UK Innovator Founder Visa
United Kingdom GBR
The UK Innovator Founder Visa replaced the Innovator Visa in April 2023, removing the previous £50,000 minimum investment requirement. Applicants must have an innovative, viable, and scalable business idea endorsed by an approved endorsing body. Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) can be sought after three years if the business has achieved prescribed milestones.
Program Details
- Category
- Entrepreneur
- Processing Time
- 2 months
- Application Fee
- $1,490
- Minimum Income
- —
- Minimum Investment
- —
- Family Included
- Dependant partner and children may be included; each requires a separate application and fee
- Path to PR
- Yes — 3 years
- Path to Citizenship
- Yes — 6 years
- Physical Presence
- Must not be absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period; must actively develop the endorsed business
- Dual Citizenship
- Allowed
- Tax Impact
- Business income is subject to UK corporation tax and founders are liable for income tax on salaries or dividends drawn. The UK has no minimum investment requirement for this route, but tax residency applies from arrival.
- Renewal Cost
- $1,490
Application Timeline
Apply
2mo processing
Visa Granted
Initial permit
Permanent Residency
After 3 years
Citizenship
After 6 years
Key Requirements
- ✓Endorsement from a Home Office-approved endorsing body confirming the business idea is innovative, viable, and scalable
- ✓No minimum personal investment required (as of April 2023)
- ✓Applicant must be a founder or co-founder of the business
- ✓English language proficiency (B2 CEFR or equivalent)
- ✓Sufficient personal savings (£1,270 held for 28 consecutive days)
- ✓Business must be new or not previously traded in the UK
Am I eligible for UK Innovator Founder Visa?
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This is a heuristic, not a determination. Final eligibility depends on full documentation and immigration-officer discretion.
Application Process — Step by Step
- 01
Secure endorsement from approved endorsing body
home countryEndorsement from Home Office-approved body for an innovative, viable, scalable UK business. Minimum investment requirement removed in April 2023.
Typical duration: 4-12 weekssource ↗
- 02
Apply for visa
home countrySubmit via gov.uk. Pay fee + IHS. Biometrics.
Typical duration: 3-8 weeks
- 03
Receive visa + travel to UK
home country3-year visa granted if approved.
Typical duration: 3 weeks
- 04
Establish and operate the endorsed business
destinationMust actively operate the UK business; endorsing body conducts 12-month and 24-month check-ins.
Typical duration: Ongoing
Documents Required
| Document | Issued By | Apostille | Translate to | Validity (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valid passport | Home country | No | — | 180 |
| Endorsement letter | Approved endorsing body | No | — | 90 |
| Business plan (detailed) | Applicant | No | — | — |
| English B2+ proof | Test provider or English-medium degree | No | — | — |
Realistic Costs
Some figures below are industry estimates rather than officially verified: lawyer_fee_low, lawyer_fee_high, relocation_misc, total_first_year_low, total_first_year_high, total_5_year_low, total_5_year_high.
Endorsement fee £1,000+. Lawyers often essential for business plan + endorsement. Excludes actual business capital.
Realistic Timeline
- Consulate wait2–6 weeks
- Decision → arrival1 weeks
- Residence card issuance2 weeks
- Total to residence card5–11 weeks
Renewal
- First renewal after
- 36 months
- Subsequent cycle
- 60 months
- Renewal fee
- $1,700
- Requirements
- Business operational; endorsement maintained; applicant still active founder.
Path to Permanent Residency — Details
- Years required
- 3
- Max days absent / year
- 180
- Language test
- Required (B2)
- Integration test
- Required
Path to Citizenship — Details
- Years required
- 4
- Language test
- Yes (B1)
- Civic test
- Required
- Oath
- Required
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
Tax Residency
- Trigger
- 183 days/year of presence
- Taxation scope
- Worldwide income
- Exit-tax country
- No
Special regimes
- FIG RegimeForeign income/gains exempt 4 years
Not UK tax resident previous 10 years
Duration: 4 years
source ↗
Health Insurance
- Mandatory
- No
- Public system access
- After 0 months
Examples: NHS via IHS
Family Specifics
- Spouse work rights
- Spouse: unrestricted work rights
- Child school enrolment
- UK state + international schools
- Parent inclusion
- Not eligible
- Sibling inclusion
- Not eligible
Gotchas — Things to Watch For
- ⚠Minimum investment removed in April 2023 (was £50k) but business plan scrutiny intensified
- ⚠Endorsement body relationship ongoing — 12/24 month checks can end visa
- ⚠Business must be innovative AND viable AND scalable — all three
What This Visa Does NOT Allow
- ×Employment outside the endorsed business (beyond permitted supplementary work)
Common Rejection Reasons
- •Business plan not demonstrating innovation, viability, scalability
- •Endorsing body skeptical of founder capacity
- •Inadequate market research
Recent Legislative Changes
2023-04-13
£50,000 minimum investment requirement removed. Replaced with stricter "innovative, viable, scalable" business plan assessment.source ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I still need £50,000 to apply?+
No. The minimum investment requirement was removed in April 2023. However, the business plan must clearly demonstrate funding adequate to execute the plan — typically this means having access to operational capital even if not a specific threshold.
What happens at the 12 and 24-month check-ins?+
Your endorsing body reviews whether the business is progressing as planned. They can withdraw endorsement if progress is inadequate, which ends the visa.
Good Fit For
Applying from a specific country? Your home-country tax rules, banking access, and dual-citizenship options affect every programme differently. Browse nationality guides → for tax obligations, renunciation rules, and second-passport routes.
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