Innovator Founder Visa

The Innovator Founder visa is designed for people who want to establish and run a new business in the UK. Rather than relying on an employer, the application is built around the business idea itself, which must first be endorsed by a Home Office approved endorsing body before the visa application is made.

The route replaced the earlier Start-up and Innovator routes. It can lead to settlement after 3 years, but only if the business makes the progress required by the Immigration Rules, so planning and realistic projections matter from the outset.

Who may be eligible

The route is aimed at founders with a genuine, original business idea who intend to play a key role in the day-to-day management and development of the business. It can suit a sole founder or a member of a founding team.

Key requirements

• Endorsement: an approved endorsing body must confirm that your business venture is innovative, viable and scalable.
• English language: CEFR level B2 in reading, writing, speaking and listening, unless an exemption applies.
• Maintenance funds: generally at least £1,270, held for 28 days, unless you have been in the UK with permission for 12 months or more.
• No minimum investment: the rules do not set a minimum amount of investment funds. The endorsing body will consider whether your plans are realistic, including how the business will be funded.
• General requirements such as suitability and genuine intention also apply, subject to the Immigration Rules.

The endorsement stage

Endorsement is the heart of the application. The endorsing body assesses whether the idea is new and different, whether the plan is realistic given your skills and resources, and whether the business has genuine potential to grow. At the time of writing, the endorsing body's fees are £1,000 for the endorsement and £500 for each checkpoint meeting.

A well-prepared business plan, credible financial projections and clear evidence of your own skills and experience are essential. Weak or generic plans are one of the most common reasons endorsement is not given.

How the application works

1. Assess eligibility and refine the business plan.
2. Apply to an approved endorsing body and obtain the endorsement letter.
3. Prepare the visa application with evidence of English, funds and identity.
4. Apply online from outside the UK or, if eligible, from inside the UK.

The Home Office application fee is currently £1,357 from outside the UK and £1,693 from inside the UK.

How long you can stay, and checkpoints

Permission is granted for a maximum of 3 years. During that time you must stay in contact with your endorsing body, which holds checkpoint meetings at around 12 and 24 months to review progress against your business plan. Keeping the business on track, and keeping good evidence of progress, matters throughout the route.

Working outside your business

Your main focus must be your own business. However, you may take other employment outside the business in a role at RQF level 3 or above. This gives some flexibility, but it should not distract from the business the endorsement was given for.

Settlement after 3 years

After 3 years on the route you may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain. The endorsing body must confirm that the business has met at least 2 of a set of criteria in the rules. Examples include:

• At least £50,000 invested in the business.
• The number of customers having doubled.
• Annual revenue of at least £1 million.
• The creation of at least 10 jobs.
• The creation of at least 5 jobs paying at least £25,000 a year.

Each criterion has detailed conditions, so we check them carefully well before you apply. Other settlement requirements, such as the Life in the UK test, also apply. From 26 March 2027, settlement applications on this and several other routes will require English at B2 in speaking and listening.

Common problems we help with

• Business ideas that are not sufficiently innovative or are too similar to existing services.
• Financial forecasts that do not match the founder's resources or experience.
• Preparing for checkpoint meetings and evidencing real progress.
• Planning ahead for the settlement criteria from the start of the route.
• Deciding whether sponsorship or another business route is a better fit.

How Stonebridge can help

• Assessing whether the Innovator Founder route suits you, compared with the other business immigration options.
• Reviewing your business plan and supporting evidence before it goes to the endorsing body.
• Preparing and submitting the visa application once endorsement is obtained.
• Advising on checkpoints, other work and preparation for settlement.

Founder applications succeed or fail on preparation. To talk through your business idea and your options, book a consultation.