Innovator Founder Visa

What is the Innovator Founder Visa UK?

This immigration route is designed for entrepreneurs seeking to come to the UK to establish an innovative business. It replaced the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Visa and does not require any minimum investment in the prospective business. The catch is that the business must be different from anything else on the market and must involve an innovative, viable and scalable business idea endorsed by an approved endorsing body.

The route also involves a financial and English language requirement.

Validity Requirements

In order for an application to be valid, an applicant must be over the age of 18 and have submitted the appropriate application form and paid the stipulated application fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).

Eligibility Requirements

In order to be granted a visa under this route, an applicant must secure an endorsement from an approved endorsing body which must confirm the following:

1. The applicant is considered a fit and proper person to receive endorsement under the rules and guidance of the Innovator Founder route; and
2. The endorsing body has no concerns over the legitimacy of sources of funds or modes of transfer of funds invested by the applicant into their endorsed business; and
3. The endorsing body has identified no reason to believe that the applicant or their endorsed business may be the beneficiary of illicit or otherwise unsatisfactorily explained wealth.

Additionally, the applicant must score 70 points in accordance with the rules, 50 of which must either be under the new business criteria or under the same business criteria, but not both. The remaining 20 points are met by way of the English language and financial requirements with 10 points for each and which are applicable to both the new business and same business pathways.

Please see the table below for additional information regarding point scoring.

Criteria for Endorsement of a New Business

The applicant must have a business plan, endorsed by an approved endorsing body as involving an innovative, viable and scalable business venture.

Regarding the business plan, the applicant must:

1. Have either generated or made a significant contribution to the ideas in that business plan; and
2. Demonstrate that they will have a day-to-day role in carrying out the business plan; and
3. Confirm that they will have at least two “contact point” meetings with the endorsing body at regular intervals during their period of permission; and
4. Be either the sole founder or an instrumental member of the founding team.

With respect to the innovative, viable and scalable elements of the business plan, the requirements are:

1. That the applicant has a genuine, original business plan which meets new or existing market needs and/or creates a competitive advantage; and
2. That the business plan is realistic and achievable based on the applicant’s available resources; and
3. That the applicant has, or is actively developing, the necessary skills, knowledge, experience and market awareness to successfully run the business; and
4. That there is evidence of structured planning and of potential for job creation and growth into national and international markets.

Criteria for Endorsement of a Same Business

Where an approved endorsing body has already previously assessed an applicant’s business under the Innovator, Start-up, or Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) route, they may apply for a further endorsement under the Innovator Founder route, for example where they are switching from one of these routes or seeking to extend their stay as an Innovator Founder.

In this scenario, an applicant must meet the following requirements:

1. That the business is registered at Companies House, and the applicant is listed as a director or member;
2. That the business is active, trading, sustainable and has made significant progress in accordance with the business plan;
3. The applicant is involved in the day-to-day management and development of the business.
4. If the applicant is currently holding or previously held an Innovator Founder visa, they must also demonstrate attendance at a minimum of 2 check-in meetings with the endorsing body (or similar checkpoints with a legacy endorsing body) at regular intervals during the visa period and must confirm that they will attend at least 2 check-in meetings with the endorsing body during the upcoming visa period.

English Language Requirement

An applicant must demonstrate their proficiency in English in all four components, namely reading, writing, speaking, and listening to at least B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). More information on obtaining a Secure English Language Test (SELT) can be found here.

The requirement can be met in various ways including by way of an approved English language test or an academic qualification. Which, if taught in a foreign country must be verified by the relevant UK body, Ecctis, as meeting or exceeding the recognised standard of at least a UK bachelor’s degree.

Financial Requirement

Where an applicant has been in the UK for more than 12 months at the time of the application, they will meet the requirement and will not need to show any funds.

However, where an applicant is applying for entry clearance, or applying from within the UK but has been in the UK for less than 12 months at the date of application, applicants must show proof of funds that are of at least £1,270 held continuously for a period of at least 28 days.

How Long Can You Reside in the UK With an Innovator Founder Visa

The applicant is granted leave for a maximum period of 3 years and will need to meet with the endorsing body initially after 12 months (and subsequently after 24 months) to demonstrate that the business is making progress. In case of withdrawal of an endorsement, the visa may be cancelled.

Applicants can apply to extend for another 3 years and there is no limit on the number of extensions.

Applicants can apply for settlement after 3 years’ leave as an Innovator Founder.

Innovator Founder Visa Application Fees

The application fee depends on whether the application is being submitted from within the United Kingdom or from abroad.

- For entry clearance applications from abroad, the fee is £1191.

- For in-country applications, the fee is £1486.

Applicants are also required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) which is £1035 per year.