Innovator Founder visa – Overview

The Innovator Founder visa has been introduced for entrepreneurs and business people looking to establish a business in the UK based on an innovative idea that they have either created or contributed towards. It replaces the Start-Up visa and Innovator visa routes, and is available from 13 April 2023.

To qualify for an Innovator Founder visa you will need to:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Have a new, innovative, viable and scalable business idea (set out in a business plan)
• Have a letter of endorsement issued by an approved UK endorsing body no more than 3 months prior to the date of your visa application
• Meet the English language requirement (passing a language test to at least CEFR Level B2)
• If you have been in the UK for less than 12 months, or you are applying from outside of the UK, have £1,270 savings

The Home Office provides a list of countries here which are exempt from the English language requirement.

There may be additional requirements if you are applying with dependents. In some cases, you must also provide a negative tuberculosis test result depending on where you are applying from.

The visa application has two stages:

Stage 1: you must have your business or business idea endorsed; and

Stage 2: you must then make your visa application.

You are not required to show that you have a certain level of investment funds in order to be eligible to apply for the visa.

Yes, you can engage in skilled employment outside the running of your business,  however this must be in a skilled role (meaning it must be at RQF level 3/A Levels or above in skill level).

Yes, you can bring your family members (known as “dependants”) with you, specifically your:

• spouse or partner
• children under the age of 18

You will need to pay an additional application fee per dependant, which varies depending on whether you are applying from outside of the UK or inside of the UK. The current application fees for dependants are:

• Outside the UK: £1,191 per person
• Inside the UK: £1,486 per person

Your dependants will also need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.

You can hold this visa for an initial period of three years, after which it can be extended for further 3 year periods (on the basis that you receive re-endorsement before extending).

Yes, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after three years spent in the UK.