Complete guide to the UK's Start up Visa program: Innovator Founder

Looking to start a business in the UK? If you currently live in another country, you’ll need to get a visa in order to come to the UK and register a company.

The good news is that there is a startup visa available in the UK, designed especially for entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas. It’s called the Innovator Founder Visa, and it’s for non-UK residents who want to launch a new startup here.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the Innovator Founder Visa. This includes what it is, what you can and can’t do with it, the eligibility requirements and the application process.

This should give you all the information you need to decide whether this visa is right for you, and to start getting your application together.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

What startup visas are available in the UK? What is the Innovator Founder Visa? What you can and can’t do with the Innovator Founder Visa How long can I stay in the UK on an Innovator Founder Visa? Innovator Founder Visa eligibility criteria Endorsement of your business idea by an approved body Proficiency in English Sufficient financial support How to apply for the Innovator Founder Visa - step-by-step What documents will I need to apply for the Innovator Founder Visa? How long does it take to get a decision? Innovator Founder visa fees Kickstart your UK business with a Wise Business account

What startup visas are available in the UK?

The only visa currently available to founders and entrepreneurs looking to start a business in the UK is the Innovator Founder Visa.

This wasn’t always the case. The UK used to have what was known as a Tier 1 Entrepreneur Visa, before it was replaced in 2019 by the Start-up Visa and Innovator Visa.

The Start-up Visa aimed to support talented overseas individuals to develop early-stage businesses and ideas in the UK. The Innovator Visa was targeted towards experienced international entrepreneurs able to demonstrate a viable, innovative and scalable business idea.

Both have now been replaced by the Innovator Founder Visa, which is similar in many ways to the original Innovator Visa.

What is the Innovator Founder Visa?

The Innovator Founder Visa is a specialist type of visa offered by the UK Government to overseas individuals with an innovative business idea they plan to develop and establish in the UK.

It isn’t open to just any business or entrepreneur, as it is specifically focused on new, innovative, viable and scalable business ideas. The aim is to attract the best and brightest entrepreneurial talent to the UK.

This visa can also open up a route to UK settlement, as time spent in the country on this visa can count towards the residence requirement for those seeking indefinite leave to remain (ILR) status.

What you can and can’t do with the Innovator Founder Visa

As with all UK visas, there are restrictions on what you can and can’t do as the holder of an Innovator Founder Visa.

You are permitted to:¹

• Set up as many businesses as you like
• Work for your business, including as a director or member of a business partnership
• Do a secondary job outside your business, as long as it falls under the category of ‘skilled work’. You can check the list of eligible jobs here.
• Study at an educational institution, alongside running your business²
• Bring your partner and children to the UK with you, as long as they are eligible
• Travel abroad and come back to the UK as many times as you want
• Apply for permanent residence, also known as indefinite leave to remain (ILR) - not until you’ve lived in the UK for at least 3 years and meet other eligibility criteria.

You are not permitted to:

• Work as a professional sportsperson or coach
• Apply for benefits - this includes most benefits including housing assistance or tax credits paid by the state.

How long can I stay in the UK on an Innovator Founder Visa?

If you successfully obtain this visa and come to the UK to start your business, you can legally remain for 3 years.¹

After this, there’s an option to apply to extend your stay for a further 3 years - and there’s no limit to the number of extension applications you can submit.¹

Innovator Founder Visa eligibility criteria

Only certain applicants will be eligible for this UK startup visa. You’ll need to be at least 18 years old and demonstrate that you meet the key criteria, which are as follows:

• You have a new, innovative, viable and scalable business idea, endorsed by an approved body
• You have a certain proficiency in English
• You have sufficient funds to support yourself in the UK.

We’ll look at each of these in more detail below.

Endorsement of your business idea by an approved body

The Innovator Founder Visa is intended only for particular businesses and business ideas.

To be eligible, you’ll need to demonstrate that your business/idea is:¹

• New - you can’t move to the UK to join an existing business that is already trading
• Innovative - you’ll need an original business idea that’s different to what’s already available on the market
• Scalable - you need to be ready to expand the business, whether its hiring people and/or entering national or international markets
• Viable - your business or idea needs to have potential for growth, which you can support with market research, financial projections and other evidence.

To pass this most important of eligibility tests, you’ll need to have your business idea approved by an endorsing body. The UK Government has a list of endorsing bodies here, along with guidance on how to approach an endorsing body.

There are costs involved with this part of the process, starting from an initial £1,000 fee to apply to an organisation for endorsement.

There are also fees of £500 per meeting for additional mandatory meetings with your contact at the endorsing body - only payable if your visa application is successful.³

Proficiency in English

Another key requirement for this visa is proficiency in English. You’ll need to be able to demonstrate that you can speak, read, write and understand English to the required level.

You can do this via one of the following:⁴

• Pass a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider
• Provide evidence of having a GCSE, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English from a UK school that you attended when you were under 18.
• Provide evidence of having a degree-level academic qualification from a course that was taught in English. If you’re applying from outside the UK, you’ll need to go through the qualifications recognition organisation Ecctis.

You won’t need to provide any of the above if you are a national of Canada, a British overseas territory, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica or one of a selected number of Commonwealth countries.

Sufficient financial support

The final key requirement is proof that you have enough personal savings to support yourself while in the UK. You’ll need to show that you have had at least £1,270 in your bank account for at least 28 consecutive days before submitting your application.⁵

You may also need to prove to your endorsing body that you have enough funding for your business.

How to apply for the Innovator Founder Visa - step-by-step

You’ll need to apply for your visa online, as there’s no option to do it in person. But which route you follow depends on your circumstances, as there are different methods for people already living in the UK and looking to switch or extend their visa.

If you live outside the UK, you’ll need to follow these steps:⁶

1. Go to the GOV.UK Innovator Founder visa page
2. Read the information and select ‘Start now’
3. Follow the on-screen steps, providing all of the required information and uploading your supporting documents when requested
4. Verify your identity. There are two ways to do this - using the UK Immigration: ID Check app to scan your identity document (you’ll need to create an account first) or by visiting a visa application centre in person to have your biometrics (photo and fingerprints) recorded.

You don’t have to complete your application all in one go, as there’s an option to save your form and return to it later.

What documents will I need to apply for the Innovator Founder Visa?

Here’s what you should have ready before starting the application process:⁷

• An endorsement letter from your endorsing body
• A valid passport or other identity document
• Bank statements showing you’ve had at least £1,270 in your bank account for 28 consecutive days before applying
• Evidence you meet the English language requirement - such as your SELT test results or English GCSE, A-Level or degree certificate.
• Your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a country where you have to take the test.

If any documents are not in English or Welsh, you’ll need to get a certified translation.

How long does it take to get a decision?

You should hear back about your application within 3 weeks, although in some cases it can take longer.⁶

Delays can happen if your supporting documents need to be verified, you’re required to attend an interview or you’re applying with a family member who needs an appointment (even if you don’t).

Innovator Founder visa fees

So, how much does it cost to apply for the UK Innovator Founder Visa? Here are the main fees and costs you need to know about:

Type	Fee
Application fee - if you’re outside the UK	£1,274 per person1
Application fee - if you’re inside the UK, switching or extending your visa	£1,590 per person1
Endorsement	£1,000 application fee £500 per meeting (2 are required)3
Healthcare surcharge	£1,035 per year8

Kickstart your UK business with a Wise Business account

While you’re researching visa options, funding and other essentials ready to launch your UK business, it’s also worth making sure you’re set up with the right business account.

Open a Wise Business account and you can hold and exchange 40+ currencies at once, including British pounds (GBP).

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• No ongoing fees, minimum balance requirements or foreign transaction fees
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• Pay up to 1,000 people at once with the Wise batch payments feature
• Integrate with your favourite cloud accounting solutions
• Use the powerful Wise API for automation and streamlining workflow
• Take advantage of Wise Interest to make your funds work harder when you’re not using them (capital at risk).

With a truly global account, you’ll be all set to grow your business in the UK and worldwide.

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And that’s it - your essential guide to the UK’s Innovator Founder Visa. After reading this, you should have all the info you need to work out if it’s right for you and start preparing your application. Good luck!

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Sources used for this article:

1. GOV.UK - Innovator Founder Visa
2. Davidson Morris - UK Innovator Founder Visa 2025 Guide & Requirements
3. GOV.UK - Innovator Founder and Scale-up visas endorsing bodies
4. GOV.UK - Innovator Founder Visa - Knowledge of English
5. GOV.UK - Innovator Founder Visa - Eligibility
6. GOV.UK - Innovator Founder Visa - Apply from outside the UK
7. GOV.UK - Innovator Founder Visa - Documents you’ll need to apply
8. GOV.UK - Pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application

Sources checked on 02-May-2025