The UK Innovator Founder Visa is the primary immigration route for ambitious non-UK entrepreneurs looking to establish an innovative, viable, and scalable business in the United Kingdom, replacing the former Start-up and Innovator visas. Unlike its predecessors, it removes the requirement for initial fixed investment capital, focusing instead on the quality of the business idea and mandatory endorsement from an approved body, which monitors the applicant’s progress. The visa is granted for an initial three years and, critically, offers a direct pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after those three years, provided the business meets two key success milestones, making it a highly streamlined and compelling option for global entrepreneurial talent.
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Everything You Need to Know About the UK Innovator Founder Visa
The UK’s immigration system has long sought to attract the world’s best entrepreneurial minds, and the Innovator Founder Visa is currently the main route designed to achieve this. This visa category, which replaces the older Start-up and Innovator routes, is targeted at experienced business people with genuinely new and innovative ideas who intend to set up and run a business in the UK. Securing this visa is a strategic move for global talent seeking not just residency, but a permanent presence in one of the world’s leading economies.
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Crucially, the route is streamlined and offers a clear, relatively fast path to permanent settlement, provided the business proves successful. Understanding the three core requirements is essential for a successful application.
The Core Pillars: Innovation, Viability, and Scalability
To be eligible for the Innovator Founder Visa, your business idea must satisfy three core criteria that will be strictly assessed by an approved endorsing body. These are not just check-boxes; they form the foundation of your entire business plan and immigration case.
- Innovation: The business idea must be a genuine, original business plan that meets new or existing market needs and/or creates a competitive advantage. It cannot simply be a copy of an existing UK business. The focus here is uniqueness. A standard consultancy firm or a generic cafe, for example, would almost certainly fail the innovation test. Successful applications often involve proprietary technology, a highly disruptive business model, or a novel application of existing technology in a new market. The endorsing body needs to be convinced that this venture is truly differentiated in the crowded UK marketplace.
- Viability: The applicant must demonstrate that the business plan is realistic and achievable, based on the applicant’s available resources and skills, and is backed by market research. Viability is about execution. You must submit detailed financial forecasts (including clear revenue and expenditure projections for at least the first three years), a robust analysis of your target market, and a breakdown of the team’s professional experience and relevant skills. The endorsing body assesses whether you, as the founder, possess the necessary experience or have secured adequate support to successfully launch the venture. This pillar prevents wishful thinking and ensures a pragmatic approach to the startup phase.
- Scalability: There must be clear evidence of structured planning and potential for future growth into national and/or international markets, with projections showing job creation and significant revenue growth. Scalability is about ambition. The UK seeks businesses that can expand rapidly, not just local shops. This requires demonstrating clear growth strategies, such as developing franchise models, securing international distribution channels, or planning for export activities. Evidence of scalability often includes a staged hiring plan showing projected job creation and detailed growth metrics that reflect expansion beyond a regional scope.
The Critical Role of Endorsement and Monitoring
Endorsement is the most important component of this visa. An approved endorsing body must confirm that your business meets the criteria above, and they must believe you have the necessary skills to carry out the business plan. These endorsing bodies include business accelerators, seed funding organizations, and specific higher education providers, all regulated by the Home Office.
Unlike the old Innovator visa, which required applicants to find their own investment, the Innovator Founder route does not mandate a specific level of investment funds. Instead, it focuses on the quality of the idea. However, applicants still need to demonstrate they have sufficient maintenance funds to support themselves and any dependents while the business is getting off the ground.
The endorsing body is responsible for monitoring your business throughout the duration of your visa. You will need to attend regular checkpoints (usually at 6, 12, and 24 months) to prove you are actively pursuing your business plan and making satisfactory progress. At these checkpoints, the endorsing body reviews financial statements, sales figures, staff hires, and operational progress against the original plan. Failure to maintain contact or demonstrate genuine effort and progress towards the stated goals could result in the endorsement being withdrawn. The formal withdrawal of endorsement is a severe consequence, potentially leading to the cancellation of your visa and removal from the UK, underscoring the importance of continuous engagement.
Applying from within the UK (Switching)
If you are already in the UK on a different type of visa, you may be able to switch to the Innovator Founder visa without leaving the country. You must apply before your current visa expires. Once you switch, you can stay for 3 years and there is no limit on how many times you can extend your visa, provided you maintain endorsement.
Special Rules for Students
If you are currently on a Student visa, you can switch, but only if you meet one of these key conditions:
- Your Course is Complete: You have finished the course you were originally sponsored to study.
- Deep into Research: You are studying for a PhD full-time and have been doing so for at least 24 months (two full years).
Who Cannot Switch to the UK Innovator Founder visa?
You cannot switch to this visa if you are currently holding certain temporary or short-term permissions. You will need to apply from outside the UK if you have:
- A Visit visa (for holidays or short meetings).
- A Short-term Student visa.
- A Parent of a Child Student visa.
- A Seasonal Worker visa or a Domestic Worker in a private household visa.
- Immigration bail or permission to stay outside the immigration rules (like on compassionate grounds).
Rules for Family Members
When you switch your visa, your partner or children’s visas will not automatically change. They need to submit their own applications to switch to the Innovator Founder Dependent route. They can apply at the same time as you, or at any point before their current visa expires.
The Application Logistics
All applications must be made online. You will need to check the current visa application fees and, if you have been in the UK for less than one year, you will need to prove you have enough money to support yourself (maintenance funds).
Proving Your Identity
As part of your application, you will need to prove your identity and provide biometric information.
- The App Check: Depending on your nationality and passport type, you may be able to use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document.
- The Appointment: If you cannot use the app, you will need to attend a visa application centre to have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken.
Waiting for the Decision
After you submit your online application:
- You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. If you leave this Common Travel Area, your application will be automatically withdrawn and you will lose your fees!
- You will usually get a decision within 8 weeks of the application date. If you applied before your old visa ran out, you are legally allowed to stay in the UK until the final decision is made.
- You may be contacted if your application will take longer, for example, if supporting documents need to be verified or if you need to attend an interview.
Path to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
The Innovator Founder visa offers a direct pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)(permanent settlement) after that three-year period.
To qualify for ILR, you must demonstrate that your business is active, trading, and financially viable, and that you have met at least two of the following key success milestones. Furthermore, you must meet the continuous residence requirement, meaning you must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period during your three years on the visa. The settlement stage requires the endorsing body to provide a final letter confirming that the criteria have been met.
- £50,000 Investment: At least £50,000 has been invested into the business. This must be verifiable capital spent directly on business growth, not on personal expenses.
- Job Creation (High Value): Creation of at least 5 full-time jobs for settled workers, each paying at least £25,000 a year. This targets roles that contribute significantly to the economy.
- Job Creation (General): Creation of at least 10 full-time jobs for settled workers, with no minimum salary threshold. This milestone focuses purely on maximizing employment opportunities.
- Registered IP: The business has registered Intellectual Property (IP) and is generating revenue from it. This proves the value and distinctiveness of the innovative product or service.
- Annual Revenue (£100k): The business has generated an annual gross revenue of £100,000.
- Annual Revenue (£500k): The business has generated an annual gross revenue of £500,000. Achieving this higher revenue threshold counts as two of the required milestones toward ILR, effectively accelerating the path to settlement.
Key Differences from Previous Visas
The Innovator Founder visa was designed to simplify and improve upon the previous business routes, particularly the older Start-up and Innovator visas, which were often criticized for high investment requirements or a lack of direct settlement.
| Feature | Innovator Founder Visa | Old Innovator/Start-up Visas |
|---|---|---|
| Investment Requirement | No fixed investment capital required. | Old Innovator required £50,000 initial investment. |
| Path to ILR | Direct settlement after 3 years. | Old Start-up did not lead to ILR; Innovator was 3 years. |
| Activity | Applicants must be founders and have daily involvement. | Old Innovator was stricter on daily involvement; Start-up was less demanding. |
| Flexibility | Allows supplementary work outside the endorsed business (up to 20 hours per week). | Generally restricted to work within the endorsed business. |
Innovator Founder vs. Skilled Worker
It is crucial to differentiate the Innovator Founder visa from the Skilled Worker visa. The Skilled Worker visa is for those hired by an existing UK company to fill a vacancy. The Innovator Founder visa, by contrast, is for entrepreneurs who are creating the vacancies. Innovator Founders are the owners and drivers of their businesses, controlling its direction and growth, whereas Skilled Workers are employees under the direction of their employer. This is a fundamental distinction that determines the applicant’s legal rights and responsibilities within the UK immigration framework.
Detailed Financial Requirements: Maintenance and Costs
While the Innovator Founder route famously removes the fixed initial investment capital requirement of its predecessor, applicants must still demonstrate financial solvency in two key areas: the cost of the application itself, and the funds required to live in the UK until the business begins to generate income (known as maintenance funds).
Maintenance Funds Requirement
Applicants must prove they have enough funds to support themselves and any family members without relying on public benefits. These funds must be held in a bank account for a continuous period of 28 days, ending no more than 31 days before the application date. The minimum amounts required are:
- Main Applicant: £1,270
- Dependant Partner: £285
- First Dependant Child: £315
- Each Additional Dependant Child: £200
If the applicant has already been residing in the UK with permission for 12 months or more, they are typically exempt from proving these maintenance funds, as they are deemed to have established financial stability.
Application and Healthcare Costs
The visa process involves several substantial fees:
- Visa Application Fee: This is the cost to submit the application to the Home Office, which varies depending on whether you apply from inside or outside the UK.
- Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): Every applicant and their dependant family members must pay the IHS. This is a mandatory fee that covers access to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) for the duration of their granted visa period. The IHS is calculated per year of the visa and must be paid in full at the time of application, which can result in a significant upfront cost for the three-year duration.
Bringing Your Family: Dependents on the Innovator Founder Route
The Innovator Founder visa allows you to bring your partner and dependent children to the UK under the Innovator Founder Dependent route. This ensures families can relocate together, providing essential support for the entrepreneur.
Eligibility for Dependents
A partner is eligible if they are your spouse, civil partner, or have been living with you in a genuine, subsisting relationship akin to marriage or civil partnership for at least two years. Children must be under the age of 18 at the time of the first application, or currently in the UK as your dependent and not living an independent life.
Work and Settlement for Dependents
Dependents who successfully obtain the visa are granted the right to work in almost any capacity in the UK (with minor exceptions, such as working as a doctor in training or a professional sportsperson). Crucially, the time spent by dependents on this visa counts toward their own right to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) at the same time as the main applicant, provided they meet the continuous residence requirements (not spending more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period).
What Happens Next: Refusal and Post-Application Steps
Understanding the process after submission, including potential delays or adverse outcomes, is key to managing expectations.
Timeline and Delays
While the Home Office aims to provide a decision within eight weeks, processing times can be extended for several reasons. These delays often occur if the endorsing body’s letter requires further verification, if the applicant has complex financial circumstances, or if UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) decides to request a mandatory interview to clarify aspects of the business plan or the applicant’s experience. Applicants should plan their relocation schedule around this standard processing time, plus an allowance for potential administrative delays.
Handling Visa Refusal
If an application is refused, the most common reason is the withdrawal or rejection of the endorsement by the approved body, or the Home Office determining that the applicant failed to meet the mandatory maintenance fund requirement or the continuous residence rules for an extension.
- Administrative Review: Unlike some older visa types, the Innovator Founder route does not typically grant a full right of appeal. Instead, applicants may be able to apply for an Administrative Review (AR). An AR can only challenge a decision based on the belief that UKVI made a clear error in law or process. It cannot be used to introduce new evidence or challenge the endorsing body’s professional assessment of the business idea.
- Re-application: If the refusal is due to the business criteria (Innovation, Viability, Scalability), the applicant’s best path is usually to secure a new endorsement by improving the business plan or finding a different endorsing body, and then submitting a fresh application.
The Innovator Founder visa stands as a powerful opportunity to the UK’s commitment to attracting global ingenuity. By focusing on the quality of the business idea rather than the mere volume of capital, it offers an accessible and highly attractive route for serious entrepreneurs aiming for both commercial success and permanent residency in the United Kingdom.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the UK Innovator Founder Visa? Answer: It’s the primary UK visa for non-UK entrepreneurs who want to set up a new, unique, and scalable business. It requires an endorsement from an approved body and provides a direct path to settlement (ILR).
2. Do I need £50,000 to apply for this visa? Answer: No. The requirement for a fixed £50,000 initial investment has been removed. You only need to prove you have enough personal maintenance funds (e.g., £1,270) to support yourself.
3. How long can I stay on this visa and can I settle permanently? Answer: The initial visa is granted for 3 years. After these 3 years, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), or permanent settlement, if your business meets specific success milestones.
4. Can I switch to this visa from a Student visa while in the UK? Answer: Yes, but only if you have either completed your course or you are a PhD student who has been studying for at least 24 months.
5. What visas are not allowed to switch to the Innovator Founder route? Answer: You cannot switch if you are in the UK on a Visit visa, Short-term Student visa, Parent of a Child Student visa, or Seasonal Worker visa, among others. You must apply from your home country.
6. What are the “maintenance funds” I need to show? Answer: You must show you have at least £1,270 in your bank account, held for 28 consecutive days, to prove you can support yourself. This is waived if you’ve already been legally in the UK for 12 months or more.
7. What is the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)? Answer: It’s a mandatory fee for you and your family that must be paid upfront with your application. It gives you access to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) for the entire 3-year duration of your visa.
8. Can I bring my family (partner and children) with me? Answer: Yes, you can bring your partner and dependent children (under 18). They must apply as “Innovator Founder Dependents,” pay their own visa fees and IHS, and meet their own maintenance fund requirements.
9. What happens if I travel outside the UK after submitting my application (to switch)? Answer: You must not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man while waiting for your decision. If you do, your application will be automatically withdrawn, and you will lose your fee.
10. How long does it take to get a decision on my visa application? Answer: The standard processing time is usually within 8 weeks. However, it can take longer if your application is complex, your documents need extra verification, or you are required to attend an interview.
