Innovator Founder Visa

Set Up and Grow Your Innovative Business in the UK

 

The Innovator Founder Visa is a UK business visa designed for entrepreneurs who want to establish, run and scale an innovative, viable and scalable business in the United Kingdom. It replaced the previous Innovator and Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visas and focuses on high-quality business plans endorsed by approved UK endorsing bodies.

 

What Is the Innovator Founder Visa?

The Innovator Founder Visa enables overseas entrepreneurs to come to the UK to start a new business or take an existing qualifying business to the next level — provided it is genuinely innovative and has the potential to grow substantially.

 

This visa is ideal if you:

  • Have a unique, innovative business idea that's different from anything else on the UK market;
  • Have a business plan that is viable, scalable and endorsed by a Home Office-approved endorsing body; and
  • Plan to be actively involved in running the business on a day-to-day basis. 

 

Key Benefits

  • Work on your own business: You can focus on building your business, including as a director or founder.
  • Stay in the UK for up to 3 years: Your visa is usually granted for three years and can be extended in further three-year periods.
  • Bring your family: Your partner and children under 18 can join you as dependants.
  • Path to Settlement: After 3 years in the Innovator Founder category, you may be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) if you meet the relevant business achievement criteria.
  • Flexible working options: You can also take on other skilled work outside your business if eligible.

 

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for an Innovator Founder Visa, you typically need to meet all of the following:

 

1. Endorsement from an approved body

You must have an endorsement letter from a UK Home Office-approved endorsing body confirming your business idea is innovative, viable and scalable.\

2. Age:

You must be 18 years or older.

3. English language:

You must prove your ability to speak, read, write and understand English to at least CEFR Level B2 (equivalent to about IELTS 5.5).

4. Supporting funds:

You must have had at least £1,270 in your bank account for 28 consecutive days before applying (and this cannot be from business investment funds).

5. Active role:

You must have either generated or significantly contributed to the business idea and intend to take a key operational role in running the business.

 

How Long You Can Stay

  • Initial period: You can usually stay in the UK for up to 3 years on your Innovator Founder Visa.
  • Extensions: You can extend your visa for further three-year periods, provided your business continues to meet endorsement conditions.
  • No statutory limit: There is no fixed limit on how many times you can extend as long as endorsement is maintained.

 

Path to Permanent Residency (ILR)

After spending 3 years in the Innovator Founder category, you may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain if your business meets the relevant success indicators (such as job creation, revenue growth, innovation milestones, external investment, etc.).

The exact ILR criteria are detailed and may be updated in Home Office policy; consult an expert for tailored guidance.

 

Application Process

Step 1: Get an Endorsement

  • Prepare a business plan that demonstrates the innovation, viability and scalability of your idea.
  • Apply to a Home Office-approved endorsing body for an endorsement letter.
  • Once endorsed, the letter must be no more than 3 months old when you apply for the visa.

 

Step 2: Prepare Documents

  • Valid passport and personal details.
  • Endorsement letter from the endorsing body.
  • Proof of English language ability (CEFR B2).
  • Evidence of the required maintenance funds.


Step 3: Apply Online

  • Complete the online application on the UK government site.
  • Pay the visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).
  • Provide biometrics (fingerprints and photograph).

 

Step 4: Await Decision

  • If applying from outside the UK, decisions are usually made within 3 weeks.
  • If switching or applying from inside the UK, decisions typically take 8 weeks.
  • Priority service options may be available.

 

Endorsement

The Innovator Founder Visa cannot be applied for without first securing an endorsement from a Home Office-approved endorsing body. Endorsement is a mandatory prerequisite that confirms your business idea meets the visa's core criteria before you submit your visa application.

 

What Is an Endorsing Body?

An endorsing body is an organisation that has been formally authorised by the UK Home Office to assess and endorse business plans for the Innovator Founder Visa (and Scale-up Visa). These bodies evaluate whether a proposed UK business meets the visa's requirements and issue a letter of endorsement if satisfied.

Only organisations on the official endorsing bodies list can provide endorsements. If an organisation is not on the authorised list, its endorsement will not be accepted.

 

Currently approved endorsing bodies include:
  • UK Endorsing Services
  • Innovator International
  • Envestors Limited
  • The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP) (GEP normally endorses founders invited to its programme)

 

What Do Endorsing Bodies Assess?

To issue an endorsement, a Home Office-approved body must be satisfied that your business proposal meets three core criteria:

1)     Innovative: The business idea must be “new” and distinct from others already in the UK market.

2)     Viable: The business plan must demonstrate realistic commercial operations and financial planning.

3)     Scalable: There should be potential for growth, including plans for revenue expansion or job creation.

 

In addition, endorsing bodies typically check that:

  • You are a fit and proper person (no concerns about criminality or illicit wealth);
  • You generated or significantly contributed to the business idea;
  • You will play an active, day-to-day role in running the business;
  • Your financial projections and supporting documents are coherent and believable.

 

Endorsement Letter

An endorsement letter must include:

1)     The name of the endorsing body and its status as a Home Office-approved body;

2)     An endorsement reference number;

3)     Your personal details (name, passport details, etc.);

4)     Confirmation you meet the criteria (innovative, viable, scalable);

5)     The date of issue and it must be no more than 3 months old when you submit your visa application.

 

Process of Securing Endorsement

1)     Prepare a strong business plan: Demonstrate innovation, market research, detailed projections, and concrete growth strategy.

2)     Choose an appropriate endorsing body: Each may specialise in different sectors or offer different support services.

3)     Submit your endorsement application: Provide your business plan, founder's CV, financial forecasts and any supporting evidence.

4)     Engage with the endorsing body's assessment process: Some may offer feedback or require clarifications.

5)     Receive an endorsement letter: If successful, this letter is used with your visa application.

 

Post-Endorsement Monitoring

Once you hold an Innovator Founder Visa, your endorsing body may require regular contact point meetings to monitor progress against the endorsed business plan. These meetings help ensure you remain actively involved and the business continues to meet growth expectations.

 

Important Notes & Risks

  • Endorsement is not a visa approval: Even with endorsement, the Home Office still must approve your visa application based on broader immigration requirements.
  • Endorsement can be withdrawn: An endorsing body can withdraw an endorsement if it no longer believes you meet requirements or if the business stalls.
  • The endorsement letter must be valid at visa submission (issued within the last 3 months).

 

What You Can Do with an Innovator Founder Visa

  • Establish and run your own business in the UK.
  • Work for your business including as a director or key team member.
  • Bring dependants: Your partner and children under 18 can join you. Study alongside building your business.
  • Take on other skilled work outside of your business if eligible.
  • You cannot claim most public funds while on this visa.

 

Visa Fees & Costs

  • Visa application fee (outside the UK): about £1,274 per person.
  • Visa application fee (inside the UK): about £1,590 per person when extending or switching.
  • Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): £1,035 per year (adult) and £776 per year (for under-18 dependants).
  • Endorsement fee: typically £1,000 (to the endorsing body, separate from the Home Office fee). Maintenance funds: At least £1,270 in personal savings held for 28 days.

 

Speak to LNvisa

Every Innovator Founder Visa application is assessed on its own merits.

Issues such as endorsement strategy, business plan positioning, founder role, funding structure and long-term settlement planning can have a significant impact on the outcome.

LNvisa provides tailored immigration advice to entrepreneurs and founders, supporting clients through endorsement preparation, visa applications and ongoing compliance planning.

If you would like guidance on an Innovator Founder Visa application or wish to explore endorsement options before applying, our team would be happy to assist.