Innovator Visa

Innovator Visa

The innovator founder visa opened in April 2023 for non-UK residents to come to the UK to set up a business. 

It effectively replaces the Innovator route and Start up visa, and is now the primary visa category for foreign entrepreneurs looking to set up a business in the UK. 

The innovator founder visa could be seen as offering the most attractive parts of both of its predecessor routes, including:

• No £50,000 minimum investment requirement
• Reduced ‘check in’ requirement with endorsing body – only two, down from 3 under the start up rules
• Secondary employment permitted in certain conditions
• Path to UK settlement – time spent in the UK under this route can count towards indefinite leave to remain residence requirement

To be eligible, the business must be endorsed by proving it is based on an innovative, viable and scalable idea that the applicant has either generated or significantly contributed to.

What does the innovator founder visa allow?

The innovator founder route allows successful applicants to come to the UK to put their business plans into practice. 

As an innovator founder visa holder, you’ll be permitted to work for the business that you have established, and undertake additional employment, provided that employment is in a role that requires a skill level of not less than RQF Level 3, equivalent to UK A Levels. 

You will also be allowed to undertake a course of studies alongside running your business.

Innovator founders are initially granted permission to live and work in the UK for a maximum period of 3 years, at which stage, provided you meet the relevant requirements, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain, otherwise known as settlement.

Your immediate relatives can also accompany you or follow on and join you in the UK under a dependant visa. This includes your partner and any dependent children. As dependants, your family members will be permitted to undertake any type of work during their stay, including self-employment and voluntary work, except as a sportsperson or coach. They can also pursue any studies.

Innovator Founder endorsement

The first stage of the application process for the innovator founder route is to secure endorsement from an authorised body. Only organisations authorised by the Home Office can provide the required endorsement. These organisations, as listed on the Home Office website, are: 

• Envestors Limited
• UK Endorsing Services
• Innovator International
• The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP)

Innovator Founder visa requirements

To be granted an innovator founder visa, the applicant must be awarded 70 points in total, of which 50 must be under the new or same business criteria, but not both. The remaining 20 points will be awarded for meeting an English language and a financial requirement.

The cost of an Innovator Founder visa comprises a fixed Home Office application cost as well as immigration health surcharge per year of stay. This is to allow applicants to be able to access the UK’s National Health Service. 
The Innovator Founder Route leads to settlement as Applicant are eligible to settle in the UK. Time spent in the UK under the Innovator Founder route can be used to count towards the indefinite leave to remain residence requirement.

What if your Innovator application is refused?

Applications can be refused for many different reasons. It will be important to understand what the grounds are for refusal to determine your next steps. If your application is denied, either at the endorsement or Home Office stage, we can advise on your options.

Need assistance with an innovator founder application? We can help! 

Contact our UK immigration specialists for advice on any aspect of the Innovator Founder visa application process either at 0333 772 0409 or e-mail us at privateimmigration@duncanlewis.com / businessimmigration@duncanlewis.com.