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UK Innovator Visa: a case study

  • Posted on June 13, 2019

UK Innovator Visa: a case study

There has been negative press about the new Innovator Visa, so OTS Solicitors thought we would share an Innovator Visa case study to show that applicants are successfully starting to make UK Innovator visa applications.

The adverse publicity surrounding the innovator visa stems from:, how can ots solicitors help, an innovator visa case study, an innovative business, scalability, innovation as a route to settlement.

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OH dear OTS with Hans and his team are super. They assisted me greatly with my immigration documentations and i was so happy with the final result. Hans is so prompt with reverting with answers to queries. Hans shows a lot of professionalism in his job and he is very proactive in dealing with urgent issues which occurs during the process. He has a great legal knowledge pertaining to meeting our needs. The team is very proactive and efficient in processing immigration issues above all they show friendliness and their approach is welcoming when it comes to their services. We are ever ready to recommend their services to everybody and to anybody who might need their help Case Workers: Hans Sok Appadu
We have received an outstanding service from Nollienne who ensured that my husband’s settlement visa application is expedited to be able to travel to the UK on time for the birth of our baby girl. Many thanks to Nollienne and to the whole OTS Solicitors team. Case Workers: Nollienne Alparaque
I want to express my gratitude for the exceptional support provided by Sanae Sahebjalal, in my family extension visa application. Sanae demonstrated an impressive level of professionalism, making the intricate process seamless and stress-free. Her clear communication, attention to detail, and proactive approach ensured I was well-informed at every step. What truly sets Sanae apart is her genuine empathy and dedication. She not only understands the legal aspects but also cares deeply about the well-being of her clients and their families. A heartfelt thank you, Sanae, for your unwavering dedication and support. Case Workers: Sanae Sahebjalal
Hans is incredible - look nowhere else !! My parents experience has been sensational . They have asked me to leave this review on their behalf . They had a very difficult case and were concerned about their future and Hans assisted them with a positive outcome which we thought could take years to resolve . From start to finish he and his colleagues had a one to one zoom call with us and then provided their advice and next steps . The best thing about Hans is he is always in contact , even in the evenings but this isn’t the only reason why he’s amazing , it is how articulate and how much care and thought they have put into the case that they managed to secure success . Hans you’re an asset to the firm and keep going and changing peoples’ lives . We couldn’t have done it without you . Anyone seeking advice and comfort , this firm , especially Hans has such an incredible reputation and will not let you down . Thank you Case Workers: Hans Sok Appadu
I had several cases including Naturalization, Family resident visa and BRP. The cases had been mishandled by other lawyers at different times. Having dicovered OTS. My cases were assigned to Sanae Sahebjalal, who managed the cases very thouroghly to thier successful conclusions. I cannot commend Sanae enough on her proficiency. Case Workers: Sanae Sahebjalal

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Tom Bradford

Reshma’s UK Start-up visa: CASE STUDY ✅

uk innovator visa case study

In this video, I interview Reshma about her start up visa journey.

Reshma was granted a start-up visa for the UK and she is a great example in 2020 of a successful applicant. In this post, we discuss Reshma’s journey and how she navigated through the visa application process. With help from the university, Reshma was able to make her start-up into a reality. Once she got sponsored by her university, she then went on to create her business plan. With an identifiable audience for her business and research to support her business, Reshma then discussed the actual visa application process.

Transcript from interview:

Tom : Let’s begin by discussing what you studied.

Reshma : I studied an MA in Contemporary Performance Practices at Royal Holloway, University of London. I chose the UK because not only was it a multicultural place but it also has a fantastic reputation in the performing arts. More importantly, I was able to visit the theatre alongside my studies t university which helped me learn a lot more about what makes an excellent performance. 

Tom : That’s great. So when did you first hear about the start-up visa?

Reshma : At first I heard about the graduate entrepreneur visa whilst I was still studying my undergraduate degree. By the time I graduated in 2019, the graduate entrepreneur visa ended but luckily I found out about the start-up visa which was going to be introduced as a replacement.  What really helped me with the process of discovering the start-up visa was the fact that I would often g to the visa office at my student union. I would talk to them about how I wanted to stay in the UK and ask whether the start-up visa was the right route for me to do so. It was through those meetings that I was informed that my university was sponsoring students and so I registered with my university. 

They told me the next step was to create a brief outline describing my start-up. My start-up business was to create a dance company which would specialise in Bollywood and hip-hop dance. In terms of being innovative, my idea was to fuse the two styles of dance together as this is not often done. My university was happy to help me and so I moved onto the research phase. Conducting the research helped me understand how to run a dance company and figure out what does and doesn’t work. Once I had figured out how to meet my audience’s needs, I was able to present my findings to the panel for the final presentation. Thankfully, I got great feedback and they liked my idea. 

Tom : That’s excellent. So could you talk about the process of creating the business plan and how you prepared that? 

Reshma : It started at university. I got the idea to create a dance company which focuses on Bollywood and hip-hop dance because there were no such classes at my university. When speaking to my friends and their friends, I could see that there was certainly an interest in having such classes. What is interesting is that people liked the idea of having a Bollywood/hip-hop dance class because it was a fun and creative way of getting fit. During my research, I saw how dance could be incorporated into the fitness industry, even in employee-well being programmes in the UK. essentially, my business plan took a lot of research and also involved speaking to people. The finance was also an important aspect of my business plan. I had to consider many things from overseeing the cost of renting out dance spaces to determining how much profits I would make on a yearly basis. 

Tom : So, it sounds like the business plan was a collaborative process which involved plenty of research and time. What I noticed with your business is that it is based more in the creative arts industry rather than the usual ‘tech start-up’. Could you talk to me about what that was like?

Reshma : Yes, so initially I thought that this visa route would not be suitable for me as y idea was not technology-based. However, when I looked at the criteria, which emphasised the need for innovative, scalable and viable businesses- I noticed that my business idea was able to fulfil such criteria. Whilst there are Bollywood style dance classes already in the UK, I focused on the issue of fo mental health. I know there is a rise in mental health problems like anxiety and depression and the NHS explains that dance can improve your mood and reduce stress. So, I saw dance classes as a great way to help people improve their mental health because it allowed people to work as a group and encourage each of them to cooperate.  I knew my business was definitely scalable in terms of the fact that dance classes could not only work for university students but also in business workshops which encourage employees to collaborate together and also alleviate the problem of loneliness which is a big issue for the elderly. 

Tom : That’s great. You clearly had an identifiable audience which was universities, businesses and care homes.  So could you also talk about the actual visa process in terms of how long it took?

Reshma : Yes, I was actually quite surprised by how quick the process was. The act that there no interview was something that also surprised me because when I applied for my student visa, I had to give an interview. So, I got my answer in two days which stated that I got the visa. All I had to do was give my fingerprints for the BRP [Biometric Resident Permit] and submit some documents. 

Tom : Yes, most of our other clients who are similar to you got their reply within seven days of submitting their biometric information and documents. What about your contemporaries, did any of them get endorsed and stay in the UK after graduation? 

Reshma : No actually. The reason why I managed to stay in the UK after graduation was because I would regularly visit the visa office at my university. It was my persistence in wanting to stay in the UK that the university noticed and so, they were able to help me with the visa process. The main problem is that students do not often follow up with the visa office o they leave things to the last minute; both of which can prevent you from getting the visa.  

Tom : I see and the start-up visa is only for two years, so what are your plans for afterwards? 

Reshma : I am deciding between two options; the innovator visa route or the exceptional talent visa route. I know that transferring to the innovator visa from the start-up visa will be the easier option for me as I will not have to show the 50k funds.  However, the other option which is the exceptional talent visa. Since I am already in the UK and I have friends and contacts in the industry, it will be easier for me to fulfil the criteria required for this visa route since I have both my dance business and also my performances in theatre which I do alongside. With this visa route, I can stay in the UK for another five years. 

Tom : Fantastic. Thank you so much with speaking with me today and talking about your journey.

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Pursuing Entrepreneurship in the UK: The Innovator Founder Visa Explained

Small Business Insights

As an overseas entrepreneur with eyes set on the British Isles, a promising pathway has unfolded in the form of the new Innovator Founder Visa. 

Initiated in April 2023, this fresh avenue has streamlined the process for non-UK residents aspiring to launch a business in the nation.

This article unpacks the essentials of the Innovator Founder Visa, from eligibility to application procedures, to help you embark on your entrepreneurial journey in the UK.

Understanding the Innovator Founder Route

Replacing the former Innovator and Start-up Visas, the Innovator Founder Visa offers a number of appealing features for overseas entrepreneurs:

  • No obligation for a minimum investment of £50,000
  • Fewer mandatory ‘check-ins’ with the endorsing body (down to two from three)
  • Permission for secondary employment under certain conditions
  • A direct path to permanent residency in the UK, with time spent under this route contributing to the required residence period for indefinite leave to remain.

The linchpin of eligibility for this visa is securing an endorsement for your business by demonstrating an innovative, viable, and scalable concept that you have either conceived or contributed to significantly.

The Potential of the Innovator Founder Visa

Obtaining the Innovator Founder Visa opens a door to turning your business ideas into reality on UK soil. 

As a holder of this visa, you can work for the business you’ve established and undertake additional employment as long as the role requires a skill level equivalent to or above UK A Levels.

The Innovator Founder Visa initially grants permission to live and work in the UK for up to three years. 

After this period, meeting the relevant requirements opens up the opportunity to apply for indefinite leave to remain, also known as settlement. 

This visa also allows your immediate family members to accompany you or join you later in the UK under a dependent visa.

Eligibility Criteria for the Innovator Founder Visa

Securing the Innovator Founder Visa requires a total of 70 points, with 50 points earned under the new or same business criteria and the remaining 20 points awarded for meeting English language and financial requirements. 

The criteria differ for new businesses and established businesses, each with a distinct points system.

For new businesses, points are granted for a realistic and innovative business plan and demonstrable skills, knowledge, experience, and market awareness to successfully run the business.

For those with existing businesses, points are awarded for significant progress against the business plan, active involvement in the day-to-day management of the business, and more.

Cost Implications of the Innovator Founder Visa

Applying for the Innovator Founder Visa incurs a base cost of £1,036, followed by another £1,036 for each of the applicant’s dependents. 

If you’re applying from within the UK to switch or extend your status, the fee shifts to £1,292, with further £1,292 per dependent.

Additionally, each applicant will be due to cover an immigration health surcharge of £624 per year. 

Application Process for the Innovator Founder Visa

The application process for the Innovator Founder Visa closely mirrors the procedures of the Start-up and Innovator routes. 

Key steps include securing an endorsement letter from an authorised body, completing an online application, and submitting the necessary documentation.

Importantly, the endorsement letter must validate that your business idea or business complies with the new requirements, including a statement affirming the legitimacy of the source of your funds.

Securing an Innovator Founder Endorsement

The first crucial step towards applying for the Innovator Founder Visa is obtaining endorsement from an authorised body, as identified by the Home Office. 

This includes organisations such as Innovator International, Envestors Limited, UK Endorsing Services, and The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP).

Legacy endorsing bodies from the previous Innovator route can continue endorsing applicants who entered the Innovator Visa scheme before 13 April 2023, but only for the same business idea used in a prior application.

Pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)

Holders of the Innovator Founder Visa are eligible to apply for ILR after a minimum of three years in the UK. 

Meeting certain criteria, such as generating a certain amount of income or creating jobs, could expedite this process.

The Innovator Founder Visa offers a vibrant opportunity for international entrepreneurs looking to launch or grow their business ventures in the UK. 

With a clear understanding of its processes and potential advantages, you could be on your way to becoming part of the UK’s thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. 

As with all immigration matters, it’s advisable to seek professional guidance to navigate the intricacies of the application process and increase your chances of success.

Small businesses access unsecured, fast funding from Got Capital . As an alternative lender, Got Capital offers financing solutions specifically designed for and catered to the needs of SMEs.

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Comparing Self-Sponsorship And The Innovator Founder Visa: The Right Path To UK Immigration

Prachi srivastava, table of contents.

Immigration law can sometimes feel daunting if it is entertained as a first-timer without legal supervision. For this reason, it is essential to understand the differences and the fine print. Talking about UK immigration rules, there are many ways to come to the UK, but it is essential to understand which route fits the applicant’s situation best.

Let’s talk about entrepreneurs and how they can move to the UK by setting up their businesses. Among the entrepreneurs, there’s always confusion about the visa route they should take. They have quite a few options, but we will talk about self-sponsorship and innovator founder visa routes in this blog, as they are the most preferred.

What is self-sponsorship?

Self-sponsorship is a term that generally refers to when a person obtains a visa or work permit without being sponsored by another employer. Instead, the individual sponsors themselves, often through establishing a business or investing in the host country. It’s a method used by entrepreneurs, investors, and some professionals to reside and work in the UK.

Most people seeking self-sponsorship have entrepreneurial aspirations and wish to expand or set up their business in the UK. This approach provides great flexibility compared to the constraints of employer-sponsored visas and opens several opportunities to  attract diverse global talent  with the help of a sponsor licence. This visa type also allows easy transition from other visa types, such as student, graduate, or work visas. This visa can also lead to permanent residency in the United Kingdom.

Stages in the self-sponsorship visa process and the costs involved

As mentioned, self-sponsorship allows business people to sponsor themselves and hire talent worldwide. The whole process of self-sponsorship is divided into different stages and is mentioned below:

  • Setting up a business in the UK:  The first step for self-sponsorship is to set up or have a business in the UK that can afford to hire global talent and may or may not have a sponsor licence. The UK government hasn’t kept any brackets on the amount of initial investment in the business, and it depends on the business requirement.
  • Sponsor Licence:  Once the business is up and running, it must apply for a sponsor licence if they don’t already have one. This will allow the business to hire people from outside the UK legally. The initial cost involved in sponsor licence application is the application fee ranging from £536 to £1476 (small businesses pay the lower end of this range).
  • CoS:  After getting the sponsor licence, the next step is to issue a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) to hire the skilled worker. For people applying from outside the UK, a defined CoS is issued; for applicants within the UK, an undefined CoS is issued. Every time the business wants to hire a skilled worker, it will have to pay a CoS fee of £199 per worker.
  • ISC:  The business will need to pay the immigration skills charge when hiring through the skilled worker visa route, and it can come up to £364 (for small and charitable businesses) and £1000 (for medium and big businesses) for a 12 month period.
  • Legal consultation:  The business might also have to pay for any legal consultation fee as businesses tend to take help from corporate immigration solicitors in such matters.

In addition to the above costs the business faces, the applicant will need to pay for the Skilled worker visa fee (£719 to £1636 depending on where they apply from and for how many years), Immigration Health Surcharge (£1035 per year of sponsorship) and any legal fee if applicable. To qualify for the Skilled Worker Visa, the applicant must meet the English Language proficiency at CEFR B1 level.

At City Legal Solicitors, we have a 100% success rate with sponsor licence cases. Contact our team at 020 8175 4000 or email us your queries at  [email protected] . We are available to assist you from 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday to Friday.

What is the Innovator Founder Visa?

This visa type is unique. It provides an opportunity for entrepreneurs with unique ideas to set up their businesses in the UK. No particular investment figure is mentioned for this visa, but the business must have the potential to grow in the future. Successful innovators are granted a three-year visa and must meet the  Innovator Visa Requirements .

Having an innovative business idea isn’t the only requirement, as the entrepreneur must prove it with the help of a business plan laid out. This business plan needs to be endorsed by a UK government-appointed endorsing body.

Stages in the innovator founder visa process and the costs involved

An innovator founder visa is usually given to entrepreneurs with exceptional business ideas who want to explore the UK market for the business. The steps involved in this visa type differ from the self-sponsorship visa type and are as follows:

  • Business plan:  The first step in this visa type is the business plan, which outlines the business strategies and approach to the unique business idea. The most important aspect of the business plan is that it must be  innovative, viable and scalable .
  • Endorsement from an  appointed body :  For the innovator founder visa, the business plan needs to be endorsed by a UK government-appointed endorsing body. The purpose of this endorsement is to identify the business’s needs in the UK market, its sustainability, profitability, and scope in the future.
  •    Endorsement fee:  Under the updated system, founders are required to pay set fees for endorsement consideration, that is, £1,000 (excluding VAT) for the initial endorsement review and £500 (excluding VAT) for each checkpoint assessment at 12 and 24 months.
  • Visa Application:  Once the business receives a letter of endorsement, they can use it to make their Innovator Founder Visa application. The visa application fee to the Home Office ranges from £1036 to £1292, depending on the location of the application.
  • Initial investment requirements:  There hasn’t been any fixed amount of initial investment required, but the business must be able to fund itself and bear the business’s expenses.
  • English Language requirement:  To qualify for the Innovator Founder Visa, the applicant must meet the English Language requirements. This means one either demonstrates English proficiency at the B2 level on the CEFR with an English language test, has a degree taught in English, or is a national of majority English-speaking countries like Australia, Canada, New Zealand, or the USA, among others.
  • Support funds:  To demonstrate sustainability in the UK, the applicant must prove that they have held at least £1,270 in their bank account as the main applicant for at least 28 days before the application submission date.

Who can apply for these visas?

A self-sponsorship visa is open to any business person who wants to establish a business in the UK or has a pre-existing business in the UK for acquisition. They should have enough funds to fulfil the business requirements and need to appoint key persons with responsibilities within the business. They also need a UK-settled or British citizen as an authorising officer.  

An Innovator Founder Visa can be applied by someone who has a brilliant idea and wants to build a business around it. The UK government asks businesses to have ideas that are unique, achievable and have the potential to expand in the future. The three key terms to define the business idea are  innovative, viable and scalable.

A comprehensive table of comparison

How can we help you.

We are a corporate immigration law firm that places a central emphasis on achieving outcomes and ensuring client contentment. We aim to provide clients with a seamless experience by maintaining transparent and timely communication, establishing accurate expectations from the beginning, and surpassing these expectations at every stage of the process.

Contact our legal team at  [email protected]  or call us on 0208175 4000. The City Legal Service team can resolve your queries from Monday – to Friday between 9 AM and 5 PM.

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If you want to stay in the UK after your studies to start a business, we can help you get endorsed for an Innovator Founder visa.

Which visa is right for you?

Innovator founder visa.

The Innovator Founder visa is for people who have business experience and are seeking to establish a business in the UK.

With an Innovator Founder visa you can:

  • stay in the UK for 3 years, after which you can apply to extend your stay for a further 3 years or apply to settle permanently in the UK
  • bring your family with you to the UK
  • set up a business or several businesses
  • work for your business
  • do work outside your business, as long as it’s ‘skilled work’

To apply for an Innovator Founder visa (and for an extension or settlement) you’ll need to be endorsed by an official endorsing body.

Find out more about the  Innovator Founder visa on the GOV.UK website or attend one of our information sessions .

Graduate visa

The Graduate visa allows students with a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student visa to stay in the UK for 2 years after their degree. 

With a Graduate visa:

  • you can stay in the UK for 2 years after completing your degree (3 years if you have a doctoral qualification)
  • your family can apply to stay too, if they were ‘dependents’ on your current student visa
  • you may work, start a business or be self-employed

You must be in the UK when you apply, but you don’t need endorsement from UCL or another organisation to apply.

Find out more about the  Graduate visa on the GOV.UK website .

Whichever visa you have, we offer a range of support for UCL graduates to help you turn your idea into a successful business.

Applying for an Innovator Founder visa

You can apply at any time for an Innovator Founder visa, but you’ll need endorsement from an official endorsing body before you can apply.

The endorsing body will assess that your business meets the required criteria. You must be able to show that your business idea is:

  • new - you cannot join a business that is already trading
  • innovative - you must have an original business idea which is different from anything else on the market
  • viable - your business must generate revenue over a sustained period of time
  • scalable - you must give evidence of planning that includes creating jobs and growing into national and international markets

Support with your application and beyond

Our entrepreneurship team can help you prepare your application for endorsement for an Innovator Founder visa, and support you in building your business.

Information sessions

Find out more about the Innovator Founder visa by coming to one of our information sessions. These free sessions are open to current UCL students and alumni.

Find out more and book for the following dates:

  • 30 May 2024, 4pm to 5pm
  • 27 June 2024, 4pm to 5pm

One-to-one support

Request a meeting with one of our entrepreneurship advisors to discuss your business idea and whether it meets the eligibility criteria for endorsement. They’ll be able to advise you on what steps you need to take to develop your business idea and how to prepare your application for endorsement.

Current UCL students and recent graduates (within 3 years of completing their studies) can request a meeting with an advisor by filling in the form on our online portal . 

Support after you have your visa

Once you have an Innovator Founder visa, you may be eligible for our Hatchery incubator programme . This gives you access to desks and meeting rooms, business training, and expert advice to help you build your business.

Discuss this option with your entrepreneurship advisor for more details.

Email:   [email protected]

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To receive updates on our free workshops, courses and networking events,  sign up to our entrepreneurship mailing list .

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Everything you need to know about the UK’s new Innovator Founder visa

By nick rollason & jessica jim, the uk’s new innovator founder visa programme came into effect on 13 april 2023, replacing the innovator visa and start-up visa routes. .

There will now only be certain Home Office-approved endorsing bodies. Going forward, new applicants who do not have an endorsement letter dated prior to 13 April 2023 will need to seek an endorsement with one of the new endorsing bodies approved for the Innovator Founder route.

The new endorsing bodies approved for the Innovator Founder visa are:

Envestors Limited UK Endorsing Services Innovator International The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP)

GEP only provides visa endorsements for founders who have already been invited to participate on their programme.

The requirement to show the business proposal is  innovative, viable and scalable  is still a key feature under the Innovator Founder visa programme. It is possible to apply with a new business concept, or to apply under the same business category, provided you previously obtained permission as an Innovator Founder, Innovator, Start-up or Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur), and were assessed in a previous application using the same business concept. While the new route is vastly similar to the previous scheme, the new visa does offer some welcome changes.

No GBP 50,000 minimum investment requirement

Previously, applicants were required to show they had at least GBP 50,000 available to invest in the new business. This requirement has been scrapped under the Innovator Founder visa, offering greater flexibility to entrepreneurs. Businesses that do not need a large amount of capital to kick start their business will see great benefit to this. However, if your business idea requires a significant cash injection to launch, then the new endorsing bodies may still want evidence that you have the necessary funds available to start your business in the UK, usually for at least the next 12 months.

Minimum two contact points

Legacy endorsing bodies were previously required to stay in contact with Innovator applicants at checkpoints of 6, 12 and 24 months. The new rules now only require a minimum of two contact points, providing more flexibility as to when new applicants need to meet with their endorsing body. Different industries and businesses will have different timelines in how they develop their businesses, so moving away from set 6, 12, and 24-month checkpoints will help ease the pressure on some entrepreneur innovators to develop their businesses under less rigid timescales. 

Secondary employment allowed

Previously, it was a condition that Innovators could only work for the business the Innovator had established in the UK. Now, Innovator Founders can take up secondary employment provided that the role is at a skill level not less than RQF Level 3 – equivalent to A-levels or high school leavers. This is a welcome change as it is not uncommon for entrepreneurs to start their new business venture while being employed at other businesses. This reflects the reality of many genuine, multifaceted entrepreneurs. It also helps entrepreneurs to earn income and maintain their life in the UK until their business is at a stage where the applicant no longer requires earning from their secondary employment.

Can I use an endorsement letter issued by a legacy endorsing body under the new scheme?

If you are applying on the basis of a new business, you can use the endorsement letter issued by the legacy endorsing body if the letter is dated before 13 April 2023. Alternatively, if the legacy endorsing body previously endorsed you as a Start-Up visa applicant, then the same legacy endorsing body may endorse you to apply for the Innovator Founder visa.

If you are applying under the same business category, you may only rely on the endorsement from a legacy endorsing body if you previously obtained your first endorsement letter with that same legacy endorsing body before 13 April 2023, and subsequently applied for the Innovator Founder visa after 13 April 2023.

With these changes, visa applicants will now need to check a number things before they apply. 

Nick Rollason   is a Partner and Head of Business Immigration. He advises on all areas of UK immigration and nationality law and has expertise in providing strategic advice to businesses on their global immigration needs. He has litigated key test cases before the European Court of Justice.

Jessica Jim   is a Senior Associate in the immigration team at Kingsley Napley and advises on a wide range of personal and business UK immigration matters. Jessica has extensive experience advising high net worth individuals on their relocation to the UK, particularly entrepreneurs and start ups.

uk innovator visa case study

11 October 2023

uk innovator visa case study

Kingsley Napley LLP

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Innovator Founder Visa

The Innovator Founder visa was introduced in April 2023 and replaces the former Innovator and Start-up routes.

What is the Innovator Founder Visa?

The Innovator Founder visa is for entrepreneurs who intend to set up and run a new, innovative, viable, and scalable business in the UK.

Applicants are firstly required to have had their business endorsed by an approved body, also known as an Endorsing Body. The Endorsing Body will consider whether the business is innovative, viable and scalable, and whether the applicant has a genuine, original business plan that meets new or existing market needs.

Once the applicant has received a positive endorsement, they will be able to apply for an Innovator Founder visa.

What are the requirements for an Innovator Founder Visa?

The requirements an applicant must meet when making an Innovator Founder visa application are broadly as follows:

  • they are aged 18 or over;
  • they do not fall for refusal under the Part 9: grounds for refusal ;
  • they have provided a valid TB certificate, where applicable;
  • they are a genuine Innovator Founder applicant;
  • they have an endorsement letter from an Endorsing Body;
  • they have sufficient knowledge of English language (CEFR level B2); and
  • they meet the financial requirement (entry clearance applicants and those in the UK for less than 12 months must have held funds of £1,270 for a 28-day period).

The Innovator Founder visa is a Points Based System (PBS) visa type. Therefore, in order to meet the eligibility requirements, the applicant must be awarded 70 points. 50 points are awarded for endorsement depending on whether the business is a ‘new business’ or ‘same business’, 10 points are awarded for meeting the English language requirement, and a further 10 points are awarded for meeting the financial requirement.

What is the endorsement criteria?

The Immigration Rules distinguish between applicants who are applying under the ‘new business’ criteria and those applying under the ‘same business’ criteria. Those who are applying to come to the UK for the first time will need to apply under the ‘new business’ requirement.

The ‘same business’ criteria is for entrepreneurs who have last had permission as an Innovator Founder, or on the Start-up, or Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) route.

‘New business’ requirements

There are two elements to the ‘new business’ requirements.

Part 1: Business Plan: The applicant must:

  • have a business plan to which they either generated or made a significant contribution;
  • demonstrate they will have a day-to-day role in executing the business plan;
  • confirm they will attend two contact meetings with the endorsing body during their period of permission; and
  • be either a sole founder or an instrumental member of the founding team.

Part 2: an innovative, viable, and scalable business: The applicant must be able to show that their business venture is innovative, viable, and scalable, and that they meet the following requirements:

  • they have a genuine, original business plan that meets new or existing market needs;
  • the business plan is realistic and achievable;
  • the applicant has, or will have, the skills to successfully run the business; and
  • there must be plans for job creation and growth nationally and internationally.

‘Same business’ requirements

There are three elements to the ‘same business’ requirements.

Part 1: Business previously assessed by an endorsing body: The applicant must have, or have last had permission as an Innovator Founder, or on the Start-up, or Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) route. Additionally, the letter of endorsement must confirm they are pursuing a business that has been assessed by a Home Office approved body for either the previous endorsement or at a contact point.

Part 2: Business is active, trading, and sustainable: The applicant’s business must be active, trading, and sustainable, and the applicant is able to show significant achievements against the business plan.

Part 3: Applicant is involved in day-to-day management: The endorsement letter must confirm that the applicant is involved in the day-to-day management and development of the business.

Endorsing Bodies can be viewed on the gov.uk website .

Who can switch onto an Innovator Founder Visa?

Generally, an application for an Innovator Founder visa is made from outside the UK. However, if a person is already in the UK on a different type of visa, they may be able to apply to switch onto an Innovator Founder visa.

Individuals who are in the UK on a Student visa may be eligible to switch provided they have either completed their course of study, or have studied for a PhD for at least 24 months.

Individuals currently in the UK on one of the following visa types are not permitted to switch to an Innovator Founder visa:

  • Short-term student visa
  • Parent of a Child Student visa
  • Seasonal worker visa
  • Domestic worker in a private household visa
  • On immigration bail
  • With permission to stay outside the immigration rules

Once the Innovator Founder application is approved

Successful applicants will be granted permission to stay for three years. Individuals on this visa type must meet with their Endorsing Body at the 12 month and 24 month marks to prove that the business is continuing to make progress.

There is the possibility to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), also known at settlement, once the applicant has completed the three-year stay.

If an applicant does not meet the requirements for ILR, they can apply to extend their stay for a further three years. There is no limit on the amount of times an applicant can extend their visa.

How our Immigration Solicitors can help

Please note that at present, we are only able to offer visa assistance to applicants who have already received an offer of endorsement from an Endorsing Body.

We have significant experience in preparing visa applications for individuals who wish to move to the UK for work and business purposes. For assistance please  contact us .

More Innovator Founder Visa FAQs

What is the financial requirement for an Innovator Founder visa? If an applicant is applying from inside the UK and has been in the UK for over 12 months, they will not be required to show they have funds to support themselves.

If an applicant is applying from outside the UK, or if they have not yet spent 12 months inside the UK, they will need to show they have sufficient funds to support themselves and their dependants. The funds must have been held for a 28 day period.

The required level of funds are as follows:

  • £1,270 for the main applicant;
  • £285 for a dependant partner;
  • £315 for a first child; and
  • £200 for any additional children.

Can I undertake additional work or study whilst on an Innovator Founder visa? Yes, individuals on an Innovator Founder visa are permitted to study, and undertake genuine entrepreneurial activity and skilled work in the UK. Any additional work that is undertaken must be at RQF level 3 or above, and must be on the list of eligible occupations.

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UK Innovator Founder Visa

Start up your business in the UK with the Innovator Founder visa. We are specialist UK immigration advisers to entrepreneurs and business owners.

uk innovator visa case study

If you’re an overseas entrepreneur looking to start a business in the UK, you may need to apply for the new innovator founder route.

What is the UK Innovator Founder Route?

The innovator founder visa opened in April 2023 for non-UK residents to come to the UK to set up a business. 

It effectively replaces the Innovator route and Start up visa , and is now the primary visa category for foreign entrepreneurs looking to set up a business in the UK. 

The innovator founder visa could be seen as offering the most attractive parts of both of its predecessor routes, including:

  • No £50,000 minimum investment requirement
  • Reduced ‘check in’ requirement with endorsing body – only two, down from 3 under the start up rules
  • Secondary employment permitted in certain conditions
  • Path to UK settlement – time spent in the UK under this route can count towards indefinite leave to remain residence requirement

To be eligible, the business must be endorsed by proving it is based on an innovative, viable and scalable idea that the applicant has either generated or significantly contributed to.

Self-Sponsorship as an Alternative to the Innovator Founder

For entrepreneurs, a popular alternative to the Innovator Founder route is self-sponsorship for a Skilled Worker visa. 

Find out more in our detailed guide to self-sponsorship for business owners. 

What does the innovator founder visa allow?

The innovator founder route allows successful applicants to come to the UK to put their business plans into practice. 

As an innovator founder visa holder, you’ll be permitted to work for the business that you have established, and undertake additional employment, provided that employment is in a role that requires a skill level of not less than RQF Level 3, equivalent to UK A Levels. 

You will also be allowed to undertake a course of studies alongside running your business.

Innovator founders are initially granted permission to live and work in the UK for a maximum period of 3 years, at which stage, provided you meet the relevant requirements, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain , otherwise known as settlement.

Your immediate relatives can also accompany you or follow on and join you in the UK under a dependant visa. This includes your partner and any dependent children. As dependants, your family members will be permitted to undertake any type of work during their stay, including self-employment and voluntary work, except as a sportsperson or coach. They can also pursue any studies.

How to apply for the Innovator Founder visa

As with an application for either a start-up or innovator visa, under the new innovator founder route the applicant must have been issued with an endorsement letter by an authorised body no more than 3 months before the date of application. This letter, together with any other documentation, must be submitted in support of an online application.

As such, the application process for the new innovator founder route does not depart too much from the previous start-up and innovator routes, although the endorsement letter must confirm that the applicant’s business idea or business meets the new requirements, including a requirement to state there are no concerns over legitimacy of source of funds.

Innovator Founder endorsement

The first stage of the application process for the innovator founder route is to secure endorsement from an authorised body. 

Only organisations authorised by there Home Office can provide the required endorsement. These organisations, as listed on the Home Office website, are: 

  • Envestors Limited
  • UK Endorsing Services
  • Innovator International
  • The Global Entrepreneurs Programme (GEP)

The previous Innovator route endorsing bodies, known as legacy endorsing bodies, can continue to endorse applicants who entered the innovator visa scheme before 13 April 2023. However, they will only endorse applicants for the same business idea used in a previous application.

Innovator Founder visa requirements

To be granted an innovator founder visa, the applicant must be awarded 70 points in total, of which 50 must be under the new or same business criteria, but not both. The remaining 20 points will be awarded for meeting an English language and a financial requirement.

The different criteria are as follows:

New business criteria

  • 30 points: awarded for the applicant’s business plan
  • 20 points: awarded if the new business venture is innovative, viable and scalable.

In relation to the business plan for innovator founders, the applicant must:

  • have a business plan, where they have generated or at least made a significant contribution to the ideas contained within that plan;
  • show that they will have a day-to-day role in carrying out the business plan;
  • confirm that they will have at least 2 contact point meetings with their endorsing body at regular intervals during their grant of leave (where a contact point meeting is essentially a checkpoint assessment between the applicant and endorsing body to assess progress against the applicant’s business plan), and;
  • be either the sole founder or, instead, an instrumental member of the founding team.

In the context of the requirement for the business venture to be innovative, viable and scalable, the applicant must meet all of the following requirements:

  • have a genuine and original business plan that meets either new or existing market needs and/or creates a competitive advantage in the UK;
  • that plan must be both realistic and achievable based on the applicant’s resources;
  • the applicant must have, or be in the process of actively developing, the necessary skills, knowledge, experience and market awareness to successfully run their business, and;
  • there must be evidence of structured planning, as well as the potential for job creation and growth into national and international markets.

Same business criteria

  • 10 points: awarded for holding previous permission in the innovator founder, innovator, start-up or Tier 1 (graduate entrepreneur) routes and the applicant is pursuing a business assessed by an endorsing body either for the previous endorsement or at a contact point
  • 20 points: awarded if the business is active, trading and sustainable, demonstrating significant achievements against the business plan
  • 20 points: awarded if the applicant is active in the day-to-day management and in the development of their business.

If the applicant is applying under the same business criteria, to be able to score the necessary points, they must have or have last had permission on one of the relevant routes ‘and’ the letter of endorsement must confirm that they meet the following requirements:

  • the applicant’s business must be a business that has previously been assessed by an endorsing body or a ‘legacy endorsing body’ while the applicant had permission under a previous relevant route (where ‘legacy endorsing body’ means an organisation previously approved to endorse an applicant under the innovator or start-up routes but is not permitted to endorse a new individual or business under the innovator founder route);
  • if the applicant has or last had permission as an innovator founder, they must demonstrate that they have attended at least 2 contact point meetings with their endorsing body at regular intervals during their grant of leave, or similar regular checkpoint assessments with their legacy endorsing body, and confirm that they will have at least 2 meetings with the endorsing body at regular intervals during any further leave.

When it comes to the business being active, trading and sustainable, the applicant must be able to show that they have made significant progress against their business plan. They must also be able to show that the business is registered with Companies House, where the applicant must be listed as either a director or member of that business.

Finally, in the context of the day-to-day management requirement, the applicant must be involved in the daily management and development of their business.

Mandatory criteria for both new and same businesses

  • 10 points: awarded for satisfying the English language requirement, where the applicant must be able to show English language ability in reading, writing, speaking and listening to at least level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages;
  • 10 points: awarded for satisfying the financial requirement by showing funds of at least £1,270 for a 28-day period, unless the applicant is applying for permission to stay and has lawfully been in the UK for 12 months at the date of application.

Innovator Founder visa costs

The innovator founder visa application costs depend on where you are applying from.

Main applicants applying from overseas must pay £1,191, or the cost is £1,486 if applying from within the UK to switch or extend status.

Each applicant will also be liable to pay the immigration health surcharge  per year of stay. This is to allow applicants to be able to access the UK’s National Health Service. 

In addition, most Innovator Founder visa holders will also have to pay a £500 charge for each contact meeting with their endorsing body. Limited exemptions apply, including those with limited leave to remain under Appendix Innovator, Appendix Innovator Founder or Appendix Start up.

Can I apply to settle under the Innovator founder route?

Yes, innovator founder visa holders can become eligible to settle in the UK. Time spent in the UK under the Innovator Founder route can be used to count towards the indefinite leave to remain residence requirement.

Can family members join me?

Yes, qualifying partners and dependent children of an innovative founder can join you in the UK as dependant migrants .

What if your Innovator Founder application is refused?

Applications can be refused for many different reasons. It will be important to understand what the grounds are for refusal to determine your next steps. If your application is denied, either at the endorsement or Home Office stage, we can advise on your options.

Need assistance with an Innovator Founder application? We can help

Contact our UK immigration specialists for advice on any aspect of the Innovator Founder visa application process. 

UK Innovator founder visa FAQs

What is the innovator founder route.

The innovator founder route has replaced the innovator and start-up routes for non-UK resident entrepreneurs and business owners to come to the UK to set up and run a UK-based enterprise.

What visa do I need to start a business in the UK?

To start a business in the UK you will usually need to be granted an innovator founder visa. Alternative routes could include self-sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa. Take professional advice on your options to ensure you are applting for the most appropriate route for your circumstances.

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Cranbrook Legal

No Win No Fee UK Innovator Founder Visa

If you want to ensure the success of your application for an Innovator Founder visa for the UK, contact Cranbrook Legal’s skilled and experienced immigration lawyers. We have an excellent UK Innovator Founder visa success rate, and provide a highly responsive, fixed-fee service.

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Table Of Contents

How can you help get an Innovator Founder Visa for me?

How does our no win no fee innovator founder visa work, what is an uk innovator founder visa, what are the requirements of an uk innovator founder visa, what is an endorsement for an innovator founder visa, can you help me obtain an endorsement, what happens after i get an endorsement, do i need a business plan for the endorsement, what documents are required for an innovator founder visa, how can i apply for an innovator founder visa, how long does it take to apply for the uk innovator founder visa, what happens after i get the uk innovator founder visa, has brexit affected the innovator founder visa, can i apply for a sponsor licence after i establish my business, innovator founder visa frequently asked questions, tier 1 innovator founder visa uk lawyers in london.

When you are looking to apply for the Tier 1 Innovator Founder visa for the UK, don’t look further than Cranbrook Legal.

The Innovator Founder visa is a highly sought-after visa route, and for good reason. Aimed at experienced business people who wish to set up a business in the UK, this visa enables you to stay in the UK for up to three years, although this can be extended an unlimited number of times, subject to you meeting the eligibility requirements. It may also provide a route to you settling permanently in the UK .

However, in order to obtain an Innovation Founder visa for the UK, you must satisfy stringent criteria, including obtaining an endorsement for your business idea from an approved Endorsing Body.

Our central London-based solicitors have a 100% success rate in helping our clients to obtain the Innovator Founder visa. We are no less than the UK’s leading Innovator Founder visa law firm, and specialise in assisting tech firms to establish themselves in the UK.

We also work closely with Endorsing Bodies to ensure the Innovator Founder visa endorsement, and have access to business ideas that are ready for endorsement. Furthermore, our fixed-free service helps ensure all of your costs are self-contained, thereby giving you important financial certainty when you come to apply for a UK Innovator visa.

There’s simply no need to look anywhere else for the highest standard of Innovator Founder visa guidance, advice and assistance. Feel free to call our solicitors now on 0208 215 0053 .

Recent Innovator Founder Visa Success Stories

Edtech Entrepreneur Gets Go-ahead for A UK Innovator Visa

Successful innovator visa application for a fintech innovator, administrative review for innovator visa has a positive outcome, innovator visa granted to a biotech innovator, securing an innovator visa for an indian national, kuwaiti national granted uk innovator visa.

As a firm with more than 25 years’ experience in the UK immigration sector, Cranbrook Legal is well-placed to assist you in your efforts to successfully apply for a Tier 1 Innovator Founder visa.

Based in central London, our UK Innovator Founder visa solicitors have successfully helped a number of innovative businesses from around the world to establish a presence in the UK. We are particularly at the forefront of the advancement of tech-based businesses in the UK.

When you approach us about helping you to secure an Innovator Founder visa for the UK, we will work closely with you, project-managing your case from start to finish to help deliver a positive outcome. Indeed, we have a 100% UK Innovator Founder visa success rate – a firm sign of how thorough and comprehensive our service is for candidates for this visa.

Our ‘no win no fee’ Innovator Founder visa application service works much like it sounds; we are so confident that we will be successful in helping you to obtain the Endorsement, that if we fail, you will not need to pay us a fee for this service.

Our UK Innovator Founder visa lawyers will agree a fixed fee with you at the outset of your case to give you crucial financial certainty. This fee will then only become payable if you are successful in obtaining an Endorsement being approved for the Tier 1 Innovator Founder visa with our help.

With our 100% success rate in helping applicants to secure the Innovator Founder visa, you can be confident that as our client, you will obtain this sought-after visa and be able to establish your business in the UK.

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The Innovator Founder visa for the UK is a category of visa aimed at experienced businesspeople interested in setting up a business in the UK. It was introduced in April 2019, as a replacement for the Tier 1 Entrepreneur visa.

Applicants for the Innovator Founder visa must be able to show that their business idea is new, which means they are not permitted to join a business that is already trading. It is also expected by the Home Office that the applicant’s business idea will be original and innovative, not resembling anything else on the market. Furthermore, the business idea must be viable, with genuine growth potential.

Those who are successful in being approved for an Innovator Founder visa have the right to stay in the UK for three years. This is also the case for those who switch to this visa from another visa while already in the UK. Holders of the UK Innovator Founder visa are also entitled to extend their stay for a further two years when it is due to expire. There is no limit to how many times this visa can be extended.

Another potential benefit of obtaining an Innovation Founder visa for the UK is that you may be able to apply to settle in the country after you have been in the UK for three years.

As a holder of the Innovator Founder visa, you will be entitled to do the following:

  • Start a business or several businesses
  • Work for your business –including employment as a director, or self-employment as a member of a business partnership
  • Bring eligible ‘dependants’ – your partner and children – with you to the UK
  • Travel to other countries and return to the UK
  • Apply to settle in the UK permanently, subject to you having lived in the UK for three years, and meeting the other eligibility requirements

In order to apply for an Innovation Founder visa for the UK, you must satisfy the following requirements:

  • You wish to start and run an innovative business in the UK that differs from anything else on the market
  • Your business or business idea has won the endorsement of a Home Office-approved body known as an Endorsing Body

You are required to have an Endorsing Body assess your business or business idea before you apply. If your business is eligible, the Endorsing Body will provide you with an endorsement letter.

The UK Innovator Founder visa requirements also require you to:

  • Satisfy the Home Office’s English language requirement
  • Be at least 18 years of age
  • Be able to prove you have sufficient personal savings to support yourself during your time in the UK

If you wish to set up a new business in your application for the UK Innovator visa, you must also:

  • Be able to prove the source of your funding

You will not require any investment funds if either of the following conditions apply:

  • Your business is already established and was endorsed for a previous visa
  • You’ve changed your business and already agreed this with your Endorsing Body

There is also a need to show that you will be able to support yourself as a holder of this visa.

Candidates for Innovation visas for the UK must also have had a minimum of £1,270 in their bank account for 28 days before they apply. Those wishing to apply to extend their Innovator visa, or switch to this category of visa, are also subject to this requirement if they have been in the UK for less than a year.

The funds that you use to support yourself on a UK Innovator Founder visa cannot come from your investment funds or from money earned due to working in the UK illegally.

Would-be holders of the Innovation Founder visa for the UK are entitled to form a team with other applicants. However, they are not allowed to share the same investment funds. A team of Innovator visa applicants are required to prove the source of their funding.

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You will not be permitted to apply for an Innovator Founder visa until you have first had your business or business idea assessed and endorsed by an entity known as an Endorsing Body.

Endorsing Bodies are organisations that are authorised to endorse applications for Innovation Founder visas in the UK. An organisation is only allowed to issue an endorsement if it is on the Home Office’s approved list.

Once you have been issued with an endorsement letter from an Endorsing Body, this will remain valid for three months to give you an opportunity to lodge your visa application.

Here at Cranbrook Legal, we have an excellent reputation for assisting individuals with the process of obtaining an Innovator Founder visa. Indeed, we have a 100% success rate of doing so, and this is partly thanks to the strong relationships we have long maintained with UK Innovator visa Endorsing Bodies.

Our Innovator Founder visa UK lawyers work closely with Endorsing Bodies to help ensure our clients achieve endorsement. Our solicitors take the time to understand each and every client’s business plan, so that we can present it to a relevant Endorsing Body in a way that helps produce a positive outcome.

We also have access to business ideas that are ready for endorsement. So, you don’t even necessarily need to have a business idea already in mind when you approach our UK Innovator Founder visa solicitors and tech specialists.

Why Choose Us For Your Innovator Founder Visa UK?

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We are committed, we are professional, we are result driven, we are strategic thinkers, we are commercially aware, contact our immigration solicitors in london on 0208 215 0053 or via [email protected] to make your enquiry..

Once an Endorsing Body has issued you with an endorsement letter for your business or business idea, this will remain valid for three months, and you will be expected to apply for your Tier 1 Innovator Founder visa in that timeframe.

If you are unable to submit your Innovator visa application within these three months, you will need to be issued with a new endorsement – using a new secure reference number –before you can apply.

After an Endorsing Body has endorsed you, it is expected that you will maintain contact checkpoints with the Endorsing Body, so that you can benefit from its continued support. These contact checkpoints do not have to be face-to-face; they can also be arranged via telephone or videoconference.

When you apply for your Innovator visa after being endorsed by an Endorsing Body, you will be required to provide the endorsement letter, which should contain all of the below details:

  • The name of the Endorsing Body
  • The endorsement reference number
  • The date of issue, which must be no earlier than three months prior to the application date
  • The applicant’s name, birth date, nationality and passport number
  • A short description of the business venture of the applicant, and the main products or services the business will supply to its customers
  • The name and contact details – including the telephone number, email address and workplace address – of an individual at the Endorsing Body who will verify the letter’s contents to the Home Office, if requested

The Home Office will not accept your endorsement if:

  • The endorsement was issued more than three months before you applied for a Tier 1 Innovator Founder visa
  • The Endorsing Body has withdrawn the endorsement
  • The Endorsing Body no longer has the status of an Endorsing Body by the time the Home Office makes its decision

As well as the above, the endorsement letter must include confirmation from the Endorsing Body that according to its assessment, you satisfy the individual requirements of either the ‘new business’ or ‘same business’ criteria.

Please note that if, once you have been approved for the Innovator Founder visa, the Endorsing Body withdraws your endorsement, this may result in your visa being cut short. This could mean that if you wish to stay in the UK for longer, you will be required to reapply with a new endorsement prior to the expiry of your current visa.

You may be at risk of having your endorsement withdrawn by the Endorsing Body if any of the below circumstances apply:

  • You have not kept in touch with the Endorsing Body as requested by them
  • The Endorsing Body discovers that you have not been developing your business
  • As an endorsed Innovator, you are working as an employee of another business that you are not a director of, which would be a contravention of the UK Innovator visa requirements
  • Your business has failed and you do not intend to set up another business, or the business you plan to start is not considered by the Endorsing Body to be innovative, viable and scalable

Among the UK Innovator Founder visa requirements for applicants is the provision of a business idea that is new, innovative and viable.

Even before you are permitted to apply for the Tier 1 Innovator visa, you will need to convince an Endorsing Body that your business idea meets its requirements for innovation, viability and scalability. The Endorsing Body will also need to be satisfied that you will spend all of your working time in the UK on the development of your business venture.

However, you don’t necessarily need to have your own business plan already prepared in order to achieve endorsement. That’s because our own Tier 1 Innovator Founder visa solicitors have access to business ideas that are already ‘endorsement-ready’.

As for if you have your own business idea already, our specialists can help you develop this and present it to an Endorsing Body in a manner that will maximise the likelihood of a successful outcome.

The close relationships we have long maintained with leading Endorsing Bodies for the Innovator Founder visa in the UK – especially in the tech field – have helped us achieve a 100% success rate in securing this visa for our clients.

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In order to apply for an Innovation Founder visa for the UK, you will be required to supply an ‘endorsement letter’ showing that an Endorsing Body has assessed your business or business idea.

Other documents that must be provided as part of the UK Innovator Founder visa requirements include:

  • A valid passport or other document that displays your identity and nationality
  • Bank statements indicating that you’ve had a minimum of £1,270 in savings in your bank account for 28 consecutive days prior to lodging your application
  • Proof that you satisfy the Home Office’s English language requirement
  • Evidence of your investment funds, if you’re establishing a new business
  • Your tuberculosis test results, if you’re from a country where taking the test is a requirement

A certified translation will also be needed of any documents of yours that are not in English or Welsh.

Furthermore, you will require a blank page in your passport for your visa if you’re from:

  • A territory outside the European Union (EU), Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
  • The EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, but do not have a biometric passport with a chip in it

It may be necessary for you to supply further documents, depending on your circumstances.

Prospective candidates for the Innovator Founder visa for the UK are required to apply online. Exactly how they apply depends on whether they’re:

  • Outside the UK and coming to the UK
  • Inside the UK and extending their current visa
  • Inside the UK and switching from a different visa

Your partner and children can be included in your application to stay in the UK, if they are eligible.

You will also need to pay the Home Office’s fee for the UK Innovator Founder visa application. The amount you are charged will depend on your circumstances and where you apply from, as detailed below:

The visa fee must be paid for each person that applies at the same time as you, or that applies later to join you in the UK.

Please note that when you apply for an Innovator Founder visa for the UK, you will also be required to pay the healthcare surcharge. The GOV.UK website enables you to calculate how much you will need to pay in advance of your application.

Your application fee will be £55 lower than the above if you are from one of the following countries:

  • Republic of Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Netherlands
  • North Macedonia

This discount applies solely to your visa application; your partner and children will still be required to pay the full application fee.

In addition, applicants to extend or switch to an Innovator Founder visa in the UK may be required to pay £100 to £200, so that they can have their biometric information – including fingerprints and a photograph – taken.

You will be required to prove your identity and supply your documents as part of the Innovator Founder visa application process. An appointment may be required in order to do this, in which case, you’ll need to allow for the extra time.

You’ll be told whether you need to arrange an appointment when you begin your application. If you do need to attend an appointment, it may be possible to pay for a quicker decision.

Once you have submitted your online application, proved your identity and supplied the necessary documents, you can normally expect a decision within the following timeframes:

  • Three weeks, if you are not presently in the UK
  • Eight weeks if you are currently in the UK

If your application for an Innovation visa for the UK is approved, you will be given a biometric resident permit (BRP). The Home Office will also give you a 30-day visa to allow you to collect your BRP after your arrival in the UK.

In the event of your Innovator Founder visa application being rejected, you will unfortunately not have the right to appeal against this decision. However, if you believe the Home Office has made an error in its consideration of your application, you are entitled to apply for an administrative review.

On your arrival in the UK as a successful applicant for an Innovator Founder visa, the Home Office must be satisfied that you have valid entry clearance. There must also be no reason for the authorities to believe you provided false information in order to obtain the entry clearance, or that your circumstances have altered since the Home Office made its decision to grant you this visa.

Please note that with effect from 6 April 2022, holders of the Innovator Founder visa can now be granted further permission to stay by the Secretary of State if they do not qualify to settle in the UK;  previously, Innovator Founder visa holders who applied unsuccessfully for settlement were simply refused.

In order to be granted further permission to stay in these circumstances, applicants will still be expected to meet the suitability and eligibility criteria for ‘Leave to Remain as an Innovator’.

In the event of further leave to remain being granted, you will not need to pay any additional application fee, but the Home Office will not refund your settlement application fee. If applicable, the Secretary of State will write to you to let you know of this variation, and if needed, they will ask that you pay the necessary Immigration Health Charge. 

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The UK officially left the European Union (EU) on 31 January 2020. A transition period agreed between the UK and the EU – during which the UK ceased to be a member of the EU, but still adhered to EU rules –continued until the end of 2020.

The UK Government launched the free EU Settlement Scheme to enable EU, non-EU European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss citizens living in the UK prior to the conclusion of the transition period to protect their residence in the UK.

Prospective applicants for the Tier 1 Innovator Founder visa who are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein may be interested in applying to the EU Settlement Scheme if they or their family member began living in the UK by 31 December 2020.

For most people, the deadline to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme was 30 June 2021. However, you may still be able to apply to the scheme if either of the below conditions apply:

  • You have a later deadline – for instance, you’re joining a relative in the UK who was residing in the UK by the end of 2020
  • You have ‘reasonable grounds’ for not being able to apply by 31 June 2021, such as having an illness or being a domestic abuse victim

You can check on the GOV.UK website whether you can still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. If you are not eligible to apply, you would require a visa in order to work in the UK.

Please note that if you are an Irish citizen, there is no need for you to apply for a visa or to the EU Settlement Scheme.

UK employers are typically required to obtain a sponsor licence if they wish to employ someone from outside the UK to work for them. Included in this are citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland who arrived in the UK after 31 December 2020.

Not all businesses are necessarily eligible for a sponsor licence, and there are certain groups for which you will not require a sponsor licence if you wish to employ them. These include:

  • Irish citizens
  • Those with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
  • Those with indefinite leave to remain in the UK

Innovator visa holders, having established a business in the UK, can apply for a sponsor licence. For more information and advice in relation to applying for a sponsor licence and in what circumstances sponsorship may or may not be needed, please contact our experienced UK Innovator Founder visa solicitors . You can give them a call on 0208 215 0053 .

1. Is there a limit on how many Applicants can apply with one business idea on the Innovator Founder Visa?

Multiple people are permitted to apply with one business idea for an Innovator Founder visa. If you take this path, all applicants sharing the business idea must be endorsed in their own right.

For all new business applications, each innovator will also be required to be able to demonstrate that they can prove the source of thier funding

Teams of two or more can apply for a Tier 1 Innovator Founder visa on the basis of the same business idea. However, when applications are being lodged for members of an innovator team, extra legal submissions will be required, so that the Home Office can assess what each applicant will bring to the business.

2. I don’t have a business idea, can you assist me obtain an Innovator Founder Visa?

You do not necessarily already need to have a business idea in mind, in order to obtain a UK Innovator Founder visa with our help. We already have access to business ideas that are ready for endorsement.

We particularly specialise in assisting tech businesses to establish themselves in the UK, and work closely with Endorsing Bodies for the Innovator Founder visa in the UK. This helps explain why we have such a strong track record of success when it comes to getting our clients accepted for this visa.

We have never failed in getting our clients accepted for this visa, which reflects our highly client-focused, informed and dynamic service. Our talented immigration solicitors treat every case with care, dignity and total transparency, and will also be highly communicative with you, answering any question you may have.

This combination of qualities, along with our particular expertise in helping technology firms to set up in the UK, has helped make us one of the most trusted names in Innovation visas in the UK. This includes when it comes to devising and developing business ideas that you can be sure will meet with approval from Endorsing Bodies.

3. Is there a fee payable to the Endorsing Bodies for an Endorsement under the Innovator Founder Visa?

When you are seeking out Endorsing Bodies to endorse your business as a candidate for the Innovator Founder visa, you will need to be mindful of any fees a given Endorsing Body might charge.

UK Innovator Founder visa Endorsing Bodies can vary widely in the structure and nature of the fees they charge. You can expect a particular Endorsing Body to either charge you no fee at all, a specific fee, or a significant equity stake in your business as an alternative to a fee.

Our Innovator Founder visa UK lawyers can advise and guide you through every aspect of an application for this visa, including the fees that Endorsing Bodies may charge. We are committed to helping ensure you make only the most informed and suitable decisions for you and your business.

4. Can I hire workers from outside the UK when I start the Business under the Innovator Founder Visa?

When you come to apply for an Innovator Founder visa, the Home Office will expect you to have a genuine and original business plan, with evidence of structured planning. It will also be expected that your business will have the potential to create jobs and grow into national and international markets.

For more detailed advice about hiring workers as a holder of the Tier 1 Innovator Founder visa, please contact our highly experienced immigration solicitors today.

It is now usually necessary for businesses that wish to employ workers from outside the UK to first obtain a sponsor licence from the Home Office; this also applies if the workers you wish to hire are citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland who came to the UK after 31 December 2020.

A sponsor licence is not needed in order to employ Irish citizens, those with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, and those with indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

5. Can I work on or start another Business at the same time under the Innovator Founder Visa?

Although an Innovator Founder visa entitles you to set up one or multiple businesses, you are not allowed to do any work outside your own business, such as work that would involve you being employed by another business.

Holders of the UK Innovator Founder visa are required to devote themselves entirely to working on their business ventures, and are not permitted to take on other employment away from their business. This includes anything that effectively constitutes employment – for example, hiring out their labour to another employer through their own business. 

Innovator Founder visa holders are also not allowed to work as a professional sportsperson – such as a sports coach. They are also forbidden from applying for most UK benefits, or the State Pension. Study is, however, allowed on this visa.

6. Can I apply with a Co-Investor under the Innovator Founder Visa?

As a candidate for the Tier 1 Innovator Founder visa, you are not required to be the sole founder of the business detailed in your application. You are permitted to be a member of an entrepreneurial team, and to share the same business idea and business plan as someone else in this innovator team.

However, each member of the innovator team is required to be issued with their own individual endorsement, and to satisfy all of the UK Innovator Founder visa requirements in their own right.

If you are making a new business application with a co-investor with a view to obtaining an Innovator Founder visa, each applicant must be able to prove the source of thier funding

For further information about our complete service in relation to the Innovator Founder visa, please call our innovator founder visa lawyers on 0208 215 0053 today.

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The UK Innovator Visa is designed for individuals with innovative business ideas seeking to establish or run a business in the UK. Applicants are required to submit a comprehensive business plan, which will undergo assessment based on various criteria, including innovation, viability, and scalability.

Furthermore, there is an expectation that applicants will demonstrate full commitment to their business venture and spend their time solely on developing the enterprise within the UK.

Our firm has extensive experience in crafting business plans for Innovator Visa applicants. We have assisted numerous clients in refining their ideas to ensure they meet the criteria for endorsement.

Throughout the process, we work closely with our clients, offering suggestions and refinements to maximize their chances of success.

In addition to the standard components of a business plan, our focus extends to highlighting the innovation, viability, and scalability aspects within the plan. We also emphasize the importance of the UK as the ideal location for the proposed business, showcasing its advantages and opportunities for growth and development.

Further information about the Innovator Founder Visa is available here: Innovator Founder visa: Overview – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) .

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uk innovator visa case study

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Innovator Founder visa

Switch to this visa.

You might be able to apply to change (‘switch’) to an Innovator Founder visa if you’re already in the UK on a different type of visa.

Your partner or child’s visa will not automatically switch to this visa if you switch yours. If they do not switch their visa, it will be valid until its original end date. They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.

You should apply before your current visa expires.

Eligibility

You can apply to switch to this visa if you meet the eligibility requirements .

If you’re currently in the UK on a Student visa, you must also have either:

  • completed the course you were sponsored to study
  • studied for a PhD for at least 24 months

Who cannot apply to switch to this visa

You cannot switch to this visa if you have one of the following:

  • a visit visa
  • a short-term student visa
  • a Parent of a Child Student visa
  • a seasonal worker visa
  • a domestic worker in a private household visa
  • immigration bail
  • permission to stay outside the immigration rules , for example on compassionate grounds

How long you can stay

You can stay for 3 years after switching to an Innovator Founder visa.

There’s no limit on the number of times you can extend your visa.

How much it costs

Check the visa application fees .

If you’ve been in the UK for less than 1 year, you’ll also need to prove you have enough money to support yourself .

Proving your identity and supplying supporting documents

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and what type of passport you have.

You’ll either:

  • have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre - this is to get a biometric residence permit
  • use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI ) account

You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply.

If you do need an appointment:

  • the centre may need to keep your passport and documents while they process your application
  • you may have to travel to get to your nearest visa application centre (this could be in another country)

Apply to switch to an Innovator Founder visa

You must apply online.

Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

Continue your application

You can sign back into your application if you’ve saved it. 

Find out how to sign in to your account .

How long it takes to get a decision

You’ll usually get a decision within 8 weeks of your application date.

You’ll be contacted if your application will take longer, for example:

  • if you’re applying with a family member who needs an appointment but you do not
  • if your supporting documents need to be verified
  • if you need to attend an interview
  • because of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision .

After you apply

If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration ( UKVI ) .

You can ask to cancel your application . You’ll only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

You’ll get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application . This will explain what you need to do next.

Once you’ve applied you can stay in the UK until you’ve been given a decision, as long as you applied before your last visa expired.

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VIDEO

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  6. Alert to Innovator visa or Innovator Founder visa holders who are applying for settlement!

COMMENTS

  1. UK Innovator Visa: a case study

    With experience in representing entrepreneurs and business owners our Immigration solicitors can guide you on the Innovator Visa application process to ensure that your application has the best prospects for success. Call us on 0203 959 9123 to discuss how our experienced London Immigration law solicitors can help you.

  2. Innovator Founder caseworker guidance (accessible)

    the change to the minimum time period that a Student visa holder must have served on a PhD course prior to switching to an Innovator Founder visa from 24 months to 12 months. Key facts

  3. Reshma's UK Start-up visa: CASE STUDY

    In this video, I interview Reshma about her start up visa journey. Reshma was granted a start-up visa for the UK and she is a great example in 2020 of a successful applicant. In this post, we discuss Reshma's journey and how she navigated through the visa application process. With help from the university, Reshma was able to make her start-up ...

  4. Innovator Founder visa: Overview

    With an Innovator Founder visa you can: set up a business or several businesses. work for your business - this includes being employed as a director, or self-employed as a member of a business ...

  5. Innovator Founder: caseworker guidance

    8 December 2023. Change to the minimum time period that a Student visa holder must have served on a PhD course prior to switching to an Innovator Founder visa from 24 months to 12 months.

  6. Innovator Visa

    Innovator Visa - Top 15 FAQ's Answered. By Paul Richmond - Managing Partner. 07 Oct 2022. The Innovator visa is for experienced businesspersons seeking to establish a new business in the UK. In this post we answer the top 15 most frequently asked questions about the Innovator visa route. 1.

  7. Innovator Founder Visa: Revised Category Offering Entrepreneurs a

    The Innovator Founder visa is a relatively new but important category launched by the UK government in early 2023. It provides overseas entrepreneurs the opportunity to come to the UK to establish an innovative, viable and scalable business. In reality, this is a refined replacement to the previous and now closed categories of the Innovator and Start-Up visas, with the Innovator Founder visa ...

  8. PDF START-UP AND INNOVATOR VISAS

    The 3 and 5 year routes to settlement in the UK 08 Frequently asked questions 09 Case studies 14 Our services 16 Our fees 18 Testimonials 19 2. START-UP VISA INNOVATOR VISA The Start-up visa is for new ... Innovator visa applicants can bring their partner and any children under the age of 18 to the UK. 3 Start-up and Innovator isas.

  9. Pursuing Entrepreneurship in the UK: The Innovator Founder Visa

    Cost Implications of the Innovator Founder Visa. Applying for the Innovator Founder Visa incurs a base cost of £1,036, followed by another £1,036 for each of the applicant's dependents. If you're applying from within the UK to switch or extend your status, the fee shifts to £1,292, with further £1,292 per dependent.

  10. Comparing Self-Sponsorship And The Innovator Founder Visa: The Right

    The initial cost involved in sponsor licence application is the application fee ranging from £536 to £1476 (small businesses pay the lower end of this range). CoS: After getting the sponsor licence, the next step is to issue a certificate of sponsorship (CoS) to hire the skilled worker. For people applying from outside the UK, a defined CoS ...

  11. Get support to apply for an Innovator Founder visa

    To apply for an Innovator Founder visa (and for an extension or settlement) you'll need to be endorsed by an official endorsing body. Find out more about the Innovator Founder visa on the GOV.UK website or attend one of our information sessions. Graduate visa. The Graduate visa allows students with a Student visa or Tier 4 (General) student ...

  12. Everything you need to know about the UK's new Innovator Founder visa

    The UK's new Innovator Founder visa programme came into effect on 13 April 2023, replacing the Innovator visa and Start-Up visa routes. There will now only be certain Home Office-approved endorsing bodies. Going forward, new applicants who do not have an endorsement letter dated prior to 13 April 2023 will need to seek an endorsement with one ...

  13. What is the Innovator Founder Visa and what are the requirements?

    However, if a person is already in the UK on a different type of visa, they may be able to apply to switch onto an Innovator Founder visa. Individuals who are in the UK on a Student visa may be eligible to switch provided they have either completed their course of study, or have studied for a PhD for at least 24 months. Individuals currently in ...

  14. UK Innovator Founder Visa

    The innovator founder visa application costs depend on where you are applying from. Main applicants applying from overseas must pay £1,191, or the cost is £1,486 if applying from within the UK to switch or extend status. Applicant. Application fee (outside the UK) Application fee to extend or switch (in the UK)

  15. PDF Innovator Founder

    Paragraph INNF 9.2. of the Immigration Rules states that the applicant's business must be a business that has previously been assessed by an endorsing body or legacy endorsing body while the applicant had permission as an Innovator Founder or on the Start-up or Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) route.

  16. Tier 1 Innovator Founder Visa UK Lawyers In London

    As a firm with more than 25 years' experience in the UK immigration sector, Cranbrook Legal is well-placed to assist you in your efforts to successfully apply for a Tier 1 Innovator Founder visa. Based in central London, our UK Innovator Founder visa solicitors have successfully helped a number of innovative businesses from around the world ...

  17. Innovator Founder visa: Eligibility

    They will provide you with an endorsement letter if your business is eligible. You must also: meet the English language requirement. be at least 18 years old. be able to prove that you have enough ...

  18. UK Innovator Founder Visa

    The UK Innovator Visa is designed for individuals with innovative business ideas seeking to establish or run a business in the UK. Applicants are required to submit a comprehensive business plan, which will undergo assessment based on various criteria, including innovation, viability, and scalability. ... This case study is the perfect ...

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    Apply to switch to an Innovator Founder visa. You must apply online. Once you've started your application, you can save your form and complete it later. Start now. You must not travel outside of ...