Innovator Founder Visa

The Innovator Founder Visa is designed for entrepreneurs who want to build a new business in the UK. It is suitable for founders with an original business idea, a clear commercial plan and the ability to play an active role in developing the business.

This route is different from a standard work visa. You do not need a UK employer to sponsor you, but you do need an endorsement from an approved endorsing body. The endorsing body must be satisfied that your business idea meets the requirements of innovation, viability and scalability.

Sterling Law provides legal support to founders, business owners and start-up teams applying under the Innovator Founder route. Our Innovator Founder Visa solicitors can help you assess your eligibility, prepare the legal and business documents, manage the endorsement stage and submit a structured Home Office application.

Key takeaways

• The Innovator Founder visa is for people setting up a new, innovative, viable and scalable business in the UK. It replaced the earlier Innovator and Start-up visas in April 2023.
• You must first be endorsed by a Home Office approved endorsing body before you can apply. The endorsing body assesses your business idea and your role in it.
• There is no fixed minimum investment to apply. The often-quoted £50,000 figure is one of the settlement criteria, not an entry requirement.
• The Home Office application fee is £1,357 if you apply from outside the UK, or £1,693 if you switch or extend inside the UK. Separate charges apply for endorsement (£1,000), contact point meetings (£500 each) and the Immigration Health Surcharge (£1,035 per adult per year).
• The visa is granted for three years, can be extended without limit, and can lead to indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after three years if your business meets the growth criteria.
• You must hold £1,270 for 28 days as maintenance (unless exempt) and meet the English language requirement at level B2.

Table of contents

• What is the Innovator Founder visa?
• How do you apply for an Innovator Founder visa?
• What are the eligibility requirements?
• Who are the endorsing bodies?
• What documents do you need?
• How much does the Innovator Founder visa cost?
• How long does the application take?
• How long can you stay, and can you extend?
• What can and cannot you do on this visa?
• Can you bring your family to the UK?
• Does the Innovator Founder route lead to settlement?
• Switching to the Innovator Founder visa from another visa
• Why choose Sterling Law?
• FAQ

What is the Innovator Founder visa?

The Innovator Founder visa lets foreign entrepreneurs establish and run an innovative business in the United Kingdom, with a path to permanent residence after three years. It is aimed at both first-time founders and experienced business owners, provided the underlying idea is original rather than a copy of something already trading on the UK market.

The route was introduced in April 2023 and took the place of two older categories: the Innovator visa and the Start-up visa. Unlike the former Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa, it does not demand a set amount of investment capital. Instead, the focus is on the quality of the business idea and the founder’s role in delivering it.

To qualify, your business must satisfy four tests set out in the Immigration Rules. In plain terms, the idea must be new, original, capable of making money, and able to grow and create jobs.

• New: you must be starting a fresh venture, not joining a business that is already trading.
• Innovative: the idea must be distinct from what is already on the market.
• Viable: there must be realistic potential for the business to succeed and sustain itself.
• Scalable: your plan should show how the business will grow and create employment, including the potential to reach national and international markets.

How do you apply for an Innovator Founder visa?

You apply in two stages: first you obtain an endorsement, then you submit the visa application online. Endorsement is the foundation of the whole process, because the Home Office relies on an approved body to confirm that your business genuinely meets the standard.

The practical steps are as follows.

1. Confirm your eligibility and refine your business idea so that it clearly meets the new, innovative, viable and scalable tests.
2. Prepare a detailed business plan and the supporting documents the endorsing body will expect.
3. Apply to an approved endorsing body and obtain an endorsement letter.
4. Apply for the visa online within three months of the endorsement letter being issued, pay the fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge, and provide your biometrics.
5. Receive the decision and, once granted, begin or continue trading in the UK.

After arrival, you are expected to run the endorsed business and to meet your endorsing body at the 12-month and 24-month points to show progress. Many endorsing bodies also offer guidance and mentoring along the way.

What are the eligibility requirements?

To be eligible you must be at least 18, hold a valid endorsement, score the required points under the Immigration Rules, and meet the English and financial requirements. The application is scored on a points basis: you need 70 points in total, of which 50 come from the endorsement and 20 from the English language and maintenance requirements.

Endorsement from an approved body

Your business idea must be assessed and endorsed by a Home Office approved endorsing body. The endorsement letter must be issued no more than three months before you apply and must not have been withdrawn. The endorsing body also carries out due diligence to confirm there are no concerns about the source of your funds or the legitimacy of the business.

A credible business plan

You must have a business plan that you have written yourself or contributed to significantly, and you must intend to play a day-to-day role in delivering it. A strong plan typically sets out the idea, the market and competitors, the route to revenue, funding needs and a hiring plan. The plan needs to convince the endorsing body that the venture is original, realistic and capable of growth.

English language

You must demonstrate English ability at level B2 of the Common European Framework (broadly equivalent to IELTS 5.5) across reading, writing, speaking and listening, unless you are exempt. Exemptions can apply, for example, to nationals of majority English-speaking countries or those with a degree taught in English.

Maintenance funds

If you are applying from outside the UK, or you have been in the UK for less than 12 months, you must show that you have held at least £1,270 in your account for 28 consecutive days before you apply. Applicants who have already been in the UK for 12 months or more on a qualifying visa do not need to evidence these funds.

Tuberculosis test

If you are from a country where TB screening is required for UK visa applicants, you must provide a valid medical certificate confirming you are clear of active tuberculosis.

Who are the endorsing bodies?

An endorsing body is a Home Office approved organisation that reviews your business idea and decides whether to support your application. Only an organisation on the official GOV.UK list can issue a valid endorsement, and you should choose one whose focus suits your sector.

As of early 2026, the bodies endorsing new Innovator Founder applications are Envestors Limited, UK Endorsing Services, Innovator International and the Global Entrepreneurs Programme. The list of approved bodies does change from time to time, so always check the current list published on GOV.UK before approaching one. Some bodies endorse only applicants who join a specific programme, and each sets its own assessment process on top of the standard £1,000 endorsement fee.

If you are part of a founding team, every member must obtain their own endorsement and show that they each play an instrumental role in the business.

What documents do you need?

You will generally need your endorsement letter, business plan, valid passport, proof of English, evidence of maintenance funds and, where relevant, a TB certificate. The exact list depends on your circumstances, and requirements are updated periodically, so check the current guidance before you submit.

• endorsement letter from an approved body, issued within the last three months;
• business plan and supporting evidence, such as financial forecasts or market research;
• a valid passport or travel document;
• proof of English language ability at level B2 (or evidence of exemption);
• bank evidence showing £1,270 held for 28 days, if required;
• details of other members of the founding team, if any;
• a TB test certificate, if you are from a country where this applies.

Submit your enquiry

How much does the Innovator Founder visa cost?

Beyond the Home Office application fee, you should budget for the endorsement fee, two contact point meetings and the Immigration Health Surcharge. For a single applicant applying from outside the UK for a three-year visa, the mandatory charges alone come to several thousand pounds before any legal fees.

The Immigration Health Surcharge gives you access to the National Health Service and is paid upfront for the full length of the visa. Each dependant pays the same application fee as the main applicant, plus their own health surcharge.

How long does the application take?

Decisions are usually made within three weeks if you apply from outside the UK, and within eight weeks if you apply from inside the UK to switch or extend. A priority service may be available for an extra fee in some locations, which can shorten the wait.

How long can you stay, and can you extend?

The visa is granted for a maximum of three years. You can apply to extend for a further three years each time it is due to expire, and there is no limit on how many times you can extend, provided you obtain a fresh endorsement and continue to meet the requirements.

To extend, you must show that your business is active, trading and sustainable, that you remain involved in running it, and that you have attended your contact point meetings. You apply before your current permission ends.

What can and cannot you do on this visa?

You can run one or more businesses, take a skilled second job, study, travel, and bring your family. You cannot claim most public benefits or work as a professional sportsperson.

You can:

• set up and run one or more businesses in the UK;
• work for your own business as a director or as a self-employed partner;
• take additional employment outside your business, as long as the role requires a qualification at RQF Level 3 or above;
• study, subject to the ATAS requirement where it applies;
• travel abroad and return to the UK;
• bring your partner and children as dependants, if they are eligible.

You cannot:

• claim most public funds (benefits);
• work as a professional sportsperson or sports coach;
• fill a position at, or hire out your labour to, another business through your own company or an agency.

Can you bring your family to the UK?

Yes. Your partner and dependent children under 18 can apply to join you or remain in the UK with you. A partner can be a spouse, civil partner, or an unmarried partner you have lived with in a relationship for at least two years.

Each dependant pays the same visa application fee as the main applicant and their own Immigration Health Surcharge. Once in the UK, partners can usually work and study without restriction.

Does the Innovator Founder route lead to settlement?

Yes. After three years of continuous residence, you may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), which is permanent settlement. This is faster than the five-year qualifying period that applies to many other UK work routes. After holding ILR for 12 months and meeting the residence and good character rules, you may then be eligible to apply for British citizenship.

To qualify for settlement, you need a fresh endorsement issued within three months of your ILR application. You can use a different endorsing body for this. The endorsement must confirm that you have an active, leading role in the business, that the business is registered at Companies House with you as a director or member, and that it is currently trading and expected to continue for at least the next 12 months.

In addition, your business must have achieved at least two of the seven growth criteria below. If you founded the business as part of a team, each applicant must rely on different achievements; you cannot share the same criterion.

Any jobs you count must be for settled workers. You must also have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period during the qualifying three years, and you must pass the Life in the UK test.

Switching to the Innovator Founder visa from another visa

You can switch into this route from inside the UK if you currently hold certain visas, but not all categories qualify. You will need a new endorsement showing that your business is active and developing, and you will pay the in-country fee of £1,693.

Since November 2025, students who have finished their course can switch directly into the Innovator Founder route without leaving the UK. You qualify if you have completed the course for which your study visa was granted, or if you are studying for a PhD and have completed at least 24 months of that course.

You cannot switch into this route if your current or most recent permission is in any of the following categories:

• Visitor;
• Short-term Student;
• Parent of a Child Student;
• Seasonal Worker;
• Domestic Worker in a Private Household;
• permission granted outside the Immigration Rules.

Why choose Sterling Law?

Sterling Law advises entrepreneurs, founders and business owners on UK business immigration, including the Innovator Founder Visa. Our team understands that this route is both an immigration process and a business assessment.

Clients instruct Sterling Law for support with:

• Innovator Founder Visa eligibility assessments;
• endorsement strategy;
• business plan preparation and review;
• Home Office application preparation;
• dependant applications;
• switching from another UK visa category;
• extension applications;
• settlement planning;
• refusal review and administrative review advice;
• related corporate, commercial and immigration matters.

Sterling Law can help founders present their business clearly, avoid common application errors and prepare evidence that addresses the requirements of the route. We also advise on issues that arise after the visa is granted, including contact point meetings, extensions and settlement planning.

If you are preparing an Innovator Founder Visa application, contact Sterling Law to discuss your business idea, endorsement position and immigration strategy.

Our fees

To find out whether the Innovator Founder visa is right for you, contact Sterling Law to arrange a consultation. Our team will review your business idea, confirm your eligibility and set out a clear plan for endorsement and the visa application.

Submit your enquiry

Frequently asked questions

Is there a minimum investment for the Innovator Founder visa?

No. There is no fixed investment requirement to apply.

How long is the visa valid?

It is granted for three years and can be extended for further three-year periods, with no limit on the number of extensions.

Do I need to find an endorsing body before applying?

Yes. You must secure an endorsement from a Home Office approved body before you can submit the visa application, and the endorsement letter must be no more than three months old when you apply.

What English level do I need?

You must show ability at level B2 across all four skills, which is broadly equivalent to IELTS 5.5, unless an exemption applies.

Can my family come with me?

Yes. Your partner and children under 18 can apply as dependants, each paying the visa fee and the health surcharge.

How quickly will I get a decision?

Usually within three weeks if you apply from outside the UK and within eight weeks if you apply inside the UK, with a priority option available in some cases.

Can I work in another job while on this visa?

Yes, provided the additional role requires a qualification at RQF Level 3 or above and you continue to run your endorsed business.

When can I apply for settlement?

You may apply for indefinite leave to remain after three years of continuous residence, provided your business meets at least two of the seven growth criteria and you obtain a fresh endorsement.

Can students switch into this route?

Yes. Since November 2025, students who have completed their course can switch in-country, and PhD students can switch after completing at least 24 months of study.

What happens if my endorsement is withdrawn?

visa can be cut short if the endorsing body withdraws its support, so staying in contact and meeting your milestones is essential. If your application is refused, you may be able to request an administrative review where there has been a caseworking error.

Submit your enquiry