🇬🇧 United Kingdom · Business / Investor
Innovator Founder
For entrepreneurs launching an innovative, viable, and scalable business in the UK. Requires endorsement from an approved endorsing body. No fixed minimum investment since 2023 rule changes.
- Scoring
- Investment-based
- Timeline
- 2mo–6mo
- Est. cost
- $6K
- Category
- Business / Investor
Ready when you are
Find your immigration path.
Pick where you're headed. We score you against every visa we cover in that country.
1 of 4 selected.
Show me my matches, free→Overview
Innovator Founder is the UK's primary route for entrepreneurs launching a business in the UK. Since 2023 the route replaced the older Innovator and Start-up visas and removed the fixed £50,000 minimum investment, capital is now assessed contextually rather than by a single threshold. The defining requirement: an endorsement from a UKVI-approved Endorsing Body confirming your business is innovative, viable, and scalable.
There are about 10 approved endorsing bodies, including Envestors, UK Endorsing Services, The Global Entrepreneurs Programme, and a few university-linked schemes. Each runs its own application and assessment process, with fees ranging from £1,500 to £5,000 for the endorsement (separate from the visa fees). Decisions take 4-8 weeks; the endorsement requires you to present the business idea, traction, team, and your role.
The visa is initially granted for 3 years and is extendable indefinitely as long as you keep meeting the criteria. After 3 years, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain if your business has met progress milestones. The route allows you to work for your own business (and limited employed work elsewhere) and bring family.
Is this visa for you?
A strong fit if you…
- You're a founder with a genuine, innovative business idea (not an existing me-too business) that has a credible path to scale.
- You have some traction or strong indicators of traction, early users, pilots, MOUs with customers, an experienced team, or prior founder success.
- You have at least £50,000-100,000 of available capital (even though there's no fixed minimum, endorsing bodies want to see runway).
- You want to actively run the business yourself, this is not a passive investor visa.
Look elsewhere if you…
- Your business is a standard franchise, restaurant, retail business, or consultancy without obvious innovation. The 'innovative' bar means demonstrably new, not just well-executed.
- You're looking for an employment route. Innovator Founder requires active business ownership and direction.
- Your business plan is theoretical without traction, team, or capital. Endorsing bodies want evidence the business is real and ready to scale.
Key requirements
- Business idea that is innovative, viable, and scalable
- Endorsement from a UKVI-approved Endorsing Body
- Active, day-to-day involvement in founding and running the business
- No fixed minimum investment (capital assessed contextually)
Eligibility, in plain English
Endorsement from an approved Endorsing Body
About 10 UKVI-approved endorsing bodies (Envestors, UK Endorsing Services, The Global Entrepreneurs Programme, university schemes). You apply to one with your business plan, pitch deck, and supporting evidence. The endorsement is the single hardest gate, visa approval after endorsement is largely administrative.
Innovative business
The business must be a genuine, original business venture that is different from what already exists in the UK market. Endorsing bodies look at: novel technology, novel business model, novel application of existing technology to a new market or problem. Standard franchises and me-too businesses don't qualify.
Viable business
The business has the potential to be financially sustainable. Endorsing bodies want to see realistic revenue projections, a clear customer acquisition strategy, and evidence of demand (paying customers, LOIs, pilots, validated market research). Vague projections fail.
Scalable business
The business can grow in the UK and beyond. Evidence: job creation potential, addressable market size, distribution strategy. Lifestyle businesses that serve a small local market generally don't qualify; tech and SaaS businesses naturally fit.
Active and significant role
You must be actively running the business day-to-day. Significant ownership (typically majority or substantial minority with board control) is expected. The route is not for silent investors or board advisors.
Capital, no fixed minimum but practical floor
Since 2023 there's no statutory minimum investment. Endorsing bodies assess capital contextually: how much do you need to execute the plan, and do you have it? In practice, £50,000-100,000 is a comfortable floor for service businesses; deep-tech or hardware can require more. Funds in escrow or in personal savings are acceptable.
Path to ILR after 3 years
Indefinite Leave to Remain is available after 3 years if you've met progress milestones with your business, typically investment deployed, jobs created, revenue generated. The endorsing body confirms progress before ILR.
How the application actually goes
- 01
Develop the business plan
Build a comprehensive business plan: market, product, traction, team, financial projections, fundraising plan, customer acquisition strategy. This is the document the endorsing body assesses. 20-40 pages is standard.
4-8 weeks
- 02
Approach an Endorsing Body
Choose an Endorsing Body based on your sector and stage. Envestors and UK Endorsing Services accept a wide range; some university schemes are specialised. Submit application with business plan, pitch deck, evidence of traction, team CVs, and capital proof.
1-2 weeks application prep
- 03
Endorsement assessment
The Endorsing Body assesses the application, often including a video interview or in-person pitch. Decision time varies (4-8 weeks). Endorsement covers the innovation, viability, and scalability tests. If endorsed, you receive an endorsement letter.
4-8 weeks
- 04
Visa application to the Home Office
Submit the visa application with the endorsement letter, pay fees, attend biometrics. Standard processing is 3 weeks from outside the UK, 8 weeks from inside. Priority service (£500) reduces to 5 working days.
3 weeks standard
- 05
Set up and run the business
Enter the UK, register the company at Companies House (if not done already), set up business banking, deploy capital per the business plan. Endorsing Body conducts a 12-month and 24-month progress check.
Years 1-3
- 06
Apply for ILR or extension
After 3 years, apply for ILR if business has met growth milestones. If not, extend Innovator Founder for another 3 years.
What it costs
Endorsement fee (initial)
Varies by Endorsing Body
£1,500-5,000
Endorsement contact-point fees (12 and 24 months)
Progress checks
£500-1,500 each
Visa application fee
Outside UK; in-UK switch is more
£1,191
Immigration Health Surcharge
Paid upfront for full visa length
£1,035 per year
Priority service (optional)
5 working day decision
£500
Capital investment in business
Actual business deployment
£50,000+
Legal fees
Endorsement preparation often included
£2,000-5,000
Total typical out-of-pocket (3-year visa)
Excluding business capital
£10,000-20,000
Common pitfalls
- Submitting a me-too business idea. Standard restaurant chains, retail franchises, and consultancy firms generally don't pass the innovation test. The Endorsing Body is looking for genuinely new ventures.
- Theoretical business plans without traction. Endorsing Bodies want to see paying customers, LOIs, pilots, or other evidence of demand. Pure 'we plan to acquire customers' plans get rejected.
- Underestimating the capital ask. While there's no fixed minimum, endorsing bodies want to see runway, typically £50K-100K minimum for service businesses, more for deep tech.
- Choosing the wrong Endorsing Body. Some specialise in deep tech (Innovate UK Edge), some in early-stage (Envestors), some in scale-ups. Picking the wrong fit wastes the application fee.
- Missing the 12-month and 24-month progress checks. Failed progress checks can result in the endorsement being withdrawn, which curtails the visa.
- Pretending you'll work passively. Innovator Founder requires active day-to-day involvement. Silent investor structures get rejected.
Consider these instead
UK
Global Talent
If your strength is your personal record rather than the business (multiple founder success, major awards, significant publications), Global Talent has no business-stage gating.
Read more →
UK
Skilled Worker
If you can secure a UK job offer at a sponsoring company, Skilled Worker is faster and more predictable than building a business case.
Read more →
UK
High Potential Individual (HPI)
If you graduated from a top-50 global university in the past 5 years and want to build a UK business without endorsement risk, HPI gives you 2-3 years to do that without sponsorship.
Read more →
Frequently asked
Is there a minimum investment for Innovator Founder?
No fixed minimum since the 2023 reform. Capital is assessed contextually: how much do you need to execute the plan, and do you have it? In practice, £50,000-100,000 is a comfortable floor for service businesses; capital-intensive ventures need more.
What counts as an 'innovative' business?
Genuinely new, novel technology, novel business model, or novel application of existing technology to a new market. Endorsing Bodies reject me-too businesses (standard franchises, generic consultancies, traditional retail). Tech, SaaS, deep tech, and novel-service businesses fit naturally.
How long does endorsement take?
Four to eight weeks for most Endorsing Bodies. Some are faster, especially for clear cases. Plan around the endorsement timeline; the Home Office visa step is much faster (3 weeks standard).
Can I employ myself as well as work elsewhere?
Some additional employed work is permitted, but your main activity must be the business. The Home Office monitors this through the Endorsing Body contact points at months 12 and 24.
How does ILR work for Innovator Founder?
After 3 years of continuous residence on Innovator Founder, you can apply for ILR if your business has met progress milestones, investment deployed, jobs created, revenue generated. The Endorsing Body confirms progress before ILR.
What if the business fails?
You can pivot to a new business idea (which requires a new endorsement) or switch to another visa category. If the endorsement is withdrawn and you don't switch, your leave will be curtailed.
Can my co-founder also get an Innovator Founder visa?
Yes. Each co-founder applies separately and needs their own endorsement (typically a joint endorsement covering the same business). Both must be actively running the business and have significant roles.
Other United Kingdom visas
Work Visa
Skilled Worker
The main UK work visa for employer-sponsored roles. Requires a confirmed job offer from a Home Office-licensed sponsor paying at least £38,700 (or the shortage occupation rate if lower).
Work Visa
Global Talent
No-sponsor visa for leaders and rising stars in digital technology, arts and culture, or science and research. Requires endorsement from a recognised body (e.g. Tech Nation, Royal Society, British Academy, UKRI).
Work Visa
Scale-up Visa
Sponsored by a qualifying fast-growing UK company (registered scale-up sponsor). Salary ≥ £36,300. After 6 months, the holder can work for any employer without further sponsorship.
Work Visa
High Potential Individual (HPI)
No-sponsor visa for graduates of top-50 globally ranked universities (according to the UK government's approved list) awarded within the last 5 years. Gives 2-3 years to work in the UK.
Work Visa
Graduate Visa
Post-study work visa for international students who have recently completed a UK degree. Allows 2 years of unsponsored work (3 years for PhD graduates).
Work Visa
Health and Care Worker
Fast-track, lower-cost variant of the Skilled Worker visa for doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and adult social care workers employed by the NHS or a CQC-registered care provider.
Ready when you are
Find your immigration path.
Pick where you're headed. We score you against every visa we cover in that country.
1 of 4 selected.
Show me my matches, free→