The UK Innovator Founder visa is the primary immigration route for foreign entrepreneurs who wish to establish an innovative business in the United Kingdom. Introduced in April 2023, it replaced and merged the previous Start-up visa and Innovator visa. A key reform was the removal of the former GBP 50,000 minimum investment requirement, making the route accessible to founders who can demonstrate a credible business proposition regardless of available capital. There is no fixed minimum investment, but applicants must show the endorsing body they have enough funding to deliver their business plan. The visa provides a direct path to settlement (permanent residence) after just 3 years if the business meets specified growth milestones.
Four approved Business Endorsing Bodies assess business ideas for new applications:
The endorsing body evaluates whether the business idea is innovative (genuine and original, not a replication of something already on the market), viable (realistic and achievable), and scalable (capable of growth). The endorsement fee is GBP 1,000. Legacy endorsing bodies may only issue further endorsements to applicants they had previously endorsed under the closed Innovator or Start-up routes.
The initial grant is 3 years. Extensions are available for further 3-year periods with no limit on the number of extensions. Renewal requires a fresh endorsement letter confirming the business is active, trading, and sustainable, and that the applicant continues to play a day-to-day management role. Two further mandatory contact-point meetings (GBP 500 each) are required during each extension period. Under HC 1333 (in force from 25 November 2025), failing to attend a required contact-point meeting is now an explicit ground for cancellation of permission.
Indefinite Leave to Remain (permanent residence) is available after 3 years of continuous residence. The business must have achieved at least 2 of 7 specified growth milestones:
A fresh endorsement letter confirming achievement of these milestones is required. Applicants must also pass the Life in the UK test and maintain continuous residence (no more than 180 days absent in any 12-month period). The settlement application fee is GBP 3,226.
From 26 March 2027, under HC 1691, the English language requirement for settlement will rise from B1 to B2 level for both main applicants and dependant partners.
Spouses, civil partners, unmarried partners (with a 2+ year relationship), and children under 18 may apply as dependants. Additional savings requirements: GBP 285 for a partner, GBP 315 for the first child, and GBP 200 for each additional child. Partners may work in the UK (except as professional sportsperson or coach). Partners can apply for settlement after 5 years of continuous residence (not 3 years like the main applicant).
Holders may establish and run their own business, and may also take supplementary employment in skilled roles at RQF Level 3 or above. Work as a professional sportsperson or coach is prohibited. No access to most public funds until settlement. The business must be registered with Companies House with the visa holder listed as a director.
UK tax residence is determined by the Statutory Residence Test — presence in the UK for 183+ days in a tax year creates automatic UK tax residence with liability on worldwide income. The business must register with HMRC. Limited companies pay Corporation Tax on profits. VAT registration is required if taxable turnover exceeds GBP 90,000.
The application follows a multi-stage process. First, approach one of the four approved endorsing bodies and pay the GBP 1,000 endorsement fee. The endorsing body assesses the business idea against innovation, viability, and scalability criteria. Upon receiving the endorsement letter, apply online via GOV.UK, uploading all required documents and paying the visa fee and Immigration Health Surcharge.
Under the Home Office fee schedule effective 8 April 2026, the application fee is GBP 1,357 per person from outside the UK and GBP 1,693 per person for extensions or switches within the UK (raised from GBP 1,274 / GBP 1,590 under the previous November 2025 schedule). On top of this, the Immigration Health Surcharge is GBP 1,035 per year for adults (GBP 776 per year for under-18 dependants), and the GBP 500 contact-point meeting fee applies twice during each 3-year period. Dependants each pay the same visa application fee plus the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Identity is verified via the UK Immigration: ID Check app or at a biometric appointment. Processing takes approximately 3 weeks from outside the UK or 8 weeks from within. Once approved, immigration status is evidenced digitally via an eVisa — physical vignette stickers have been decommissioned as part of the eVisa rollout (caseworker guidance updated 27 February 2026). During the 3-year visa period, two mandatory contact-point meetings with the endorsing body are required (at 12 and 24 months) to demonstrate business progress.
From 25 November 2025, under HC 1333, Student visa holders who have completed their course can switch directly to the Innovator Founder route from within the UK, without needing to leave the country first — this also relaxes the Student route's work conditions so a completing student can begin establishing their business while switching. PhD students on the Student route may switch after completing at least 24 months of their PhD course, per the current Immigration Rules (Appendix Innovator Founder) and the user-facing GOV.UK "Switch to this visa" page; the Home Office caseworker guidance references a more generous 12-month figure, but 24 months is the safe threshold as the Immigration Rules are the primary legal source. Graduate visa holders could already switch in-country before this change (the Graduate route is not among the barred routes and already permits self-employment). Most other visa types can switch, except Visit visas, Short-term Student visas, Parent of a Child Student visas, Seasonal Worker visas, and Domestic Worker visas.
The Migration Advisory Committee opened a call for evidence in March 2026 reviewing the Global Talent and Innovator Founder visa routes; responses closed on 1 May 2026 and the Committee's recommendations are awaited. The 8 April 2026 Home Office fee schedule raised the Innovator Founder application fees (to GBP 1,357 / GBP 1,693) while leaving the GBP 3,226 settlement fee, the GBP 1,000 endorsement fee, and the GBP 500 contact-point meeting fee unchanged. From 26 March 2027, the English language requirement for settlement across multiple routes will rise from B1 to B2.