Immigration Solicitors UK

UK Innovator Founder Visa

International entrepreneurs may establish a creative firm in the UK with the UK Innovator Founder Visa.

Use our inquiry form or give our immigration attorneys a call at 447561699666 for advice on innovator visas.

What is a UK Innovator Founder Visa

The UK Innovator Founder Visa is intended for experienced entrepreneurs and new start-up competitors who want to establish their companies in the UK. This implies that candidates are not required to demonstrate that they possess a certain sum of money that they will need to invest in the company. The applicant must, however, have a solid and workable company concept and draft a business plan that has been approved by an endorsing organisation.

To be eligible for a UK Innovator Founder Visa, applicants need to have created their company idea or made a significant contribution to it. Additionally, innovator founders are encouraged to be heavily involved in the day-to-day management and growth of their company.

After fulfilling the requirements, holders of a Tier 1 Innovator visa, which is first issued for three years, may be qualified for ILR within the UK for an extended period of time. The Innovator Founder Visa holder is permitted to enter the UK with a partner and any dependant children under a certain age of 18.

If you are interested in starting a new business in the UK or managing an existing firm there, you may also be eligible to get a skilled worker visa via self-sponsorship, which entails being funded by your own UK company.

What are the UK Innovator Visa Requirements?

According to UK Visas and Immigration, you must fulfil the following requirements in order to be eligible for the UK Innovator Visa:

You may increase your eligibility for the UK Innovator Founder Visa by meeting each of these conditions.

Need urgent help? Call:

Who is eligible for the UK Innovator Founder Visa?

Entrepreneurs who have a company idea they want to launch in the UK are best suited for the UK Innovator Founder Visa. Showing that your business idea is original, scalable, and viable will be required in order to have your company endorsed.

Getting this endorsement will depend on your company plan. Furthermore, it is essential to prove that you contributed significantly to the company strategy.

It is possible to get a membership endorsement for a business that has previously registered with Businesses House but hasn’t started up yet. Providing evidence of your significant contribution to the company strategy will be important to achieve this.

If your company is currently operating in another nation and you want to grow into the UK market to build a foothold, the Expansion Worker Visa could be a better option for you. If you would want to join an established organisation, the Skilled Worker method might be better suitable for your situation.

Need urgent help? Call:

How Can a UK Innovator Founder Visa Be Obtained?

Take the following actions to apply for an Innovator Founder Visa:

Get your business plan ready.

In a comprehensive and compelling business plan, highlight the inventiveness, viability, and scalability of your organisation.

Request Endorsement

Send your business plan to a suitable and authorised endorsing organisation in the UK for approval.

Fill out the online application.

Go to the Home Office website and fill out the online application if you have been given an endorsement letter. The particular form to be used depends on whether you are applying from outside the UK or switching from another visa inside the UK.

Verify Your Identity

After completing your application, you will need to provide identification. You will be given instructions on the proper course of action, which might include:

  • Visa Applications Center: By visiting a visa application facility and having your fingerprints and photo taken, you may get a biometric residence permit. The cost of this procedure is £19.20. Proof of residency in the UK is provided by your biometric residency permit.
  • Entry into the United Kingdom: By scanning your identification paper, you may use this program to confirm your identity.
Amount of Application Fee

The following costs are associated with applying for a visa:

Fulfil the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge

You must additionally pay the immigration healthcare premium for the term of your visa. The current price per person is £1,035 per year.

UK Innovator Founder Visa Processing Time

Typically, applications are handled in three weeks. You will be informed if you are asked to take part in an interview or if further proof is needed..

Extension of the Innovator Founder Visa

You will have up to three years of permission to stay in the UK and start your planned firm when your innovator founder visa is approved. If you choose to stay, you will have the chance to ask for an extension at the end of these three years. Additionally, there is no limit on the quantity of extensions.

To apply for an extension of your innovator founder visa, you must: 

It usually takes around eight weeks to review applications for innovator founder visa extensions, but you may keep running your company while you wait for the Home Office to make a decision.

Need urgent help? Call:

How might an innovator founder visa get me ILR?

One of the key benefits of the Innovator founder visa is that it provides a simple path to settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain, or ILR) in the UK.

You will be exempt from immigration control and eligible to live in the UK indefinitely with ILR. You will be eligible to apply for British citizenship after another year.

The requirements for the route must be met, and the applicant must live and work in the UK for three years in order to get ILR with an Innovator Founder visa. These depend on how well your creative business does. This guarantees the authenticity and proper operation of the petitioners’ enterprises. The crucial elements to take into account are as follows:

Need urgent help? Call:

Benefits of the Innovator Founder Visa

There are several advantages to using the Innovator Founder visa path, including:

Need urgent help? Call:

What We Offer

Our Services

we understand that immigrating to a new country is a significant
decision that comes with its own set of challenges.

How Can Immigration Solicitors UK Assist?

One of the top immigration agencies in the UK for innovator founders is Immigration Solicitors UK, which is well-known. With years of experience assisting innovation founders with their UK Innovator Founder Visa, the firm’s immigration barristers serve as a testament to its skill.

In every sector, our immigration law attorneys assist creative international investors and their businesses. We understand immigration prospects for innovators, whether you are a seasoned businessperson or woman wanting to grow your small business, or you are a start-up searching for the first time. You will be able to navigate Home Office laws and regulations with the assistance of this profession.

It is our policy at Immigration Solicitors UK to provide our services in a manner that is convenient, effective, and kind to the customer. Every member of our team puts in a lot of effort to guarantee that all of the information provided on the UK Innovator Founder Visa is correct, understandable, and presented professionally.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

The Innovator Founder Visa is a UK immigration route designed for entrepreneurs who have a unique business idea that meets specific standards of innovation, feasibility, and potential for expansion. It allows individuals to set up and operate their business in the UK, provided they secure an endorsement from a recognised UK organisation that evaluates startup and scale-up ventures.

Applicants must be able to show that they have an original and viable business idea that is different from anything else on the market. To be eligible, they must also receive an endorsement from an authorised body. In addition, candidates are expected to meet English language standards and demonstrate that they can financially support themselves while establishing their business.

Endorsing bodies are trusted organisations authorised by the UK government to assess business ideas submitted by visa applicants. Their role is to evaluate whether the proposal shows sufficient levels of innovation, practicality, and the ability to grow. If these criteria are met, the body will issue a formal endorsement letter required for the visa application.

You must present a well-documented business plan to an authorised endorsing body. They will assess whether your business concept is genuinely innovative, has the potential for sustained growth, and is feasible to execute. If your plan meets their standards, they will issue a letter confirming your endorsement, which must be submitted with your visa application.

This visa is typically issued for a three-year period. After this initial term, applicants may either apply to renew their visa or, if they qualify, move forward with an application for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK.

Holders of the Innovator Founder Visa are allowed to bring their spouse or partner and children under the age of 18 to the UK. Each dependent must make a separate visa application. While in the UK, your family members are allowed to study or work, depending on the terms of their individual visas.

There is no fixed minimum investment amount required for this visa route. However, applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have sufficient resources to start and operate their business effectively. The financial capacity to support the business and personal living expenses is a key part of the application assessment.

If your business fails to meet agreed milestones or falls short of performance expectations, your endorsement may be reviewed or withdrawn. This can affect your visa status. It’s essential to stay engaged with your endorsing body and regularly report progress. Continued commitment and transparency can help mitigate risks.

Yes, it is possible to switch to the Innovator Founder Visa from certain other visa categories while staying in the UK. For example, if you are currently on a Start-up Visa or another eligible category, and you meet the Innovator Visa requirements including endorsement, you may be able to change your status without leaving the country.

To qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after three years on the Innovator Founder Visa, you must demonstrate that your business is still operational, financially stable, and has shown clear growth or created employment in the UK. You will also need to meet residency and English language requirements.

This visa is specifically intended for individuals committed to launching and growing their own business in the UK. Your full professional effort should be focused on managing and scaling the venture for which you received endorsement. Engaging in unrelated employment is generally not allowed under this visa.

Applicants frequently face setbacks due to vague or unrealistic business plans, lack of proper financial documentation, or failure to meet the English language or maintenance criteria. It’s also critical to apply through a valid endorsing body and ensure you maintain regular contact with them throughout the duration of the visa.

To extend your visa, you must apply before your current leave expires. A fresh assessment of your business will be required to confirm that it continues to demonstrate innovation, sustainability, and growth. You may need a renewed endorsement, or in some cases, verification that your existing endorsement remains active and valid.

Why Choose Us
Proven Success and Expertise

Success Rate
90%
Value for Money
95%
Client Satisfaction
95%
Customer Satisfaction
if you have any Question

Contact Us