The Innovator Founder visa, which replaced the previous Innovator and Start-Up visa routes, is designed for entrepreneurs looking to establish an innovative, viable and scalable business in the UK.
Our dedicated team of immigration specialists help non-UK and non-Irish nationals to navigate this route with confidence, helping you build the best possible foundation to launch and develop your business idea in the UK.
Meeting the requirements
As an international individual seeking to take the Innovator Founder visa route, you will need to:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Prove that your genuine and original business idea is innovative, viable and scalable
- Have your business plan endorsed by an approved Innovator Founder visa endorsing body
- Demonstrate English language proficiency at the specified level (CEFR level B2 or above)
- Meet the financial maintenance requirements
The Innovator Founder visa will be granted for a period of three years, and you can potentially apply for indefinite leave to remain (settlement) after completing three years on this route. If you are unable to meet the requirements for indefinite leave to remain, you may be eligible to extend an Innovator Founder Visa for a further period of three years’ permission.
During the course of your grant, you will be required to comply with the conditions of stay under this route. These include, but are not limited to, having at least two contact point meetings with the endorsing body at regular intervals during the period of permission. Failure to comply with this condition may result in your visa being cancelled.
Our experienced immigration team can guide you through what these requirements mean in practice, and help you assess your eligibility for this visa category. We can then support you through all the steps involved in preparing and submitting an Innovator Founder visa application, with a view to obtaining settlement in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What is an endorsing body and how do I get an endorsement?
Endorsing bodies are UK organisations authorised by the Home Office to assess and endorse business ideas. The list of organisations that can issue endorsements for Innovator Founder Visas is updated by the UK Government, with four organisations currently offering this service:
- UK Endorsing Services
- Innovator International
- Envestors Limited
- The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP)
Applicants must apply directly to the endorsing body and pay a fee of £1,000 to that body.
Q. Can I bring my family members on this route?
Yes. If you meet the eligibility requirements, you will be able to bring your partner and children under the age of 18 to join you or stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’. Our team can assist you with this.
Q. Can applicants apply for settlement under this route in the UK?
Yes, holders under the Innovator Founder visa route can apply for settlement once they meet the relevant criteria. Key requirements include:
- Having continually resided in the UK for at least three years
- Meeting the Knowledge of Life in the UK requirement
- Providing an endorsement letter from an approved Endorsing Body that meets the specific requirements set out by the Home Office
If you are not yet eligible for settlement, you can still apply to extend your Innovator Founder visa. There is no limit to the number of times this visa can be extended, with each extension granted for a further period of three years.
Our specialist immigration team can advise you on whether you qualify for settlement under this route or if an extension is more appropriate for your circumstances.
Q. What are my options if I do not get an endorsement?
If your endorsement application is unsuccessful, there are several steps you can take:
- Contact the endorsing body to request feedback, with a view to understanding the reasons why the endorsement was declined
- Revise your business plan in line with the feedback and consider reapplying to the same or a different endorsing body
- Explore alternative UK visa options that may be more suited to your circumstances
Our expert immigration team can assess your eligibility, help strengthen your endorsement application and advise on the prospects of success with the endorsing body.
Fixed-fee initial consultation for immigration and visa advice
We offer a fixed-fee initial consultation to help you explore your immigration options and take the right steps towards achieving your goals.
To help you get started and simplify the process, our immigration team at Lindsays offers an initial fixed-fee consultation where we find out your own circumstances and needs and provide clear actionable advice. Find out more here.
