Innovator Founder Visa

Unlock Your Innovation Potential with Expert Endorsement Stage Support At Nara Solicitors, we help founders present a strong and credible innovation case. Our team works with you to shape your business narrative, refine your innovation evidence, and prepare a clear endorsement stage portfolio so you can approach your endorsement with confidence.
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What is the Innovator Founder Visa

  • The Innovator Founder Visa is the route for entrepreneurs who want to set up a new, innovative business in the UK. It replaced earlier routes such as the “Innovator” and “Start-up” visas. 

  • The visa is for people who have a business idea that is new, viable, and scalable, and who plan to run the business themselves (or as part of a founding team). 

What it allows you to do

If granted:

  • You can found and run your business in the UK — you may be a director, self-employed, or work through a partnership. 

  • You may also take on a secondary job outside your business, as long as that job is “skilled work”. 

  • You can translate that visa into a more permanent stay: after 3 years on this visa, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residence (indefinite leave to remain), provided you meet the visa’s conditions and your business is active and sustainable. 

  • Your dependants (spouse/partner, children) can live with you under this visa, subject to eligibility. 

What you need to qualify

To be eligible, you must:

  • Have a business idea that is new (not already trading), innovative, viable, and scalable. 

  • Receive an endorsement from a UK-approved “endorsing body.” This endorsing body reviews your business plan and confirms that it meets the required criteria. 

  • Be at least 18 years old and meet general immigration requirements (character, English language ability, etc.) 

  • If applying from outside the UK (or have lived in UK less than 12 months), show you have at least £1,270 in savings in your bank account for at least 28 consecutive days before applying — this is to show you can support yourself. 

  • Provide a clear business plan and demonstrate that you will actively run and grow your business in the UK. 

What to watch out for / important conditions

  • The business must be “new” or newly launched; you cannot use this visa to join an existing business that’s already trading. 

  • You need endorsement before you apply for the visa. Getting an endorsement depends on your business idea and the endorsing body’s assessment. 

  • The visa is initially valid for 3 years. To stay longer, you must demonstrate your business is active, trading and sustainable, and meet all conditions including any contact-point reviews with the endorsing body.