorsing body. | Before applying for the visa |
| Visa Application Fee | Fee to submit your Innovator Founder Visa application | ยฃ1,274 per person if you apply from outside the UK. ยฃ1,590 per person if you extend or switch your visa inside the UK. | When submitting the online application |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | Gives access to the UKโs NHS during your stay | ยฃ1,035 per year | When submitting the online application |
| Biometric Enrolment Fee | Cost for providing fingerprints and a photo | ยฃ19.20โยฃ220 (UK); may vary outside the UK | When submitting the online application |
| Dependantsโ Visa Fees | Visa fees for a partner or children | ยฃ1,274 per person (outside UK) / ยฃ1,590 (inside UK) | When submitting the online application |
| Priority Processing (Optional) | Faster decision on your visa application | ยฃ500 (Priority) / ยฃ800 (Super Priority) | When submitting the online application |
| Document Translation Fees | Translation of documents not in English or Welsh | The cost will differ based on the document and provider | Before applying |
| Tuberculosis Test (if required) | TB test for applicants from certain countries | ยฃ65โยฃ110 depends on your location | Before applying (if applicable) |
How long is the UK Innovator Visa valid for?
The UK Innovator Founder visa is first valid for up to three years. Then, after three years, you can apply for permanent residence (ILR) or extend your visa for another three years. Thereโs no limit on how many times you can extend as long as your business is still endorsed.
Applying for the Innovator Founder Visa as Part of a Team
You do not need to be the only founder to apply for the Innovator Founder Visa. You can apply as part of a team, as long as you play one of the lead roles in the business. However, each team member needs to apply separately and receive their own endorsement from an approved UK endorsing body.
Switching to another Innovator Founder Visa UK Category
You can apply for the Innovator Founder Visa from outside the UK, or you may be able to switch from within the UK. However, you cannot switch if you currently hold, or last held, a visa as a Visitor, Short-term Student, Parent of a child student, seasonal worker, domestic worker in a private household, or if you are outside the immigration rules.
Conditions to Stay as an Innovator Founder Visa Holder
As an Innovator Founder Visa holder, you have to follow particular rules while living in the UK. For instance, you are expected to work mainly on the business or businesses you have set up. You are also allowed to take another job alongside your business, as long as it is a skilled role, meaning it must be at least RQF Level 3 or higher.
Indefinite Leave to Remain as a UK Innovator Founder Visa Holder
You can apply for permanent residency (ILR) as the holder of the Innovator Founder visa after three years but these requirements must first be met:
- Continuous residence: You must not have been outside the UK for more than 180 days in a 12-month period.
- English and UK knowledge: Applicants must meet the English language requirement and pass the Life in the UK test.
- Ongoing endorsement: You must provide a letter from your endorsing body confirming that your business is active, growing, and compliant with the endorsing bodyโs rules.
How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?
Global Citizen Solutionsย is a boutique migration consultancy firm with years ofย experience delivering bespoke residence and citizenshipย by investment solutions for international families. Withย offices worldwide and an experienced, hands-on team, we have helped hundreds of clients worldwide acquire citizenship, residence visas, or homes while diversifying their portfolios with robust investments.ย
We guide you from start to finish, taking you beyond your citizenship or residency by investment application.ย
