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.
According to UK Visas and Immigration, you must fulfil the following requirements in order to be eligible for the UK Innovator Visa:
- You have to be a minimum of eighteen.
- Your letter of recommendation has to be from a recognised UK endorsing organisation that attests to:
- Your endorsement under the Innovator Founder path is suitable.
- The sponsoring group does not care where the funds invested in your business came from.
- There is no reason for the endorsing authority to believe that you or your business are the beneficiaries of illicit or unexplained money.
- Your contributions have either greatly affected or produced the concepts included in your business plan.
- You will be in charge of carrying out the business strategy daily.
- Regular attendance at a minimum of two contact point meetings with the endorsing body will be mandatory.
- You are either the only founder or a key member of the founding team.
- Your company concept is creative, feasible, and scalable.
- Three months before the day you submit your application for a UK innovator founder visa, the reference letter must be sent out.
- English language proficiency must be shown at least at CEFR Level B2, which is equivalent to an IELTS reading, writing, speaking, and listening score of 5.5.
- You must have at least £1,270 to sustain yourself if you are applying from outside the UK or have been here for less than a year.
- There are no standard grounds for rejecting your application.
- A valid certificate of tuberculosis (TB) testing must be provided if required.
You may increase your eligibility for the UK Innovator Founder Visa by meeting each of these conditions.
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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.
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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.
The following costs are associated with applying for a visa:
- The cost is £1,191 for those who enrol from outside the UK.
- The cost is £1,486 if you enrol from inside the United Kingdom.
- These costs apply to all applicants, including dependent family members.
You must additionally pay the immigration healthcare premium for the term of your visa. The current price per person is £1,035 per year.
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..
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.
- As long as you seek for an extension before it expires, your innovator founder visa will be readily renewed.
- You are still eligible for an Innovator visa, just as you were when you were first given one.
- You now run your company in the UK or want to start a new one there.
To apply for an extension of your innovator founder visa, you must:
- Complete the online application.
- As previously said about a new visa application, provide identification.
- The online application cost is £1,486.
- Send any required papers to the Home Office (you will get a summary of them when you submit your application).
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.
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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:
- On an innovator founder visa, you have to have lived in the UK for at least three years. For ILR reasons, the period spent on any other kind of visa will not be taken into account.
- You cannot miss more than 180 days in a single year from the United Kingdom.
- To demonstrate that you now meet the requirements to grow your company, you must apply for and be granted a fresh endorsement.
- You must successfully finish the Life in the UK Test..
- You have 28 days until you become eligible to file for ILR.
- Each person applying for ILR as a holder of an Innovator Founder visa must pay £2,885.
- Decisions are usually made within six months.
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There are several advantages to using the Innovator Founder visa path, including:
- With this visa, applicants are allowed to travel with their dependents.
- Additionally, a candidate may choose to go elsewhere and then come back to the UK.
- To permanently establish oneself in the UK, an applicant may choose to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). The period spent in the nation, however, did not count towards the settlement application for the Start-Up visa.
- Although there are no minimum investment criteria for investors, the prior Innovator visa required applicants to contribute at least £50,000.
- In addition to running their own company, the applicant is allowed to engage in another profession as long as it relates to "skilled work." The Innovator visa did not allow for this.
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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
What is the Innovator Founder Visa?
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.
Who can apply for the Innovator Founder Visa?
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.
What does an endorsing body do?
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.
How do I get my business idea endorsed?
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.
How long does the Innovator Founder Visa last?
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.
Can I bring my family members to the UK on this visa?
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.
Is there a specific investment amount required to apply?
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.
What happens if my business underperforms or fails?
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.
Can I switch to this visa from another UK visa?
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.
What are the requirements for obtaining Indefinite Leave to Remain?
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.
Can I take on a job outside of my business while on this visa?
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.
What are common mistakes to avoid during the application?
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.
How do I extend my Innovator Founder 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.
