UK Visa for Innovative Business Founders
The Innovator Founder Visa is a UK immigration route launched in April 2023 for non-UK residents who wish to establish and grow an innovative business in the UK. This visa was introduced to replace the previous Innovator Visa and Start-up Visa, providing a more streamlined and simplified pathway for foreign entrepreneurs seeking to contribute to the UK’s business ecosystem.
This visa is designed for founders with creative, scalable, and innovative business ideas that have the potential to generate growth, create jobs, and contribute to the UK economy. Applicants must demonstrate that their business is viable, innovative, and sustainable, often through endorsement by an approved endorsing body, such as an investment organisation, business accelerator, or incubator.
Key features of the Innovator Founder Visa include:
- Flexibility: Founders can set up their business immediately in the UK and operate independently without needing to be employed by a UK company.
- Support for innovation: Endorsing bodies provide guidance, mentorship, and business support, helping founders navigate the UK market effectively.
- Pathway to settlement: Visa holders may be eligible for permanent residence after a certain period, subject to meeting business performance and residence requirements.
This route encourages global talent and entrepreneurship, enabling foreign founders to bring innovative products, services, and solutions to the UK while contributing to economic growth and job creation. It is ideal for entrepreneurs with original business concepts and the drive to establish a successful enterprise in the UK.
Approved Endorsing Bodies
Only Home Office–authorised organisations can provide endorsements for the Innovator Founder Visa. These include:
- Envestors Limited
- UK Endorsing Services
- Innovator International
- The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP)
Legacy endorsing bodies from the previous Innovator Visa scheme can still endorse applicants who entered before 13 April 2023, but only for the same business idea used in their original application.
Eligibility Criteria for the Innovator Founder Visa
To be eligible for the UK Innovator Founder Visa, applicants must meet the following requirements, ensuring they have the skills, resources, and innovative potential to establish a successful business in the UK:
1. Endorsement by an Authorised UK Body
Applicants must obtain endorsement from a Home Office-approved endorsing body. These endorsers include business accelerators, incubators, or investment organisations that evaluate the applicant’s business idea and confirm its potential for success in the UK market.
2. Innovative, Viable, and Scalable Business
The business idea must be original and innovative, meaning it brings new products, services, or processes to the UK market. It must also be viable, with a realistic business plan, and scalable, showing potential for growth, job creation, and contribution to the UK economy.
3. Significant Contribution to the Business Concept
Applicants must have played a key role in developing the business idea, demonstrating they are not just an investor or passive participant but an active founder with hands-on involvement in shaping the venture.
4. English Language Requirement
Founders must meet the B2 level on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for speaking and listening. This ensures they can communicate effectively in business and operational contexts within the UK.
5. Sufficient Personal Funds
Applicants must show they have enough personal funds to support themselves, with a minimum of £1,270 in savings held for at least 28 consecutive days before applying. This ensures the founder can sustain themselves while establishing their business.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
- £1,191 per applicant if applying from outside the UK.
- £1,486 per applicant if extending or switching within the UK.
Yes. Your partner and dependent children can accompany or join you under a Dependant Visa. Dependants can:
- Work in any sector, including self-employment or voluntary work (except as a professional sportsperson or coach).
- Study at any level while residing in the UK.
This makes the Innovator Founder Visa a flexible route for entrepreneurs who want to establish a business in the UK while bringing their family.
