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UK Innovator Founder

Introduction: UK Innovator Founder Visa

The Innovator Founder visa is for start-up entrepreneurs and experienced businesspersons seeking to establish a business in the UK. Applicants do not need to have any specific level of funds to invest in their proposed business, but must have an innovative, viable and scalable business idea, supported by a business plan, which has been approved by an endorsing body. Applicants for an Innovator Founder visa must have generated, or have significantly contributed to, their business idea. Innovator Founders must also intend to have a key role in their business’s day-to-day management and development. Innovator Founder visas are valid for 3 years and can lead directly to indefinite leave to remain in the UK at the end of this period. Innovator Founders can bring a partner and children under 18 to the UK.

Requirement For Innovator Founder Visa:

In order to qualify for an Innovator Founder Visa you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:

 

  • You are at least 18 years old;
  • You have an endorsement letter from an approved UK endorsing body that confirms that:
    • You are a fit and proper person to receive endorsement under the Innovator Founder route;
    • The endorsing body has no concerns over the source of any funds invested into your business;
    • The endorsing body has no reason to believe that you or your business may be the beneficiary of illicit or unexplained wealth;
    • You have a business plan and you either generated or made a significant contribution to the ideas in that business plan;
    • You will have a day-to-day role in carrying out the business plan;
    • You will have at least two Contact point meetings with the endorsing body at regular intervals;
    • You are either the sole founder or an instrumental member of the founding team; and
    • You have an innovative, viable and scalable business venture; 
  • Your endorsement letter was issued not more than 3 months before the date of your Innovator visa application;
  • You are competent in the English language to at least CEFR Level B2 (equivalent to IELTS 5.5 in reading, writing, listening, and speaking);
  • If you are outside the UK or have been in the UK for less than 12 months, you have at least £1270 to support yourself, plus £285 for a dependent partner, £315 for a first child and £200 for each additional child;
  • Your application does not fall for refusal on general grounds for refusal;
  • You have provided a TB test certificate, if required.

ENDORSEMENT CRITERIA FOR AN INNOVATOR FOUNDER VISA:

Initial applications for an Innovator Founder visa based on a new business

 

In order for your business proposal to be endorsed, an approved endorsing body will need to be satisfied that you meet various requirements:

In order for your business proposal to be endorsed, an approved endorsing body will need to be satisfied that you meet various requirements:

  • You are a fit and proper person to receive endorsement under the Innovator Founder route;
  • The endorsing body has no concerns over the source of any funds invested into your business;
  • The endorsing body has no reason to believe that you or your business may be the beneficiary of illicit or unexplained wealth;
  • You have a business plan and have either generated or made a significant contribution to the ideas in that business plan;
  • You will have a day-to-day role in carrying out the business plan;
  • You will have at least two Contact point meetings with your endorsing body at regular intervals;
  • You are either the sole founder or an instrumental member of the founding team; and
  • You have an innovative, viable and scalable business venture.

 

 

Innovative, Viable and Scalable Business Venture Requirement

In order to satisfy the innovative, viable and scalable business requirement for an Innovator Founder visa, your business idea will need to meet all of the following criteria:

 

  • Innovation: You must have a genuine, original business plan that meets new or existing market needs and/or creates a competitive advantage
  • Viability: Your business plan must be realistic and achievable based on your available resources and you must have, or be actively developing, the necessary skills, knowledge, experience and market awareness to successfully run your business
  • Scalability: There must be evidence of structured planning and of potential for job creation and growth into national and international markets. The endorsing body will also need to be satisfied that you have either generated or made a significant contribution to the ideas in your business plan and that you will have a day-to-day role in carrying out your business plan.

Indefinite Leave to Remain as an Innovator Founder

In order to qualify for indefinite leave to remain as an Innovator Founder you will need to satisfy UK Visas & Immigration that:

 

  • You have been endorsed by an approved UK endorsing body that is satisfied that you have shown significant achievements judged against the business plan assessed in your previous endorsement, you are registered with Companies House as a Director or Member of your business, your business is active, trading and appears sustainable for at least the following 12 months and you have had an active key role in the day-to-day management and development of the business.
  •  
  • You satisfy at least two of the following:

  •  At least £50,000 has been invested into the business and actively spent furthering your business;
    • The business has created the equivalent of at least 5 full-time jobs for settled workers, which have an average salary of at least £25,000 a year.
    • The business has created the equivalent of at least 10 full-time jobs for resident workers with no average salary requirement.
    • The number of customers has at least doubled within the most recent 3 years and is currently higher than the mean number of customers for other UK businesses offering comparable main products or services.
    • The business has engaged in significant research and development activity and has applied for intellectual property protection in the UK.
    • The business has generated a minimum annual gross revenue of £1 million in the last full year covered by its accounts;
    • The business has generated a minimum annual gross revenue of £500,000 in the last full year covered by its accounts, with at least £100,000 from exporting overseas.
    •  

You have spent not more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period during the 3 years prior to the date of application.
You have sufficient knowledge of the English language and Life in the UK.