Prerequisites for the UK Innovator Founder Visa include the generation of the business idea or substantial contribution to its development. Additionally, innovator founders must intend to play a significant role in the development and day-to-day operations of the company.

At the conclusion of the three-year validity period, Innovator Founder visas may be converted directly into indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom. In the United Kingdom, applicants for an Innovator Founder Visa may bring their spouse and any children under the age of 18.

Those who own an existing UK business or are interested in establishing a new business in the country may also qualify for a Skilled Worker visa through self-sponsorship, which entails having your own UK company sponsor your application.

Requirements for a UK Innovator Founder Visa

In order to qualify for a UK Innovator Founder Visa, you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:

• You are at least 18 years old.
• You have an endorsement letter from an approved UK endorsing body that confirms that:
  • You are a fit and proper person to receive endorsement under the Innovator Founder route.
  • The endorsing body has no concerns over the source of any funds invested into your business.
  • The endorsing body has no reason to believe that you or your business may be the beneficiary of illicit or unexplained wealth.
  • You have a business plan and you either generated or made a significant contribution to the ideas in that business plan.
  • You will have a day-to-day role in carrying out the business plan.
  • You will have at least two Contact point meetings with the endorsing body at regular intervals.
  • You are either the sole founder or an instrumental member of the founding team, and
  • You have an innovative, viable and scalable business venture. 
• Your endorsement letter was issued not more than 3 months before the date of your Innovator visa application.
• You are competent in the English language to at least CEFR Level B2 (equivalent to IELTS 5.5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking);
• If you are outside the UK or have been in the UK for less than 12 months, you have at least £1270 to support yourself, plus £285 for a dependent partner, £315 for a first child, and £200 for each additional child.
• Your application does not fall for refusal on general grounds;
• You have provided a TB test certificate, if required.

The exact requirements you will need to satisfy may vary depending on the circumstances of your case. You may want to speak to an immigration lawyer for expert advice.

Who is eligible to apply for the UK Innovator Founder Visa?

The UK Innovator Founder Visa is open to both aspiring start-up entrepreneurs and seasoned business professionals who wish to establish an innovative, viable, and scalable enterprise in the United Kingdom.

In general, applicants will present with a novel business concept for an unestablished company. Nevertheless, individuals may join a business that has already been registered with Companies House, so long as it has not commenced operations. In such cases, the Home Office will assess whether the applicant substantially contributed to the business plan and was not primarily incorporated into an existing business plan for the purpose of faking the application.

Innovator founders can work on their own as sole founders or together as part of a founding team, provided they are an instrumental member of the founding team.

Any industry may be the subject of the business idea as long as it is sufficiently novel, workable, and scalable and has a solid business plan behind it.

If you wish to join an already-trading business, then the skilled worker visa may be more appropriate.  If you are a senior manager or specialist employee of an overseas business looking to establish a commercial presence in the UK, then you may wish to consider the UK Expansion Worker visa instead.

Investment Funds Requirement for a UK Innovator Founder Visa

UK Innovator Founder Visa applicants do not need to show any specific amount of funds to invest in their proposed business.

However, the requirement to have a ‘viable’ and ‘scalable’ business idea means that, in practice, you will need to demonstrate that you have access to a level of investment funds that is sufficient to set up and grow your business. 

The investment fund requirement for a UK Innovator Founder Visa is, therefore, a flexible provision that is capable of being satisfied by anyone with a genuine proposal for an innovative business and an appropriate level of funds to deliver it, based on the specific financial needs of their business. 

Endorsement Criteria for a UK Innovator Founder Visa

New Business Endorsement Criteria

In order for your new business proposal to be endorsed by a Home Office-approved endorsing body and an Innovator Founder endorsement letter issued, the endorsing body will need to be satisfied that you meet various requirements:

UK Innovator Founder Visa General Requirements

• The endorsing body must verify that you possess the necessary qualities and integrity to be eligible for endorsement under the Innovator Founder route.
• The endorsing body does not have any reservations regarding the origin of any funds invested in your business.
• The endorsing body has no grounds to suspect that you or your business may be the recipient of illicit or unexplained wealth.

Business plan requirement for UK Innovator Founder Visa

To fulfil the Innovator Founder business plan requirement, you must possess a business plan and have either originated or made a substantial contribution to the ideas outlined in that plan.

In addition, you must provide evidence of your active involvement in implementing the business plan on a daily basis. Furthermore, you must ensure that you have a minimum of two scheduled meetings with your endorsing body at regular intervals throughout your authorised period.

In addition, it is necessary for you to either be the sole founder or play a crucial role as a member of the founding team.

Visa for UK Innovator Founders Business requirements that are innovative, viable, and scalable.

• To fulfil the criteria for an Innovator Founder Visa, your business idea must satisfy the requirements of being innovative, viable, and scalable.
• Innovation: You must possess an authentic and unique business strategy that addresses the demands of either new or established markets, and/or establishes a distinct competitive edge;
• Feasibility: Your business plan must be grounded in reality and attainable, taking into account the resources at your disposal. Additionally, you must possess or be actively acquiring the requisite skills, knowledge, experience, and market awareness to effectively operate your business.
• Scalability: The presence of well-organized planning and the potential for generating employment and expanding into domestic and global markets must be demonstrated.

Uniform Business Endorsement Criteria

If you have previously received an assessment from a Home Office-approved endorsing body while you were on the Innovator, Innovator Founder, Start-up, or Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) route, either for a previous endorsement application or at a contact point, you are eligible to apply for an additional endorsement as an Innovator Founder.

This option is suitable if you intend to transition into the UK Innovator Founder route from one of the mentioned routes or if you wish to apply for an extension of your stay as an Innovator Founder.

To be eligible for an endorsement based on operating the same business as in a previous endorsement application and to obtain an Innovator Founder endorsement letter, you must demonstrate to a Home Office-approved endorsing body that:

Your business is officially registered with Companies House and you are recorded as a director or member of the business.

Your business is currently operational, engaged in commercial activities, and capable of maintaining its operations over time.

You have achieved substantial advancements towards your business plan.

You are actively involved in the daily operations and growth of your business.

If you currently possess or previously possessed authorization as an Innovator or Innovator Founder, you must provide evidence that you attended a minimum of 2 Contact point meetings with your endorsing body (or equivalent checkpoints with a legacy endorsing body) at consistent intervals throughout your authorised period. Additionally, you must confirm that you will continue to have at least two Contact point meetings with the endorsing body at consistent intervals for the duration of your authorization.

List of Approved UK Innovator Founder Visa Endorsing Bodies

The following is a list of endorsement Bodies that have been approved by the Home Office to issue an endorsement letter in connection with an application under the UK Innovator Founder route:

• Envestors Limited
• UK Endorsement Services
• Innovator International
• The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP) (GEP can only endorse applicants who have already been invited to participate on their programme)

Previous Endorsing Bodies, known as ‘Legacy Endorsing Bodies’, may continue to support those Innovators who were endorsed under the former Innovator Rules until they reach Indefinite Leave to Remain. 

If you were endorsed before 13 April 13, 2023, by a ‘Legacy Endorsing Body’ then you will be permitted to rely on your endorsement and do not need to apply to one of the currently approved endorsing bodies, provided that your endorsement letter is dated before 13, 2023.

Visa for UK Innovator Founders English language proficiency requirement

In order to be eligible for the Innovator Founder Visa, applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the English language across all four components (reading, writing, speaking, and listening) at a minimum level of B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, unless they qualify for an exemption.

Financial requirement for UK Innovator Founder Visa

To obtain entry clearance as an Innovator Founder, the applicant must demonstrate that they possess a minimum of £1,270 in personal funds, which must be maintained for a continuous period of 28 days leading up to the date of application.

Applying for a UK Innovator Founder Visa as a Member of a Team

It is not necessary for you to be the exclusive founder of your business; you can instead be a member of a team that establishes the business. However, if you are applying as a member of a founding team, it is essential that you play a crucial role in the team and each applicant must obtain their own individual endorsement from an approved endorsing body..  

Transitioning to the UK Innovator Founder Visa Category

UK Innovator Founder visa applications can be submitted from outside the UK. However, it is also feasible to transition into the Innovator Founder visa category from within the UK, as long as you do not currently hold or were not previously granted permission as a Visitor, Short-term Student, Parent of a Child Student, Seasonal Worker, Domestic Worker in a Private household, or outside the Immigration Rules.

Application fee for UK Innovator Founder Visa

The present fee for a UK Innovator Founder Visa application from outside the UK is £1,036, while the fee for switching into this category from within the UK is £1,292.

Applicants for the Innovator Founder Visa are required to pay a £1,000 (excluding VAT) fee to the endorsing body responsible for their application.

Duration of Validity for UK Innovator Founder Visa

The initial validity period for your UK Innovator Founder Visa will be 3 years. The UK Innovator Founder Visa can be renewed for consecutive 3-year periods, contingent upon obtaining re-endorsement on each occasion. There is no specified upper limit on the duration in the Innovator Founder category.

After completing a 3-year period in the Innovator Founder Visa category, you will have the opportunity to apply for indefinite leave to remain (settlement) as an Innovator Founder.

Visa for UK Innovator Founders Terms of Accommodation

As a holder of the Innovator Founder Visa, you are required to comply with several conditions of stay.

You will be required to work for the business or businesses that you have established. You are allowed to work in a job outside of your business as long as it is a skilled position, at least at the level of RQF Level 3.

Visa for UK Innovator Founders Meetings for the purpose of contact and communication.

As an Innovator Founder, it is necessary for you to schedule and attend a minimum of two contact point meetings with your endorsing body at regular intervals throughout your permission period. A contact point meeting is a scheduled evaluation between you and your endorsing body to gauge the progress made in accordance with your business plan.

The endorsing body must be convinced that you are actively working on your business venture and have made significant progress towards either your original or a new business idea that is both innovative and has the potential for growth and success.

If you do not attend a contact point meeting with your endorsing body, your UK Innovator Founder Visa may be revoked.

Grant of Indefinite Leave to Remain as an Innovator Founder

• To be eligible for indefinite leave to remain as an Innovator founder, you must meet the following criteria as determined by UK Visas & Immigration: - You must have received endorsement from an approved UK endorsing body that is convinced of your significant accomplishments based on the business plan evaluated during your previous endorsement. - You must be registered with Companies House as a Director or Member of your business. - Your business must be active, engaged in trading, and demonstrate sustainability for at least the next 12 months. - You must have played an active and crucial role in the day-to-day management and growth of the business. Additionally, you must fulfil at least two of the following conditions:
• A minimum of £50,000 has been allocated to the business and actively utilised to advance its progress.
• The business has generated a minimum of 5 full-time positions for permanent employees, each with an average annual salary of at least £25,000.
• The business has generated employment opportunities for at least 10 resident workers, without any specific average salary criteria.
• The customer base has experienced a minimum twofold increase in the past three years and currently exceeds the average number of customers for similar UK businesses offering comparable primary products or services.
• The company has conducted extensive research and development and has filed for intellectual property protection in the United Kingdom.
• The business has achieved a minimum annual gross revenue of £1 million in the most recent complete fiscal year as reported in its financial statements.
• The company has produced a minimum annual gross revenue of £500,000 in the most recent complete fiscal year, with at least £100,000 derived from international exports.
• You must not have exceeded 180 days outside the UK in any consecutive 12-month period within the 3 years leading up to the application date. Additionally, you must possess adequate proficiency in both the English language and knowledge of life in the UK.

The process of acquiring a UK Innovator Founder Visa involves several distinct stages.

Our service for the preparation and submission of UK Innovator Founder Visa applications is simple:

Fill out our UK Innovator Founder Visa enquiry questionnaire.

To obtain a complimentary initial evaluation of your eligibility for an Innovator Founder visa, please fill out our Innovator Founder Visa Enquiry Form (please request a form at info@hs-legal.co.uk). A solicitor will examine and evaluate your responses. Our goal is to provide a response within a 24-hour timeframe.

Ways in Which Our Immigration Solicitors Can Provide Assistance

Our team of immigration solicitor is skilled in supporting various categories of inventive entrepreneurs and their enterprises. Our solicitor specialise in immigration options for innovators and can assist both start-up entrepreneurs and established businesspeople. They possess extensive knowledge of the complex Home Office rules and policies and will provide expert guidance.

We take pride in our ability to be accessible and proactive in comprehending and fulfilling the requirements of our clients. We are a motivated team committed to delivering transparent and dependable immigration guidance to entrepreneurs and business professionals as part of a professional and amicable service.