The Innovator Founder visa allows entrepreneurs and experienced businesspersons to start and establish an innovative and original business in the UK.
You can apply for the Innovator Founder visa if:
You would like to set up and run an original, innovative business in the UK. Your business must be different from anything else on the current market.
Your business idea must be endorsed by an approved body, known as an endorsing body. If you are joining an established entity, it must have received prior endorsement. Endorsement is crucial to the Innovator Founder visa process.
Who is eligible for the Innovator Founder visa?
In order to be eligible for the Innovator Founder visa, you must meet a specific set validity requirements listed below.
There are a few sets of criteria that an individual applying to enter the UK on an Innovator Founder visa must meet:
Validity requirements:
Applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years old on the date of application.
- Have paid all application fees and Immigration Health Charge.
- Provide any biometrics to the Home Office.
- Provide a passport or other documents which sufficiently establish your identity and nationality.
- Been issued with an endorsement letter by an endorsing body no more than 3 months before the date of application and that endorsement must not have been withdrawn.
Your business idea must meet the following criteria:
Innovative: Your business idea must be original and different from anything else on the market.
New: You cannot join a business that is already trading unless they have received an endorsement.
Viable: Must have potential for growth.
Scalable: You must be able to demonstrate, through business planning, how the business will create jobs and expand into national and international markets.
70 points
- Alongside the criteria listed above, your business must also be awarded 70 Points.
- 20 points are mandatory. The other 50 points must be earned either under the ‘New Business’ criteria or the ‘Same Business’ criteria, but not both.
There are 3 point categories:
- ‘Mandatory for all applicants’:
English Language requirement -10 points
Financial requirements 10 points.
- ‘New Business Points’
Business Plans – 30 points.
Business venture is innovative, viable and scalable – 20 points.
or
- Same Business Points
Applicant’s previous permission was in the Innovator Founder (including Innovator under Appendix Innovator of the rules before 13 April 2023), Start-up or Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) route and they are pursuing a business assessed by a Home Office approved endorsing body either for the previous endorsement or at a contact point during their last grant of leave – 10 points.
Business is active, trading and sustainable and demonstrates significant achievements against the business plan – 20 points.
Applicant is active in the day-to-day management and development of the business – 20 points.
If you don’t meet these criteria, your application will likely be rejected by the Home Office as you may be better qualified for a different visa.
What makes a business eligible for the Innovator Founder visa?
You can apply for an Innovator Founder visa if:
- You would like to set up and run an original, innovative business in the UK. Therefore, your business must be different from anything else on the current market.
- Your business idea must be endorsed by an approved body, also known as an endorsing body. If you are joining an established entity, it must have received prior endorsement.
Documents
When you apply, you need to provide an ‘endorsement letter’ to show that an endorsing body has assessed your business or business idea. Your endorsement letter must have been issued by the endorsing body no more than 3 months before the application date. If your endorsement is withdrawn by the endorsing body, your application will no longer be valid.
You must also provide:
- Valid passport or another document that shows your identity and nationality.
- Proof that you meet the English language requirement.
- Bank statements showing that you’ve had at least £1,270 in savings in your bank account for 28 consecutive days before you apply for the Innovator Founder visa.
- You will also need your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you have to take a test.
General requirements for the Endorsement
Your application must be supported by an endorsing body and should contain the following information:
- The name of the endorsing body and the endorsement reference number.
- The date of issue (must be no earlier than 3 months before the application date).
- The applicant’s name, date of birth, nationality and passport number.
- The name and contact details (telephone number, email and workplace address of an individual at the endorsing body or legacy endorsing body who will verify the contents of the letter to the Home Office if requested.
Your endorsement letter must confirm that:
- You, the applicant are considered a fit and proper person to receive endorsement under the rules and guidance of the Innovator Founder visa.
- The endorsing body must be satisfied with the legitimacy of your business and of sources of funds.
How long can you stay in the UK on the Innovator Founder visa?
You can stay in the UK for 3 years if you entered the UK on an Innovator Founder visa or if you switched to the Innovator visa from another route while in the UK.
Is there a route to settlement?
The Innovator Founder visa offers a route to settlement. You may be able to apply for settlement once you’ve been in the UK for 3 years, providing that you meet the settlement requirements in full.
How much does it cost?
The amount that you pay for the Innovator Founder visa depends on where you apply from:
- It costs £1,357 per person if you apply from outside of the UK.
- It costs £1,693 per person if you apply to extend or switch your visa in the UK.
Immigration Health Surcharge
You must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of your application. You can calculate how much you will have to pay before you apply using the Home Office’s IHS guide.
Meeting with your endorsing body
You will need to meet with your endorsing body twice, first after 12 months and then again after 24 months.
If your endorsement is withdrawn by your endorsing body, your visa may be cut short. If you would like to remain in the UK for a longer period of time, you must re-apply with a new endorsement before your current visa expires.
English language proficiency
When you apply for the Innovator Founder visa, you will need to prove your knowledge of English.
There are several ways that you can prove your knowledge of English:
- Having a degree level academic qualification that was taught in English.
- Passing a Secure English Language test from an approved supplier.
- Having a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English gained through study at a UK school that you began when you were under the age of 18.
You do not need to prove your knowledge of English if you are from the following countries:
Antigua and Barbuda
Australia
The Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
The British overseas territories
Canada
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Jamaica
Malta
New Zealand
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
Trinidad and Tobago
St Vincent and the Grenadines
USA
Your business idea must be endorsed by an approved body, also known as an endorsing body. If you are joining an established entity, it must have received prior endorsement.
Call to action
If you would like assistance with applying for an Innovator Founder visa, Thomas Chase Immigration can help. Our processes are tried and tested. We offer an individual touch when assisting you and presenting the matter to UKVI. We also offer consultations of you would like to discuss your eligibility and options.
